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

Wyatt Russell, known for his role as U.S. Agent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is determined to silence the skeptics of the upcoming Thunderbolts film. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Russell highlighted the cast's collective resolve to create something special and challenge any negative expectations surrounding the movie. Drawing from his background in ice hockey, Russell expressed a competitive spirit, eager to prove doubters wrong.

“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 stated. He further emphasized his personal drive, saying, "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 that Thunderbolts presents a unique challenge because it doesn't follow the traditional superhero formula. Unlike the Avengers, who had origin stories leading into their team-up movies, Thunderbolts features a roster of characters without such established narratives. The film stars 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 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. He emphasized the film's focus on a group of misfits, describing the project as an exciting challenge set forth by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to director Jake Schreier and the ensemble cast.

Russell also touched on the diverse career paths of the Thunderbolts actors, noting that many had established themselves outside of Marvel before joining the franchise. He mentioned his own varied television work, David Harbour's Broadway experience, Sebastian Stan's pre-MCU career, and Florence Pugh's accomplishments beyond Marvel, illustrating that their identities are not solely defined by their roles in the MCU.

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

View 11 ImagesIn a related story, Sebastian Stan recently shared his career struggles before landing the pivotal role of the Winter Soldier in the MCU. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Stan revealed that he was on the brink of financial hardship when a $65,000 residuals check from his role in the 2010 film Hot Tub Time Machine provided a crucial lifeline. This allowed him to take on the role of James "Bucky" Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger alongside Chris Evans.

“I was actually struggling with work,” Stan recalled. “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.”

Since then, Stan has reprised his role in multiple MCU projects, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, several Avengers films, and the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. He is also set to return as Bucky in the highly anticipated Thunderbolts film. Stan's continued presence in the MCU, along with other Thunderbolts members like John Walker, suggests that these characters will remain integral to the Marvel universe for the foreseeable future.