Thunderbolts Teaser Trailer Debate: Taskmaster's Removal Sparks Controversy

The latest teaser for Thunderbolts has ignited a fiery debate among MCU fans about the fate of Taskmaster, especially after keen-eyed viewers noticed the character's absence from a key scene that was previously featured in the September 2024 trailer. In the original trailer, Taskmaster was prominently positioned between Ghost and U.S. Agent during the Watchtower scene. However, the new teaser shows the same scene with Taskmaster conspicuously missing.

This omission, combined with the recent announcement of the Avengers: Doomsday cast, which included Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Lewis Pullman but notably excluded Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster's actress), has led some fans to speculate that Taskmaster might not survive Thunderbolts. The absence of Taskmaster in the latest teaser has only fueled these theories.

Why was Taskmaster included in the initial trailer but removed in the new teaser? Fans have come up with numerous theories. Some believe Marvel might be playing a double-bluff, while others think the studio is hedging its bets regarding the character's role in Avengers: Doomsday. Adding to the mystery, the frames from both the original trailer and the new teaser are not identical; the positions of the characters are slightly different, suggesting that something significant might have happened to Taskmaster in that scene.

Could Sentry, known for his immense power, have "deleted" Taskmaster from the scene? In other trailer shots, Sentry demonstrates the ability to erase people, leading some to theorize that he might have already eliminated Taskmaster at this point in the movie. Alternatively, could Taskmaster have turned against the team? As it stands, the fate of Taskmaster remains uncertain, leaving fans to speculate wildly.

"Marvel pretty much just sealed the fate of this character in the movie," said redditor Matapple13. "Yesterday they announced Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen and Lewis Pullman in the Avengers: Doomsday cast, but Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster's actress) was blatantly absent, and now, Marvels posts this..."

"The amount of people saying she’s dying and Marvel seemingly leaning into that by barely showing her make me think there's a reveal there with her in the movie and that she lives," commented puckallday.

What we do know is that Sentry is incredibly powerful. This new teaser begins with Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, stating that Sentry is "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one." With such power, it's plausible that Taskmaster could have been killed, deleted, or sent to the void by Sentry with just a thought.

The MCU has been buzzing with activity this week, and we've got plenty more to discuss, including whether Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement inadvertently spoiled Thunderbolts. Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more cast reveals are on the horizon for Avengers: Doomsday, which might still hold hope for Taskmaster's future.

We won't have to wait long to find out. Thunderbolts* is set to premiere in May 2025, followed by the TV show Ironheart in June, and Phase 6 will kick off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following in May 2027.