On May 1st, Marvel unveils its highly anticipated 36th film, ‘Thunderbolts*,’ a striking addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe that delves deep into the complexities of mental health. The film offers an empathetic exploration of how individuals grappling with mental health issues often encounter misunderstanding and stigma, highlighting the shadows that can cloud human experience.
The story centres around a unique ensemble of indie veterans who have compromised their ideals for notoriety. It features a refreshingly irreverent team-up led by the brooding assassin Yelena Belova. Together, this unlikely crew of misfits—initially the least anticipated characters in the MCU—brings a captivating dynamic to the screen, navigating their own struggles while confronting the darker aspects of their identities.
Helmed by the talented newcomer Jake Schreier, ‘ Thunderbolts*’ boasts an impressive cast that includes the brilliant Florence Pugh, the charismatic Sebastian Stan, the formidable David Harbour, the rugged Wyatt Russell, the enigmatic Olga Kurylenko, the rising star Lewis Pullman, the charming Geraldine Viswanathan, the seasoned Chris Bauer, the veteran Wendell Edward Pierce, along with the captivating Hannah John-Kamen and the iconic Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Together, they promise to deliver a compelling narrative that resonates emotionally while challenging societal perceptions of mental health.
During a recent press tour, the cast sat down for a press conference to discuss the upcoming movie.
Florence Pugh on that major dive off a tall building in the opening sequence of the movie.
“I’d just like to say, obviously none of the stunts are possible without any of the stuntees and the riggers and the choreo that has been designed by brilliant stunts for weeks prior to shooting. So obviously, as much as I like to say that I did a portion of my stunts, there’s also plenty in the movie that isn’t me. So just [laugh] I don’t wanna claim all of it.
When you’re reading it, on a page, it did feel like she was stepping off a building alongside the voiceover as if she was taking her own life. And when I read it, I just remember thinking how powerful it was to start a movie like that, and the trust that, clearly, everybody was already having in putting a potential stunt in a script like that from many, many months before we started shooting. I was just so impressed by it. And I also was just so impressed instantly how, as an audience member, we knew exactly where she was feeling. And it was only because she’s obviously an assassin that she can land it. But for someone to jump off a building like that with the voiceover, it’s harrowing. It’s not a nice image to have, which is why when she actually steps off, everybody’s stomachs do just flip. It’s an image that we all associate with something is really, really bad. So I loved being a part of that.”
David Harbour on bringing out his inner child for his character, Red Guardian.
“You could argue that his obsession with rekindling his glory comes from a derangement of failure in all these dark places. And yet he also just loves being a superhero. And I think there is a portion of me as I act that has a very detailed backstory, dark things to it. And then there’s also just me as a kid putting on a super suit, like in a Marvel movie, sitting in a thing with all these amazing, incredible actors who I adore and just being like, guys, we get to like hang out today, [laugh] I mean, there’s a puppy quality to him.”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the comparison of multiple outings as ‘Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’ against her TV work.
“I would say it’s different from playing a character week to week on an episodic television show. I would say, on television, of course, as you get into the rhythm of playing a character, you get to know the character more. But in this case, it was a toe dip and a little bit of a toe dip and a toe dip. In this particular film, you get to know who this person is. So this experience, albeit I loved everything before, was a lot to chew on and a lot to explore from a sort of, well, I’m referring to her as sort of an antivillain, the way these guys are anti-heroes. [laugh] Because I think that you get an opportunity to understand maybe why she is the way she is. And doesn’t necessarily excuse things, but it’s understanding. And frankly, it’s the way you approach a character under all circumstances, whether they’re the so-called good guy or a bad guy, which is without judgment. And so that was a really exciting way to approach Valentina and her drive.”
Lewis Pullman on his character ‘Bob’ and the mental health element of the storyline.
“I think having so many conversations with Jake (Schreier/Director) and Kevin (Feige/Producer) about how to toe this line, right? Of hitting some of these less discussed topics, at least in a kind of larger scale films like this, in a way that didn’t feel like it was a PSA, but that was very grounded and has had as much truth from where we were coming from as possible. I think that was the way to kind of hit the bullet with the bullet. I grew up pretty anxious and suffering from depression. That is not a fun thing to talk about. So it feels weird to even say out loud right now. But I think that was a big goal in this film. It was to be like let’s kind of get rid of that kind of weird, quaky feeling that you get when you bring it up and when you talk about it, because that’s what this movie’s all about. Is that when you do, you’re liable to get caught if you just jump? And if you have people around you, and just it’s in the silence where really the suffering kind of occurs.”
Wyatt Russell on John Walker’s selfish need to be seen as a superhero.
“John’s an interesting guy because he really believes in who he is and what he does. And part of Falcon and the Winter Soldier I felt was so important was to portray this new version of an American hero. And Steve Rogers was born out of World War II, and he was the guy who jumped on the grenade for selfless reasons. John Walker will jump on the grenade, but he wants to jump on the grenade so someone will film it and put it on Instagram and make him a national hero. And so, they’re not completely selfless reasons. And that I think that’s a reflection of society today, where nobody’s doing anything out of selfless reasons. We’re all hoping a camera’s on us and we’ll get famous on TikTok or Instagram. I mean, that’s the sad truth. But I think it is reality. And I like playing that version of an American hero who has to get torn down to a point in his life where it’s a very basic aspect of all of us.”
Sebastian Stan on the evolution of Bucky Barnes and how the character has shaped him over the past 15 years.
“I’ve always talked about him like having a sibling I’ve never had, honestly. I think we’ve both been learning from each other for 15 years in a way. I think that’s what’s been amazing for me to be able to kind of keep coming back to him is to bring something that I’ve sort of gained along the way in my life; it’s always different for me. I mean, there is a familiarity with him now that sort of feels like I can just jump in there, but with this, it was special for numerous reasons because it felt very real, the connection, and so on. I think that’s what’s at the heart of this film, and I think that’s what people are gonna connect, perhaps in a different way. I don’t know. You know, it’s how real all of these characters are. And that they wear their hearts on their sleeve and they’re trying to do the right thing and they don’t know if they have the tools or not. My character’s always been riding that fine line and trying to figure it out himself without losing who he is or trying to regain himself again. And that’s sort of what we do in life. You have to learn from your past. You have to keep moving forward, and you’re trying very hard to retain some sort of self. And so I think it was a great place for me to kind of jump into with everybody here.”
The movie hits cinemas on May 2nd. Read our review here.
