With its 36th film in 17 years, there really is nothing quite like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Their latest film, Thunderbolts*, brings together some of the MCU’s misfits as they combine their skills and strengths to bring down a villain and find some kinship along the way. We joined the global press conference to find out more about the film, and no, we can’t tell you what the asterisk means; it is a tightly held secret.
Florence Pugh, who plays Yelena Belova, starts the film on a literal high note, preparing to jump from one of the highest buildings in the world. Pugh starts by giving credit to the crew involved.
“Firstly, I’d just like to say, obviously none of the stunts are possible without the stuntees, and the riggers and the choreo designed by brilliant stunts for weeks prior to shooting. As much as I like to say that I did a portion of my stunts, there is also plenty in the movie that aren’t me. I don’t want to claim all of it.”
Pugh explains how the jump gave her an insight into Yelena’s mindset in this film. “When I read the script and opened the first page, it was such an impressive way to start the movie, and it really allowed me to understand where she was. She doesn’t have any reason to be there anymore. She’s lost her sister; she’s lost her family. The relationship with her father is dwindled to nothing. She’s in such a state and a frame of mind that she’s happy to put herself at risk.”
We are accustomed to seeing Yelena in her supersuit, but on her first mission, she does not wear protective clothing. Pugh explains that this reflects her state of mind.
“Even though she’s still doing all of these cool things and these cool stunts, realistically, she’s going into a mission completely bare. And that also adds texture as to how desperate she is for someone to end it for her.”
The film’s director, Jake Schreier, says that he had complete trust in Pugh’s skill as an actor to pull off good acting from such a high filming location.
“Florence is so committed to character that I knew she could be in that moment and perform so beautifully on a character level. She’s got to pull off the most death-defying as a person and know that when she’s in that character, that’s gonna happen. I never had any doubt that she would do it. But that, to me, it’s not the stunt itself that’s so impressive; it’s the acting within it.”
David Harbour returns as Alexei Shostakov, the Red Guardian, a character bursting with enthusiasm. Harbour says he loves the character deeply.
“You could argue that his obsession with rekindling his glory comes from a derangement of failure in all these dark places. And yet also he just loves being a superhero. I think there is a portion of me as I act that has a very detailed backstory with dark things to it. Then there’s also just me as a kid putting on a super suit in a Marvel movie with all these amazing, incredible actors who I adore and just being to hang out.”
Lewis Pullman is new to the MCU. He plays Bob, a character with no powers who finds himself caught up with the Thunderbolts. He recalls watching Guardians of the Galaxy and how Marvel has changed the movie-making game.
“I remember each one pretty vividly. Guardians of the Galaxy shattered my world of what was possible. I remember walking out of that and feeling like I had a bunch of new friends. I wanted to watch it again because that was the only way to keep hanging out with them, you know? That’s such a powerful effect. That’s what Marvel’s been doing since day one so well: doing these kinds of extraordinary circumstances but grounding them with these beautiful human truths.
The film leans into the darker and more painful side of life, as most of the characters are forced to face their past trauma. Pullman says he identified strongly with this.
“I grew pretty anxious and suffering from depression, and that is not a fun thing to talk about. It feels weird to even say out loud, but it was a big goal in this film. Let’s get rid of that kind of weird, quaky feeling that you get when you bring it up and talk about it because that’s what this movie’s all about. You are liable to get caught if you jump if you have people around you. It’s in the silence where really the suffering occurs.”
Wyatt Russell returns as John Walker, a man who was temporarily the new Captain America until he did something terrible. Russell says Walker represents many people today.
“John’s an interesting guy because he really believes in who he is and what he does. In Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it was so important to portray this new version of an American hero. 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.”
Russell says this new Walker is part of a darker side of today’s world.
“[he is] reflective of society today, where nobody’s doing anything out of selfless reasons. We’re all hoping a camera will be on us and we’ll become famous on TikTok or Instagram. That’s the sad truth, but I think it is reality. I Like playing that version of an American hero who has to get torn down and go to the very bottom and hit rock bottom before he can start a journey back to somewhere you want to be.”
The actor says he isn’t like Walker but can understand certain aspects of the character.
“I don’t think I’m very much like John, but in my prior life, I knew a lot of people who were like John. Growing up playing athletics and doing sports for a living, you have to put on armour, and you have to just put all your vulnerabilities to the side. You don’t ever admit that you’re feeling bad. You don’t ever want to talk to anybody about it because the second you do that, that little crack of vulnerability can destroy you. It’s fun to be able to turn that on its head with a character and realize that vulnerability actually makes you stronger.”
Sebastian Stan returns as Bucky Barnes, the former Winter Solider and says that after playing the character for so long, he feels like Bucky is his brother.
“I’ve always talked about him like having a sibling I’ve never had. I think we’ve both been learning from each other for 15 years, in a way. And I think that’s what’s been amazing for me: to be able to keep coming back to him and to bring something that I’ve gained along the way in my life. And it’s always different for me. There is a familiarity with him now that feels like I can jump in there, but with this, it was special for numerous reasons because it felt very real the connection.”
Stan believes audiences will connect with the characters who are trying their hardest to do the right thing even when they aren’t sure how to go about it.
“I think what people are gonna connect is how real all of these characters are. And that they wear their hearts on their sleeve and are trying to do the right thing, and they don’t know if they have the tools. My character’s always been riding that fine line [between hero and villain] 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.”
Words – Cara O’Doherty
THUNDERBOLTS* is now showing in Irish cinemas