Finding good assistance can be challenging, but when it comes to the stellar cast of Thunderbolts, featuring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Geraldine Viswanathan, it’s nearly impossible to put into words.
In director Jake Schreier’s soon-to-be praised MCU film, Louis-Dreyfus portrays Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, a CIA Director under scrutiny due to an investigation into her dubious actions. Facing heat, she issues hits on all her agents – including Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) – in a bid to eliminate them simultaneously, thereby erasing any trace of their collective involvement.
As a gamer, when I realized the crew of Marvel Cinematic Universe misfits and outcasts were onto something, we banded together to form an unconventional alliance, tackling a looming danger that Val had set free. Meanwhile, Val’s right-hand gal, Mel (Viswanathan), was left juggling her boss’s erratic commands. Although she displayed remarkable resourcefulness in multiple situations, Louis-Dreyfus remained hesitant to sing Mel’s praises just yet.
Louis-Dreyfus jokes with The Hollywood Reporter, saying ‘I can’t reveal anything, but she doesn’t always follow what I anticipate. So I would call that subpar assistance,'” Louis-Dreyfus playfully remarks, despite Viswanathan’s objections.
Viswanathan, aspiring to cross paths with her “Bad Education” co-star Hugh Jackman within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, drew motivation from several efficient assistants she’s come across, including two specific individuals connected to the “Thunderbolts” team.
Viswanathan comments, “There are various types of assistants out there, like Jake’s partnership with Samara Handelsman and Julia’s association with Will Schlegel, which I had the chance to witness. This is in favor of the May 2 theatrical release of Thunderbolts* .
Following Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ iconic performance on what many regard as the best sitcom ever, Seinfeld, in the 2000s, a theory known as the “Seinfeld curse” emerged. This was due to the belief that Louis-Dreyfus and her co-stars failed to match their initial success immediately afterwards. However, with shows like The New Adventures of Old Christine and Veep, Julia went on to win an additional ten Emmys, effectively debunking this theory. Now, as the apparent antagonist in the latest installment of a significant film franchise, her continued success makes the “Seinfeld curse” seem utterly absurd when looked back upon.
Louis-Dreyfus remembers that it was quite absurd back then, thankfully, it’s been discarded now. It was just foolishness,” Louis-Dreyfus reflects. “It was a fabrication by the media, but it lacked any sense of logic.
In their latest chat with THR, both Louis-Dreyfus and Viswanathan delve into their new residence at the old Avengers Tower. They also touch upon the query about their participation in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.
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Does Val’s recent change in hair color reflect her emotions, perhaps similar to how a mood ring does? Could it be that she alters the hue based on her current emotional state?
Julia Louis-Dreyfus finds your question intriguing! In her opinion, the response lies in the realm of perception. Currently, she aims to be seen as serious, and that particular color undeniably exudes a sense of gravity.
Geraldine, it seems like you often interact with individuals similar to Mel, across your different teams and representatives. Is there a specific assistant that Mel is modeled after?
GERALDINE VISWANATHAN I’ve seen different types of relationships between assistants and their supervisors, like Jake’s partnership with Samara Handelsman, and Julia with Will Schlegel. I had the chance to watch these dynamics closely, and they definitely influenced my portrayal in some way.
Julia, might it be acceptable if I inquire about the source of inspiration behind your character Val? There are numerous options to consider, but could delving into this potentially be risky?
LOUIS-DREYFUS Indeed, by posing that question, you’ve ventured into potentially risky territory. I strongly advise caution from hereon; your wellbeing could be at stake.
LOUIS-DREYFUS & VISWANATHAN (Laugh.)
Did you observe an increase in your assistant’s performance outside the set after seeing how competent Geraldine’s assistant was during filming?
LOUIS-DREYFUS I’m not sure Mel, my assistant in this film, is that capable.
VISWANATHAN (Laughs.)
LOUIS-DREYFUS She doesn’t always follow the usual pattern, which I find frustrating at times, and I would even go so far as to say it’s subpar assistance, if I may be frank about it.
