Marvel Almost Made Taskmaster the Star of Thunderbolts—Here’s How the Movie Would Have Changed

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Caution: Potential plot reveals for Thunderbolts* ahead! Screenwriter Eric Pearson has openly discussed the most unexpected twist in Thunderbolts*: the shocking demise of Antonia Dreykov, alias Taskmaster. In an interview with ComicBook, Pearson admitted that he hadn’t known about Taskmaster’s death until he watched the movie himself, and in his initial draft, she survived until the end. In a separate conversation with Polygon, Pearson disclosed additional insights into his narrative for Taskmaster and her role in the film’s remainder. This offers an intriguing peek at what didn’t make the final cut, although we can only guess as to why.

Pearson noted that in his script, Taskmaster and Ghost seemed to develop a significant subplot where they appeared to bond. He believed it would be quite natural for these characters, both having grown up in labs and being subjected to control, to form a friendship. We discover in “Ant-Man and the Wasp” that Ghost was raised in a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility to harness her quantum shifting powers, while we learn from “Black Widow” that Antonia was trained rigorously under the control of her father, General Dreykov.

In essence, Ava, who gained independence before Taskmaster, was subtly guiding him, offering advice on how to stand alone and become an individual, as Pearson put it. He also appreciated Taskmaster’s presence in the team since he occasionally balanced out the over-the-top drama and self-pity of the other characters.

He remarked, “Everyone inside has endured tremendous hardships,” he said. “However, she stood out as an extraordinary example of suffering. If we were to compare her to other tragedies in history, she would rank at the very top. The magnitude of her struggle was so profound that no one else could claim to have suffered more.

In Pearson’s vision, Taskmaster was portrayed as the most illogical and unpredictable member of the team, almost like a wild card. He frequently inserted a humorous recurring gag involving Taskmaster persistently attempting to kill John Walker even after everyone else had recognized that they were all sent to the vault by Valentina to perish. This character’s memory loss and extraordinary abilities seem to have placed her in a role analogous to the Hulk in the initial Avengers lineup. Pearson speculated that this subplot might have been eliminated due to its strong resemblance to the primary plot, where a supposed ally ultimately reveals themselves as the main antagonist.

1. “He suggested that might be another explanation for why they decided to feature her more prominently in the film.”

2. “He speculated that could have been one more reason behind their decision to highlight her role in the movie.”

3. “He posited that it could possibly be an additional factor leading them to showcase her more in the movie.”

4. “He proposed that this might be yet another motive for featuring her more noticeably in the film.”

As for Bob’s character:

1. “It seemed evident that Bob was experiencing memory problems, which played a significant role in his persona.”

2. “Bob appeared to struggle with memory lapses, which were integral to his portrayal.”

3. “His forgetfulness and memory issues were clearly a key aspect of the character he played.”

4. “Memory troubles were a defining element in Bob’s characterization, as it was evident from his performance.”

Fans eagerly anticipate that if Taskmaster reappears in the MCU, they hope the character will closely follow his comics counterpart. Meanwhile, the unpredictable Antonia could go in any direction. Speaking of, *Thunderbolts* is currently playing in cinemas.

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2025-05-06 00:00