‘Thunderbolts’ To Introduce a New Element to the MCU, David Harbour Teases Yelena’s Arc
One of the biggest mysteries of the upcoming slate of MCU movies is definitely Thunderbolts, the movie led by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Florence Pugh that will follow a ragtag team akin to DC’s Suicide Squad.
As announced during D23, the team will include familiar faces like Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, Wyatt Russell’s John Walker/U.S. Agent, or David Harbour’s Red Guardian. Harbour, who is out promoting his latest movie Violent Night, recently made a few comments regarding where the story of his new MCU adventure will take him and the audience. Speaking to Gizmodo, the actor said the following:
“I’ve loved Wyatt [Russell], and Sebastian and Julia’s characters throughout the universe. What [director Jake Schreier] wants to do with Florence’s character is very interesting and how I factor into how we develop our relationship is very interesting. And then when you see what Jake and Eric Pearson is trying to fashion, it’s really clever…So you have this movie that’s, you know, kind of ragtag.”
He also added the following, interesting quote:
“It’ll be funny. it’ll be weird, it’ll be action. And then we’re also going to drop a bomb, which is cool.”
David Harbour as the Red Guardian in Marvel’s Black Widow
Thunderbolts will introduce a “new element” to the MCU
It’s unclear whether or not he’s speaking literally or metaphorically. However, in another interview with Collider, the actor also teased the movie will introduce a new element into the MCU, potentially hinting that this “bomb” is not to be taken literally:
“I’ve been told what it’s all gonna be, I’ve yet to read a script. But I’ve been told the arc.
It’s gonna be really good. And it’s not what you expect. It incorporates a couple of new elements, new things that we have yet to see in the Universe, which is really cool. We introduce a thing that’s super cool, it’s vital. I’m psyched that Julia Louis-Dreyfus is gonna be in a bigger way explored. And of course, one of the things you probably know is that the me and Florence dynamic will be in there and explored in a way that’s really cool. But you know, all of these guys, like Sebastian’s character, Wyatt’s character, I just love this mercenary element in the MCU. The MCU has always been elevated in a certain way on Captain America, even Iron Man although he has egos, the way he’s in it for the right reasons and ultimately does the right thing… I like these guys who are a bunch of losers, a bunch of guys who can’t get it right. And so far, what they’ve pitched me, just feels really cool. I wish I could talk more about it.”
There have been plenty of rumors regarding Thunderbolts and Captain America: New World Order lately. The two will likely have some interconnected plot threads, especially since Harrison Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross will be in both movies. According to a new rumor from Daniel Richtman, Ross will be the President of the United States and eventually become the Red Hulk. Of course, this is far from verified, but it will be interesting how the Red Hulk could potentially factor into Thunderbolts.
The Thunderbolts team, as Kevin Feige announced during D23 in 2022.
What could Thunderbolts be about?
Spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ahead.
There are, of course, plenty of rumors and speculation regarding vibranium and Wakanda, fueled by a subplot in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Val, who made a surprise appearance in the movie, seems to be potentially interested in a war against the African nation. Could she send in the Thunderbolts as a destabilizing force against the country, now that their leadership structure is fractured?
For now, we will have to wait a few more months. Production on Thunderbolts, which could be undergoing some rewrites at the moment, is rumored to begin next June, ahead of the movie’s release on July 26, 2024. The next Marvel movie in line after Wakanda Forever will be Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, out in theaters on February 17, 2023.
Miguel Fernández is a Spanish student that has movies as his second passion in life. His favorite movie of all time is The Lord of the Rings, but he is also a huge Star Wars fan. However, fantasy movies are not his only cup of tea, as authors like Scorsese, Fincher, Kubrick or Hitchcock have been an obsession for him since he started to understand the language of filmmaking. He is that guy who will watch a black and white movie, just because it is in black and white.
