The latest teaser for Thunderbolts has ignited a fervent debate among MCU fans regarding the fate of Taskmaster, portrayed by Olga Kurylenko. In the September 2024 trailer, Taskmaster was prominently featured standing between Ghost and U.S. Agent in a key Watchtower scene. However, the new teaser conspicuously omits Taskmaster from this same scene, sparking speculation and theories about the character's destiny.
Adding fuel to the fire, the recent announcement of the Avengers: Doomsday cast included several Thunderbolts characters but notably excluded Kurylenko. This has led many fans to speculate that Taskmaster might not survive the events of Thunderbolts. The absence of Taskmaster in the new teaser, combined with the cast announcement, has led to widespread theories about the character's fate.
The differences between the original trailer and the new teaser are subtle but significant. Not only is Taskmaster missing, but the positioning of the other characters has slightly shifted. This has led to speculation that Sentry, a character known for his immense power, might have 'deleted' Taskmaster from the scene. Some fans theorize that Sentry could have already killed Taskmaster at this point, while others suggest Taskmaster might have turned against the team.
Redditor Matapple13 commented, "Marvel pretty much just sealed the fate of this character in the movie. Yesterday they announced Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Lewis Pullman in the Avengers: Doomsday cast, but Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster's actress) was blatantly absent, and now, Marvel posts this..."
On the other hand, user puckallday offered a different perspective, saying, "The amount of people saying she’s dying and Marvel seemingly leaning into that by barely showing her make me think there's a reveal there with her in the movie and that she lives."
The teaser begins with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, describing Sentry as "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one." This statement underscores Sentry's formidable power, suggesting that Taskmaster could have been easily dispatched or sent to another dimension by Sentry.The MCU has been buzzing with activity this week, and the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement has only added to the speculation about Thunderbolts. Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more cast reveals are on the horizon, leaving room for hope that Taskmaster might still have a role to play.
Fans won't have to wait long to uncover the truth. Thunderbolts is slated for release in May 2025, followed by the TV show Ironheart in June, and the kickoff of Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July. Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following in May 2027.
