Thunderbolts* star Lewis Pullman breaks down how movie tackles mental health

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As a dedicated fan, I’m thrilled about the upcoming Marvel film, Thunderbolts. It’s being hailed as a refreshing revival for the superhero franchise, and one aspect that’s garnering particular acclaim is its nuanced approach to dealing with its grittier themes.

The movie delves deeply into issues related to depression and mental health, as portrayed in the lives of certain characters like Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, and also metaphorically through the character of The Void, an alternate persona of comic book figure Bob/The Sentry.

He clarified that achieving the perfect blend of tones was quite challenging. However, Jake Schreier, our director, served as our guiding star throughout this process.

It’s a delicate subject because one must use appropriate terminology when discussing such matters, yet there’s also a fear of saying something incorrect or offensive. This can make it difficult to engage in open conversation.

He also mentioned that it’s advantageous when a group of individuals who don’t fit the norm engage in discussions on such topics, as it breaks down the formal atmosphere. It makes one feel less restricted, so even if someone makes an error or expresses an unpopular opinion, they aren’t immediately labeled as a ‘bad person,’ but instead, the conversation can continue without fear of being silenced.

It’s important to learn the correct terms, yet remember to show yourself grace when making mistakes along the way. Balance learning diligently with self-compassion.

It’s striking how the Thunderbolts can serve as a means for delving into profound themes.

Director Schreier, renowned for his work on the popular Netflix show “Beef,” expressed enthusiasm about delving into certain themes, partially because they resonated with him on a personal level.

He mentioned that he has many artist friends who often grapple with their emotions, and he finds this to be quite common. However, it’s the same individuals who battle with these feelings who are also among the wittiest and most captivating people he knows.

One doesn’t get a feeling that the location where you are at any given moment dictates your identity, and humor can frequently be found in challenging circumstances. As a result, it didn’t seem necessary to restrict ourselves to certain choices about our experiences.

In my film-critic perspective, I’ve delved into comparable motifs in the film ‘Beef’, and it dawned on me that concepts revolving around the concept of nothingness or emptiness are no longer confined to specialized realms.

He stated, “At this moment, everyone can relate to such things. It may appear unusual to produce a summer blockbuster around this topic, but let me clarify: it isn’t a paradox. Just like any other subject matter, this can resonate with a wide audience.

In the discussion earlier, it’s worth mentioning that one method used to delve into these topics was through the introduction of The Sentry/The Void, a character that Schreier felt particularly proud to introduce to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the very first time.

He clarified, “He’s long been an embodiment of mental health issues.” He found it amusing to observe the online responses such as, “How will they defeat him?” It’s like Superman has kryptonite; Sentry’s vulnerability is The Void, another aspect of himself. This continuous theme revolves around his dual nature and internal struggle.

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2025-05-02 08:34