Why Thunderbolts*’ Script Modified To Kill Taskmaster Defined By MCU Film Director

Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier opens up on Taskmaster’s Marvel Cinematic Universe loss of life. The MCU gender-flipped a basic Marvel supervillain for Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster, launched in Black Widow; however the character turned out to have a fairly brief lifespan, shockingly killed off in Thunderbolts*‘s opening scenes.

To be truthful, Taskmaster’s early loss of life was straightforward to see coming; attentive viewers swiftly noticed hints from the trailers that she was solely round within the first act. Nonetheless, there was to intense debate over whether or not her destiny was modified behind the scenes.

ScreenRant’s personal Joe Deckelmeier not too long ago sat down with director Jake Schreier to advertise the upcoming residence media launch for Thunderbolts*, the place the director bought an opportunity to handle how Taskmaster’s loss of life took place. Slightly than being a last-minute addition to reshoots, this was one thing that was labored on after the Hollywood strikes, as Schreier defined:

Jake Schreier: Simply to be clear, it isn’t a late add for reshoots. As soon as we got here out of the strike–and we hadn’t shot something earlier than the strike–we redeveloped the script for, I believe, 5 months. So it occurred then. So, it isn’t as if we shot a film after which modified it. It was within the taking pictures script. It is simply [that] there had been taking pictures scripts the place that did not occur.

I believe that, as we have been doing that improvement, trying on the film that we had been about to make earlier than the strike, and making an attempt to make it even higher, we felt that the film felt somewhat cold – a film about individuals who kill others for a residing and do not assume something of it. To not have that represented or occur felt like we weren’t actually paying off what we have been saying about these characters.

Clearly, it is no small factor to do away with a personality like that, that is essential to individuals, and Olga [Kurylenko is] a beautiful actress. We simply felt – particularly on condition that the workforce had been introduced – that we could not simply convey a brand new character into it after which off them, and that would not have fairly the importance of doing what we did. And we felt that there was worth in seeing the way in which they carry out their duties at present, after which additionally hoping that, for the viewers, it means, “Nicely, if they’ll do this, they might do something.”

And [we felt there was] a sure stage of stress that it delivered to the film going ahead, and in addition an emotional resonance. And once you see Ava and Yelena talk about that loss of life and what they’ve come to that they are simply doing issues like that to one another, and Yelena recognizing that that might be any of them… to make that true, I believe you need to truly take that step and do it. However I perceive that it is a factor to do and there are people who care about that character. It was not finished evenly, is all that may say.

I believe that we felt like, with Taskmaster, there may be this slight relationship that Yelena has to her from Black Widow. They are not as instantly related, however there’s a connection, and [we felt] that might give it extra emotional resonance than if it have been anybody else that occurred within the movie.

Although it was sudden, Schreier’s feedback make plenty of sense for Taskmaster, as this did add a stage of stakes to the MCU installment. Oddly sufficient, I am unable to assist pondering there is a sense wherein Taskmaster’s loss of life served as an odd Thunderbolts* Easter egg, given the workforce is mainly Marvel’s Suicide Squad – and never everybody makes it out alive.

To be truthful, it might have been unusual if each member of the workforce made it to Thunderbolts* post-credits scenes alive. That might have made the Section 5 film really feel bereft of consequence, a frequent criticism with some MCU movies and TV reveals up to now. It’s also a intelligent option to play with viewers expectations, particularly after closely advertising Taskmaster as one of many predominant gamers.

I am happy to listen to Schreier elaborate on Taskmaster’s destiny, as a result of it might have been somewhat disappointing to study a complete character’s destiny was determined via reshoots. The larger query, although, is whether or not there might be one other Taskmaster – or maybe even her daughter from the comics, Finesse, who would give this Thunderbolts* member a legacy.

Whereas Taskmaster’s time within the MCU could also be over for now, the Thunderbolts* workforce, a.ok.a. the New Avengers, are simply getting began, as they are going to be again in Avengers: Doomsday. Following the top of Thunderbolts*, extra particulars on the workforce’s 2026 return will hopefully emerge sooner somewhat than later.

Thunderbolts*

8/10

Launch Date

Might 2, 2025

Runtime

127 minutes

Director

Jake Schreier

Writers

Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo