Thunderbolts Trailer Debate: Taskmaster's Absence From Key Scene Sparks Discussion

A new teaser for Thunderbolts has ignited a heated debate among fans regarding the fate of Taskmaster after keen-eyed viewers noticed the character's apparent removal from a pivotal scene.

The original Thunderbolts trailer from September 2024 depicted Taskmaster standing between Ghost and U.S. Agent in the Watchtower scene. However, the latest teaser, released recently, showcases the same scene but with Taskmaster conspicuously absent.

This absence, coupled with the fact that Taskmaster's actress, Olga Kurylenko, was not included in the recent cast announcement for Avengers: Doomsday—while other Thunderbolts characters were—has led some MCU enthusiasts to speculate that Taskmaster might not survive the film.

The question on everyone's mind is: why include Taskmaster in the initial trailer scene only to omit her in the subsequent teaser? Fans have come up with various theories, ranging from Marvel attempting to mislead the audience to adjusting their plans for Avengers: Doomsday.

Furthermore, a close comparison between the frames from the original trailer and the new teaser reveals subtle differences in character positioning beyond Taskmaster's removal. This has sparked speculation about whether Sentry, known for his ability to 'delete' individuals as shown in other trailer clips, might have already eliminated Taskmaster in this scene, unnoticed by the rest of the Thunderbolts. Alternatively, some wonder if Taskmaster could have turned against her allies.

"Marvel pretty much just sealed the fate of this character in the movie," remarked 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, Marvel posts this..."

On the other hand, some fans, like puckallday, believe there might be a twist: "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."

It's worth noting that Sentry's immense power is highlighted in the teaser, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus' character, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, declaring him "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one." This statement fuels speculation that Taskmaster could have been easily dispatched or sent to another dimension by Sentry.

The MCU has been buzzing with activity this week, and we've covered it all, including discussions on whether Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement might have inadvertently spoiled Thunderbolts.

Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more Avengers: Doomsday cast announcements are forthcoming, leaving a glimmer of hope for Taskmaster's future in the franchise.

We won't have to wait long to uncover the truth. Thunderbolts is slated for release 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 to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following a year later in May 2027.