IMPORTANT: SPOILERS AHEAD for Thunderbolts* (or the latest title variant). The newly released film features a stellar cast including Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan portraying Bucky Barnes, Wyatt Russell as John Walker, David Harbour taking on the role of Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, and Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster. It is well known that most films, especially within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, undergo extensive revisions from their initial script to the final product, and Thunderbolts* is no exception. Notably, Taskmaster experienced the most significant alterations.
While the early promotional materials hinted at a lack of screen time for Taskmaster, the character’s fate took a shocking turn when they were killed off shortly after being shot in the head by Ghost (Ava). In the original screenplay penned by Eric Pearson, however, Taskmaster not only survived but also played a considerably more substantial role throughout the film. After Pearson transitioned to work on the script for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, he passed the reins to Joanna Calo and only learned of these changes when he viewed the film’s first cut.
“The decision was made after my contribution came to a close,” Pearson recounted in an interview with Polygon. “When I finally watched the initial cut, I was taken aback by one particular change that completely surprised me. Everything else felt familiar, but that twist really stood out.”
Pearson expressed uncertainty about the rationale behind this narrative shift, hypothesizing, “If I had to venture a guess, it was likely intended to generate an audience reaction akin to mine—‘Wow, the stakes are being raised, and something drastic is happening fast, which keeps everyone on their toes.’” In the original storyline, Taskmaster developed a bond with Ghost, as both were products of laboratory environments and trained as lethal weapons. “Ava, having achieved her autonomy earlier in the timeline than Taskmaster, was somewhat mentoring her on how to liberate herself and discover her true identity,” Pearson elaborated.
Moreover, there was an intended comedic aspect in which Taskmaster repeatedly attempted to assassinate John Walker after mistakenly forgetting their newfound friendship. “On the comedic front, she was grappling with her own memory loss, leading to a humorous situation where she kept initiating combat, oblivious to the fact that they had reconciled and become allies,” Pearson detailed. “During discussions about their escape plan [of the vault], she would impulsively charge at him again, resulting in everyone needing to tackle her to remind her, ‘No, we’re friends! We’ve had this exact conversation!’”
Pearson speculated whether this element was removed due to Bob (played by Lewis Pullman) experiencing his own memory challenges. “That could be another factor influencing the decision to diminish her role in the film,” he reflected. “Bob’s memory issues were clearly a significant aspect of his character arc.”
The buzz surrounding Thunderbolts* is palpable, yet the initial box office performance has left something to be desired. Our own Chris Bumbray commented that the film represents a “notable improvement” compared to Captain America: Brave New World, but he cautioned that “it doesn’t quite live up to the expectations set by some of the overly enthusiastic early reviews.” Nevertheless, Bumbray expressed enjoyment in the film, stating, “I found myself having a more enjoyable experience with Thunderbolts than with any other recent Marvel movie (aside from Deadpool and Wolverine). ” For a more detailed analysis, you can read the full review here, and we’d love to hear your thoughts on the film as well!
