MCU Star Challenges Thunderbolts Critics: 'Prepare to 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 conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Russell shared his and his co-stars' collective drive to transform the movie into a standout success, drawing on his own background in ice hockey to fuel his determination.

"We approached this project as a team, eager to make it uniquely ours and prove the naysayers wrong," Russell explained. "With my athletic history, I'm motivated to show those who doubt the film that they'll have to eat their words."

Russell highlighted the unique challenge of Thunderbolts, noting that unlike other Marvel films, it doesn't rely on characters with established origin stories. "This isn't a 'primed movie' with superheroes who have their own movies leading into it, like the Avengers," he said. Instead, Thunderbolts features a cast of anti-heroes and lesser-known characters, 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 Russell himself as John Walker / U.S. Agent.

"These are the misfit types, and that's the challenge Kevin Feige set for director Jake Schreier and our cast," Russell added. He emphasized the diverse career paths of the Thunderbolts cast, noting that many, including himself, Harbour, Stan, and Pugh, had established careers outside of Marvel before joining the franchise.

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 landing the pivotal role of the Winter Soldier in the MCU. 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 lifeline during a challenging period. "I was struggling with work," Stan admitted. "That payment from Hot Tub Time Machine saved me."

Following his role as antagonist Blaine in Hot Tub Time Machine, Stan starred alongside Chris Evans in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger. He has since reprised his role as Bucky Barnes in several MCU films, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, various Avengers movies, and the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. Stan is also set to return as the Winter Soldier in next month's Thunderbolts. His involvement, along with other Thunderbolts members like John Walker, suggests that these characters will continue to play significant roles in the MCU's future.