Thunderbolts Set Photo Reveals Taskmaster’s Bittersweet Fate and Surprising Return

by

A photo from Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts film has revealed that Olga Kurylenko will be returning as the mysterious Taskmaster, bringing both excitement and a hint of sadness to fans. A stunt artist, Aurelia Agel, who is listed as Kurylenko’s stunt double in the movie, posted an Instagram picture showing them together dressed in Taskmaster’s distinctive combat gear. This behind-the-scenes image is significant because it suggests that Kurylenko was actually on set to play Antonia Dreykov. Since the character spends most of her screen time in Thunderbolts masked and her role is small before her early exit, Marvel Studios’ decision to have Kurylenko physically present instead of relying solely on a stunt double and CGI for brief unmasked scenes indicates that they are treating both the actress and Taskmaster with respect as they prepare for their farewell in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In the 2021 movie “Black Widow”, Olga Kurylenko portrayed Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster, a character whose storyline differed considerably from the traditional comic book depiction. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Taskmaster was unveiled as General Dreykov’s daughter, Antonia, who suffered severe injuries in an explosion caused by Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson). This accident led to her being transformed into a mind-controlled super-soldier for the Red Room, gaining the ability to mimic any fighting style through photographic reflexes. Fan reactions were split, with some finding the connection to Natasha’s past intriguing, while others regretted the absence of the original Taskmaster’s unique character and autonomy in the MCU version, who was mostly quiet and appeared as a near-robot. The film ended with Antonia being liberated from her father’s chemical control by Natasha and the other Widows, hinting at a new direction for her future.

In the series Thunderbolts, it’s revealed that Taskmaster served as an undercover agent for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) prior to the film’s main events. Valentina’s scheme to eliminate all traces of her illicit activities, involving her assassins killing each other, leads to Taskmaster’s demise. Co-writer Eric Pearson and director Jake Schreier disclosed that Taskmaster’s death at the hands of Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) was added late in the scriptwriting process. This change aimed to heighten the danger for the newly formed team, conveying a sense of real jeopardy, suggesting no character was invulnerable. Pearson explained that in his earlier drafts, Taskmaster had a more developed subplot and survived the film, even developing a connection with Ghost. Despite her significantly reduced role and eventual death for Antonia, set photos confirm Olga Kurylenko filmed these final scenes, providing her with a fitting farewell within the MCU.

Thunderbolts* Keeps Fighting at the Box Office

Regardless of the MCU’s current challenges, Thunderbolts demonstrated remarkable resilience in its second week at the box office. Debuting with a domestic opening weekend of $74 million, it maintained a robust second-weekend domestic earnings of around $33 million. In just ten days, Thunderbolts accumulated a global box office gross of approximately $272 million. The 55% drop in its second-weekend domestic earnings is a positive sign of audience loyalty compared to films like Captain America: Brave New World, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and The Marvels. While it didn’t quite match the under-50% holds of some top MCU titles like Black Panther (around -45%) or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (around -48%), Thunderbolts’ performance puts it on par with well-regarded films such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (around -54%).

The success at the box office for Thunderbolts* can largely be credited to its overwhelmingly positive response from both film critics and regular viewers. The movie has garnered an exceptional 88% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with audience scores soaring above that in the 95% range. Additionally, it received a favorable “A-” grade from CinemaScore. Given that the story revolves around a team of anti-heroes and less prominent characters, these achievements place Thunderbolts* firmly on the map as a hit for Marvel Studios.

Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters.

Share your opinions below about the evolution of Taskmaster within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the performance of Olga Kurylenko. Let’s chat about it in the comment section!

Read More

2025-05-12 12:26