VISWANATHAN Whoa! It’s like that?
LOUIS-DREYFUS Yeah, I said it.
But Val made a point to compliment Mel’s mean cup of coffee.
VISWANATHAN Thank you!
As a gamer, I can confirm that she’s not just known for brewing the average cup of joe. There are other aspects about her that remain under wraps, and I’m sworn to secrecy on those details.
Hi Geraldine! It’s been a while since we chatted, and that was about the movie ‘Bad Education’, featuring the talented Hugh Jackman. By any chance, have you thought about potential scenarios where Mel might intersect with Jackman’s character from Wolverine?
VISWANATHANThat’s an intriguing thought! Let’s dive into it. I’m fully on board, and although I’m eager to understand the details, stranger things have unfolded in the Marvel comic books.
LOUIS-DREYFUS Well, Kevin Feige is roaming these hallways, so I’m on it.
VISWANATHAN Thank you.
LOUIS-DREYFUS You’re welcome.
Julia, I’m old enough to recall the absurd idea known as the “Seinfeld curse,” an idea you’ve debunked numerous times, even taking on the role of an arguable antagonist in a Marvel film. Do you ever find it amusing that such a media construct exists now?
LOUIS-DREYFUS I’m chuckling about it now. Back then, it was preposterous and thankfully, it’s been abandoned. It was just plain absurd. As you pointed out, it was a creation of the media, but it didn’t hold up logically at all. It didn’t make any rational sense.
Geraldine, similar to Mel, you were just a teenager back in 2012 when the Avengers made their historic rescue for the first time. Therefore, it surely feels unusual to find yourself socializing at their old hangout spot now.
Viswanathan found it quite extraordinary, a realization that came to him only recently. It’s amazing to think that he spoke that line in the movie, because when he went to watch The Avengers at the mall, he was still in high school. That’s quite a mind-boggling thought. Life sure does have its twists and turns, doesn’t it?
Did Val get a screaming deal from Tony Stark?
Louis-Dreyfus indeed acquired the [Avengers Tower] from Tony Stark, and it proved to be quite a lucrative deal for her. She has a keen interest in real estate and of course, maximizing returns on investments. We’ll have to wait and see how this property fares in the future.
Hey Julia, there’s something unrelated to our current topic I’d like to mention – it’s about a wet carpet. Now, don’t you think we missed out on a lot of potential wealth by not having a Todd and Margo sequel to their Christmas Vacation movie? Was this idea ever brought up or discussed in any way?
LOUIS-DREYFUS (Laughs.) I’ve never had this topic brought up before. In truth, this is the first time I’ve even heard about it. Honestly, no one ever mentioned it to me. Isn’t that peculiar?
It practically writes itself.
LOUIS-DREYFUS Thank you. We’re going to pitch it tomorrow.
Nobody’s done more for Evian water than Margo.
LOUIS-DREYFUS (Laughs.) That was a long time ago, man.
To wrap things up, neither of you took part in Chairathon 2025, yet it’s quite plausible that you’ll appear in the upcoming Avengers film. Can you think of an intriguing way to dodge the question?
LOUIS-DREYFUS Truly, it’s an incredible experience for us to be involved in the Marvel universe. And I assure you, this isn’t just empty talk.
VISWANATHAN For real.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus shares her excitement about the project they’ve completed and looks forward to working on more, but she’s unable to disclose any further details as per your instructions. They stand firm on not revealing anything beyond what has already been stated.
VISWANATHAN Yeah, I’m happy to be here, and I’m available.
J.L.D. and Geraldine, congrats on a mold-breaking Marvel movie.
VISWANATHAN Thank you!
LOUIS-DREYFUS Thank you for making the interview interesting.
I try!
LOUIS-DREYFUS I appreciate it more than you could possibly know.
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Thunderbolts* opens May 2 in movie theaters nationwide.
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2025-04-29 22:57