"Thunderbolts Trailer Debate: Taskmaster's Absence Sparks Controversy"

A new teaser for Thunderbolts has ignited a fiery debate among fans concerning the fate of Taskmaster, following the noticeable absence of the character in a key scene.

In the Thunderbolts trailer released in September 2024, Taskmaster was prominently positioned between Ghost and U.S. Agent in the Watchtower scene. However, the latest teaser for the film, which you can view below, shows the same scene but without Taskmaster.

This omission, coupled with the absence of Taskmaster's actress, Olga Kurylenko, from the recently announced cast list for Avengers: Doomsday—while other Thunderbolts characters were included—has led many MCU enthusiasts to speculate that Taskmaster may not survive the film.

The sudden change from the original trailer has sparked numerous fan theories. Some believe Marvel might be employing a double-bluff strategy or adjusting their narrative plans in relation to Avengers: Doomsday. Additionally, a closer examination reveals that not only is Taskmaster missing, but the positions of the other characters are slightly altered, suggesting that Sentry might have 'deleted' Taskmaster from the scene. Given Sentry's demonstrated ability to erase people in other trailer snippets, it's plausible that Taskmaster could have been eliminated before the other Thunderbolts members realized it. Alternatively, some fans speculate that Taskmaster might have turned against the team.

"Marvel pretty much just sealed the fate of this character in the movie," noted redditor Matapple13. "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, some fans hold out hope for a twist. "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," suggested puckallday.

It's worth noting that Sentry's immense power is highlighted in the new teaser, with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, describing him as "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one." This could imply that Taskmaster was easily disposed of by Sentry, perhaps sent to the void or otherwise removed from the scene.

The MCU has been bustling with activity this week, including discussions on whether the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement might have spoiled elements of Thunderbolts. Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more Avengers: Doomsday cast reveals are forthcoming, leaving room for optimism regarding Taskmaster's future.

We won't have to wait long to uncover the truth. Thunderbolts is slated for release in May 2025, followed by the Ironheart TV show in June, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps kicking off Phase 6 in July. Avengers: Doomsday is currently scheduled to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following in May 2027.