The upcoming Marvel Studios production, Thunderbolts, starring Florence Pugh and directed by Jake Schreier scheduled for release on May 2, 2025, is generating buzz and scepticism alike. The movie, originally set for a July 2024 release, faced delays due to strikes in the entertainment industry, leaving fans curious about its fate.
Thunderbolts‘s plot revolves around a group of villains and antiheroes, handpicked from different Marvel storylines, and assigned government missions. The cast of Thunderbolts includes Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent John Walker, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, and Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster.
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The decision to bring in Joanna Calo, showrunner of the FX series The Bear, to polish the script has raised eyebrows. Marvel Studios, it seems, is sparing no expense to pander to the DEI requirements. The delays, script changes, and a DEI showrunner joining the Thunderbolts team all point to potential trouble.
What’s more worrisome is the speculation surrounding the Thunderbolts film’s leads. Florence Pugh, who portrayed Yelena Belova in Black Widow, confirmed her involvement during the premier event for Dune: Part Two. Pugh’s Yelena is set to lead the Thunderbolts, a team of MCU villains who, in the comic books, was led by the formidable Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross. Other returning characters include Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier, David Harbour’s Red Guardian, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Wyatt Russell’s U.S. Agent John Walker, Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost, and Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster.
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The rumored list of Thunderbolts leads, however, has effectively performed vivacious vivisection on hope, leaving it gasping for breath in the desolate abyss of despair. According to scooper Daniel RPK, the primary leads are Florence Pugh’s Yelena and Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, dismissing any notion of Bucky Barnes being a co-lead.
The film’s connection to previous Marvel phases is noteworthy, with characters introduced in Black Widow, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier coming together for a secret mission. However, the recent string of failures by Marvel female-led superhero movies cannot be ignored.
Marvel’s attempts at diversifying its superhero lineup have been met with failure. The Marvels reportedly incurred a $200 million loss for Disney, and both Hawkeye and Ms. Marvel are speculated to forgo second seasons. Sony’s Madame Web also faced box office disappointment.
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The decision to sideline characters like Bucky Barnes, despite the build-up in Marvel’s earlier phases, has left fans questioning the studio’s choices. While some prefer Sebastian Stan’s Bucky as Captain America over Anthony Mackie’s portrayal, the apparent decision to kill off Bucky in the MCU has added another layer of uncertainty to Thunderbolts.
The upcoming Thunderbolts film remains a topic of both anticipation and skepticism. The delays, script changes, choice of a new DEI scriptwriter and casting decisions have fuelled doubts about its success. The film’s potential as a female-led venture in the wake of recent failures in the genre isn’t exactly confidence-inspiring.
What do you think of Florence Pugh leading The Thunderbolts for the MCU? Leave a comment and let us know.
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