Thunderbolts Star Vows to Prove Critics Wrong: 'You'll Eat Your Words'

Wyatt Russell, known for his role as U.S. Agent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is determined to silence the skeptics surrounding the upcoming film, Thunderbolts. In a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Russell shared that he and his co-stars are driven to defy any negative expectations about the movie. He drew a parallel to his ice hockey background, suggesting it has prepared him well for this challenge.

"We approached this project as a team, eager to make it uniquely ours and prove the doubters wrong," Russell explained. "With my athletic background, I'm motivated to show those who dismiss the film as a potential disappointment that they're mistaken."

Russell highlighted the unique challenge of Thunderbolts, noting that unlike other Marvel films, it doesn't rely on characters with established origin stories. "The superheroes—or anti-heroes—in this film don't have their own lead-up movies like the Avengers did," he said. This aspect sets Thunderbolts apart, as it focuses on a group of less conventional, 'misfit' characters.

The cast of Thunderbolts is a powerhouse ensemble, including 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 himself as John Walker/U.S. Agent. "These characters don't have extensive solo arcs in the Marvel universe," Russell added, emphasizing the film's departure from the typical Marvel formula.

"It's not about the big names like Captain America, Thor, or Iron Man. Thunderbolts is about these unique, often overlooked characters," Russell remarked. He praised the challenge set by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and director Jake Schreier, which has galvanized the cast. "Most of us didn't start our careers in this universe," he noted, pointing out the diverse professional backgrounds of the actors, including his own varied TV roles, David Harbour's Broadway experience, and Sebastian Stan's extensive work outside of Marvel.

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

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Earlier this month, Sebastian Stan opened up about his career struggles before joining the MCU as the Winter Soldier. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Stan revealed that a $65,000 residuals payment from his role in the 2010 film Hot Tub Time Machine was a lifesaver. "I was actually struggling with work," Stan admitted. "That payment came just in time."

Stan's portrayal of James "Bucky" Barnes began with Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011, alongside Chris Evans. He has since reprised his role in several films, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, various Avengers movies, and most recently, Captain America: Brave New World. Stan is set to return as Bucky in next month's Thunderbolts. His inclusion in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal suggests that fans can expect to see Bucky and other Thunderbolts members, like John Walker, continue their journey in the MCU.