MCU Star Challenges Thunderbolts Skeptics: 'Prepare to Be Proven Wrong'

Wyatt Russell, known for portraying U.S. Agent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is determined to silence the skeptics surrounding the upcoming film, Thunderbolts. In a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Russell emphasized the collective ambition of the cast to transform the movie into something special, drawing confidence from his own background in ice hockey.

“We came to this as a group of people who were like, ‘Let’s make this our own thing, let’s make it great and let’s make people put their foot in their mouths,’ ” Russell explained. He highlighted his athletic past as a motivator, stating, “I have a little bit of an athletic background, so I was like, ‘Yeah, I want to make you eat your words if you’re like, this movie’s going to blow, I don’t want to go see it.' ”

Russell pointed out the unique challenge of Thunderbolts, describing it as not being a "primed movie." He elaborated that unlike the Avengers, who had their individual origin stories leading up to their team-up films, the characters in Thunderbolts lack such foundational narratives. This aspect, according to Russell, presents an exciting opportunity to engage audiences in a different way.

The film boasts an ensemble cast including Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster, Lewis Pullman as Bob / Sentry / Void, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr / Ghost, and Wyatt Russell reprising his role as John Walker / U.S. Agent.

“There are no characters in this film, really, that have their own stuff in the Marvel universe that much,” Russell noted, underscoring the film's focus on a team of misfits rather than established heroes like Captain America, Thor, or Iron Man. He praised the challenge set by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige for director Jake Schreier and the cast, which they embraced with enthusiasm.

Russell also touched upon the diverse career paths of his co-stars, many of whom have achieved success outside the MCU. He mentioned his own journey through various television roles, David Harbour's Broadway experience since 2000, Sebastian Stan's extensive career before and beyond Marvel, and Florence Pugh's versatility, indicating that their varied backgrounds contribute to the unique dynamic of Thunderbolts.

The Thunderbolts: The Tumultuous History of Marvel's Twisted Super-Team

View 11 Images

Earlier this month, Sebastian Stan shared insights into his career struggles before joining the MCU as the Winter Soldier. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Stan recounted how a $65,000 residuals payment from his role as Blaine in the 2010 film Hot Tub Time Machine was a lifeline during a challenging period. This payment came just before he landed the role of James "Bucky" Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger alongside Chris Evans.

“I was actually struggling with work,” Stan admitted. “I had just gotten off the phone with my business manager, who told me I was saved by $65,000 that came in residuals from Hot Tub Time Machine.”

Stan's portrayal of Bucky Barnes has since become a staple in the MCU, with appearances in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, various Avengers films, and the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. He is also set to reprise his role in Thunderbolts. Additionally, Stan's name was included in the Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal, indicating that fans can expect to see Bucky and other Thunderbolts members, including John Walker, continue their journey in the MCU.