Over the weekend, the cast and crew of Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* assembled for a press conference to answer burning questions about the film and their characters.
Actors Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Wyatt Russell (John Walker), Lewis Pullman (Bob), Geraldine Viswanathan (Mel), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Valentina Allegra de Fontaine) and Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost) answered questions alongside director Jake Schreier and Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige.
In Thunderbolts*, an unconventional team of anti-heroes is established, consisting of Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and John Walker. After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, the disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear itself apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late? Well, you’ll have to see the movie to find out (and read our review here).
The cast had a lot to say about their time working on Thunderbolts*, including Pugh’s stunt work where she leaps off one of the tallest buildings in the world. Regarding the stunt, Pugh thanked the brilliant stunt team for their fantastic work, and just how reading about this event in the script demonstrated where Yelena was at the start of the film.
Florence Pugh: Firstly, I’d like to say that none of the stunts are possible without any of the stunt team, riggers and choreographers. The stunts were designed weeks prior to shooting. Obviously, as much as I’d like to say I did all my stunts, plenty of them in the movie aren’t me. I don’t want to claim all of it. When I read the script and opened the first page, it was such an impressive way to start the movie, and really allowed me to understand where she [Yelena] was.
I was so impressed instantly how as an audience member, we knew what she was feeling and it was because she’s an asssassin that she can land it. For someone to jump off a building like that, with the voiceover, it’s harrowing and not a nice image to have, which is why when she actually steps off, everyone’s stomach just flips. It’s an image we all associate with something really bad.
Coming from Yelena, the way I always thought about that opening sequence is that she is at such a loss, she doesn’t have any reason to be there anymore. She’s lost her sister, she’s lost her family, and her relationship with her father has dwindled to nothing. She’s in such a state and frame of mind that she’s happy to put herself at risk.
Director Jake Schreier described how there is an entire character arc for Yelena in that one moment.
Jake Schreier: What’s really impressive about that stunt, other than the fact that she did it, the shot starts on her face and we’re starting this movie in this real moment of character. I just knew that Florence was so committed to her character, that you knew that you could be in that moment and perform that moment so beautifully. I had no doubt she could do it, but it’s not the stunt itself that’s so impressive, it’s the acting. There’s a whole arc in that moment, character wise.
Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is no stranger to the MCU, having appeared in both the MCU shows and films. Regarding playing the character on screen in both formats, Louis-Dreyfus talked about getting into the rhythm of the character.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus: It’s different from playing a character week to week on an episodic TV show. I would say on TV of course, as you get into rhythm of playing a character, you get to know the character more. In this case, it was a toe–dip and in this particular film you really get to know who this person is. This was a lot to chew on and a lot to explore. She’s an anti-villain, as you get an opportunity to understand why she is the way she is. It doesn’t excuse things, but it’s the way you should always approach a character – without judgment. That was a really exciting way to approach Valentina and her drive. You have to come in from a non-judgmental space. It’s so interesting to consider what fuels her insatiable thirst for power, and a really exciting opportunity to reinvent her.
In terms of new characters, Geraldine Viswanathan and Lewis Pullman make their mark in their first foray into the MCU as Mel and Bob, respectively. Regarding their experiences in Thunderbolts*, the pair shared they are fond of Marvel and the MCU.
Geraldine Viswanathan: In this movie, I have the line: ‘I was in high school when the Avengers came,’ and I really was in high school when I saw that movie at the theatre with my friends at the mall! It was really full circle and surreal to be in one of these movies. I feel so fortunate to enter this universe and in this particular movie, which feels like a breath of fresh air. It has that classic Marvel feeling with this kind of emotional nuance and depth. When I first got to see this movie, I saw it as audience member and cried a bunch, it really landed on me.
Lewis Pullman: I think I remember each one vividly, but Guardians of the Galaxy made me feel like I had made a bunch of new friends. It had such a powerful effect and that’s why Marvel has been doing so well since day one, grounding these beautiful human truths. It’s a hard line to toe. I should really watch it again now that I’m talking about it, as it gives me joy.
Pullman further spoke on how he related to the themes in Thunderbolts*, particularly the ones that have been less-discussed throughout the MCU.
Lewis Pullman: I remember having so many conversations with Jake and Kevin, how to toe the line and hitting some of these less–discussed topics, at least in larger–scale films like this. And doing it in a way that didn’t feel like a PSA but felt grounded and with as much truth from where we were coming from. I grew up pretty anxious and suffering from depression is not a fun thing to talk about. It feels weird to say out loud right now. The big goal in this film was to get rid of that quaky feeling when you bring it up and talk about it. You’re liable to get caught if you just jump. It’s in the silence where the suffering occurs.
Hannah John-Kamen and David Harbour are returning to the MCU after past turns as their characters, Ghost and Red Guardian in Ant-Man and the Wasp and Black Widow, respectively. Both actors shared what’s it’s been like to return to the characters.
Hannah John-Kamen: There’s always some connection as an actor with your character. With Ghost originally, she was in Ant-Man and the Wasp projecting imminent death and this volatile kind of dispution and erruption of physicality. She makes immature death threats and survival decisions to survive. In Thunderbolts*, she’s very much grown–up in her maturity of control and power, and being able to control that herself.
I think she’s more scary in this movie. It’s empowering not having that distraction of pain and imminent death anymore. She’s built a Fort Knox of herself, basically, a guard that she has up and no one can come in. What is wonderful about Ghost’s journey, is her understanding it’s okay to need someone and it’s okay to be relied upon, and also rely on others. You don’t have to go through life on your own. Finding a family, you deserve it and you deserve to be loved.
David Harbour: You could argue that his obsession with rekindling his glory comes from derangement of failure and all these dark places. And yet, also he just loves being a superhero. There is a portion of me as I act that has a very detailed dark backstory to it, and also just me as a kid, putting on supersuit in a Marvel movie with incredible actors, whom I adore. ‘Guys, we get to hang out today!’ I mean, there’s a puppy quality to him. I do love that the film lets me play that.
Sebastian Stan is the resident MCU OG of the cast, having played Bucky Barnes in several films thus far. On returning to the character for Thunderbolts*, Stan spoke about what he’s learned after portraying the character all this time.
Sebastian Stan: I have always talked about him like having a sibling I never had. We’ve both been learning from each other for 15 years. That’s what’s been so amazing about it. I keep coming back to him to bring something I’ve gained along the way in my life. There’s a familiarity with him where I can just jump right in there.
This film was special as the connection was very real. That’s what people are gonna connect with; how real all these characters are. They wear their hearts on their sleeves and try to do right thing, but don’t know if they have the right tools or not. What’s a villain and what’s a hero? My character is always riding that fine line. That’s what we do in life. Learn from the past and try very hard to retain some sort of self.
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