Marvel Loses Another Star, Is New Movie Cursed?
Ayo Edebiri has exited Marvel’s upcoming Thunderbolts movie, citing scheduling conflicts. She will be replaced by Geraldine Viswanathan, who has appeared in films like Cat Person, Blockers, and The Beanie Bubble. She also starred in every season of the TBS anthology series Miracle Workers. Her role in Thunderbolts remains unknown at this time.
Ayo Edebiri Bows Out Of Thunderbolts
Edebiri’s exit marks the second cast change for Thunderbolts, with Top Gun: Maverick actor Lewis Pullman replacing Steven Yeun as Sentry. Yeun also left due to scheduling issues. At present, the primary cast members – Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Florence Pugh, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Harrison Ford – remain committed to their roles.
Returning Stars Eager For Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan recently expressed his eagerness to step back into Bucky Barnes’ shoes in Thunderbolts. “I’m excited. I’m going to go back basically in a month or so,” he said in a January 21 interview. “The batting average is so high that it’s difficult to always land everything right away. It’s always been a great experience. With this one in particular, I think there’s a lot of good things.”Stan’s comments were a thinly veiled reference to The Marvels, which failed to gain traction at the box office. The film fell short of covering its production and marketing expenses. This trend has been evident since the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022. Before The Marvels, subsequent films included Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
The Thunderbolts Team
Distinguishing itself from the typical MCU films, Thunderbolts features a team of former villains and anti-heroes under the leadership of CIA director Contessa Valentina Allegra De La Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). That includes Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, who assumes the de facto leadership role, along with David Harbour’s Red Guardian and Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova.Unlike other superhero groups, the Thunderbolts lack a firm allegiance to any specific cause. The team prioritizes self-interest and focuses on accomplishing specific missions rather than the traditional goal of saving the world. David Harbour, who made his MCU debut in 2021’s Black Widow, previously said that the movie will further explore the father-daughter relationship between Red Guardian and Yelena.
He explained that the film delves into their unexplored history, particularly while working as spies in the Midwest.
Thunderbolts In Marvel Comics
The Thunderbolts made their Marvel Comics debut in Incredible Hulk #449 in 1997. Created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley, the team’s concept is known for its unique twist on superhero dynamics. The original Thunderbolts series begins with a group of villains posing as heroes following the apparent demise of the Avengers and Fantastic Four in the aftermath of the “Onslaught” storyline.
Baron Zemo Leads The Team
The primary members of the initial Thunderbolts lineup include Baron Zemo (leader), Atlas (formerly Goliath), Songbird (formerly Screaming Mimi), Techno (formerly Fixer), Meteorite (formerly Moonstone), and Mach-1 (formerly Beetle). Under the guise of heroes, they intended to gain public trust before revealing their true villainous intentions.
However, over time, many members of the Thunderbolts began to question their criminal identities and developed a genuine desire to be heroes. It’s worth noting that the upcoming Marvel Studios film may draw inspiration from the comics but will likely have its own unique take on the concept.
Thunderbolts Release Date
Thunderbolts is directed by Jake Schreier from a script by Kurt Busiek, Lee Sung Jin, and Eric Pearson. It remains to be seen if the recent cast shake-ups will impact the film or its scheduled July 25, 2025 release date.Source: Deadline
