Earlier this year, it looked like Oscar-nominated actor Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead, Nope, Minari) was boarding Marvel Studios’ planned live-action film adaptation of Thunderbolts. However, it looks like it was no longer meant to be. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Yeun is no longer suiting up for the antihero-centric comic book movie that’s currently in the works at Marvel. It was heavily rumored that Yeun was going to play The Sentry in the upcoming feature.
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Yeun has been connected to the project since February 2023. However, Marvel Studios never officially confirmed his casting. During the Marvel Studios presentation of Thunderbolts at the D23 2022 expo, the film announced returning cast members Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova/Black Widow, David Harbout as Alexei Alanovich Shostakov/Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr/Ghost, Wyatt Russell as John Walker/U.S. Agent, Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier.
STEVEN YEUN REPORTEDLY EXITS MARVEL’S THUNDERBOLTS
The Marvel Studios tentpole underwent many delays as a result of both the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and actors union (SAG-AFTRA) strikes that took place last year. The film was originally expected to hit theaters in July 2024. Now, it’s scheduled for a July 2025 theatrical release.
Thunderbolts has not yet begun filming. Jake Schreier (Robot & Frank, Netflix’s Beef) is attached to direct the upcoming project. Yeun reportedly leaving the project is a major blow as he’s been a surging talent as of late. Since leaving his role as Glenn in The Walking Dead, his profile has grown with his acclaimed roles in films such as Minari and Nope, the former of which netted him his first Academy Award nomination. He is also up for a Golden Globe Award for Best Male Actor in a Limited Series for his role in the hit Netflix limited series Beef.
Yeun is also no stranger to superhero IP. He currently voices Mark Grayson, aka Invincible, in Prime Video’s smash hit animated series, Invincible, based on the Robert Kirkman comic of the same name. He’s also due to star in Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 and the Sundance feature, Love Me, opposite Kristen Stewart.
Originally debuting in January 1997, the original Thunderbolts comic published by Marvel was created by writer Kurt Busiek and artist Mark Bagley. The story followed a fresh, new superhero team who burst onto the scene in the wake of the epic battle with Onslaught, with the world believing that many of the world’s bravest heroes, such as the Avengers and the Fantastic Four, are dead.
However, this team held a dark secret. The Thunderbolts were actually the Masters of Evil in disguise, tricking the world with their false identities, with Baron Helmut Zemo leading the team under the persona of Citizen V. However, while Zemo is plotting a scheme to take over the world, the other team members begin to get lost in their roles, and the former villains start to enjoy the adulation they receive as superheroes.
That was the original concept and premise for the team, but it went through many permutations and lineups over the years. The team has gone through many revamps and changes over the years. At one point, Hawkeye even quit the Avengers to become the Thunderbolts’ new leader. It appeared that the movie was going to go through a slightly different concept on the team, with possibly Winter Soldier leading a team of former superhero adversaries.
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Either that or possibly the Thunderbolts might be working for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who was revealed to be the United States Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It’s still not clear how The Sentry will figure into the storyline, along with his darker half known as Void. Sadly, it will no longer be Steven Yeun taking up the role.
If it can still meet its current release date, Marvel’s Thunderbolts is currently slated for a July 25, 2025 release date.
About Thunderbolts
Release Date: July 25, 2025 (USA)
Director: Jake Schreier
Producer: Kevin Feige
Writers: Lee Sung Jin, Eric Pearson
Production Company: Marvel Studios
Distributed By: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Cast: Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Harrison Ford, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Wyatt Russell, Ayo Edebiri, Olga Kurylenko, and Hannah John-Kamen
No Synopsis or Logline Available
What do you think of the news? Is this a bad sign for Marvel’s Thunderbolts? Do you think the project will eventually get back on track, or have you lost interest with Steven Yeun leaving the project? Let us know your thoughts about the news on The Illuminerdi’s social media.
SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter
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