With ‘Thunderbolts*,’ Has Wyatt Russell Finally Broken Through?

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As the son of Hollywood royalty, Wyatt Russell has lived his entire life in the spotlight.

However, the 38-year-old actor, son of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, and brother to Kate Hudson, often finds himself unrecognized or misidentified. Despite his impressive and critically praised acting portfolio, he’s accustomed to this anonymity. In his own words, “We were half-siblings, but we were more like full siblings.”

Or:

Yet, the 38-year-old actor, born of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, and sharing a bond with Kate Hudson as siblings, is no stranger to anonymity or being mistaken for someone else. Despite his distinguished and applauded acting career, he has grown accustomed to this lack of recognition. In his own words, “We might have been half-siblings, but we were more like full ones.

Russell mentions that people often ask him questions like, ‘Hold up — weren’t you the surfer from ‘Lodge 49’, and at the same time, the Mormon villain in ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’? Or, ‘Wow, it’s the guy from ‘Black Mirror’ who turned out to be John Walker?'” (or simply “Russell frequently gets asked questions like…”)

Ever since the April launch of Thunderbolts, it seems like things are shifting dramatically, and at a rapid pace. This Disney/Marvel production has been a game-changer, earning an impressive $372 million globally and revitalizing the once stagnant superhero genre. As a fan, I can’t help but be thrilled about this fresh injection of energy!

The character Russell’s John Walker, originally a potential Captain America but now a hired gun who made his appearance on Disney+’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” has become a standout. He captivates viewers with his witty dialogue delivery and impressive physical prowess during action scenes. Previously, Russell was a professional ice hockey player, spending time in various European leagues as a goaltender until injuries forced him to retire from the sport, leading him to pursue an acting career.

Russell’s upcoming movies involve a top-secret sci-fi production directed by Steven Spielberg, as well as “Avengers: Doomsday”. Recently, he had a chat with The Hollywood Reporter discussing his transition into the elite group of A-list actors.

Hi there, Wyatt. What’s going on in your world these days?

For the past while, I’ve been on a whirlwind travel spree. I spent a month in London recently. Prior to that, I was handling all the publicity for Thunderbolts, and without pausing, I transitioned into the work for Avengers: Doomsday. Juggling our careers with being involved parents can feel unattainable at times, but we’re managing to make it work.

*Note: The asterisk (*) is used in markdown to denote emphasis, but it may not translate well to all platforms. If you want to emphasize “Thunderbolts” and “Avengers: Doomsday”, you could use italics, underlines, or bold text depending on the context where your text will be displayed.

But it must be nice to be busy, too. Especially with the state of the entertainment business.

It’s truly delightful to have a full workload. It feels strange, though, given the peculiar state of the industry. Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting up with my friend Glen Powell in London, and we both found ourselves remarking on how fortunate we are to be actively employed and engaged in these projects simultaneously. The industry is certainly experiencing some turbulence right now.

Great job with the Thunderbolts! I truly enjoyed it. It had a unique feel to it, and I was thoroughly entertained. And let me tell you, your performance was exceptional, especially since I didn’t realize who was behind the mask.

It’s great news! We put a lot of effort into that project. The director, Jake Schreier, who I had grown quite fond of during our work on Lodge 49, an intriguing series we collaborated on years ago on AMC, was likely responsible for directing more episodes than anyone else. One day, he reached out to me with some exciting news: “Hey, I’m interviewing for this job on a project you might be familiar with, Thunderbolts*. If you’ve ever watched an episode of Lodge 49, it would seem like we were both tripping on something powerful to think that we could be working together on a Marvel movie!” As the interviews progressed and he moved closer to landing the role, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of disbelief and excitement. Finally, he called me with the good news: “I got the job!” It was hard to comprehend at first; I thought, “Oh my God — they made the right choice!

As I shared with my coworker that I’d be speaking with you, he casually dropped the name Lodge 49 into our conversation. Frankly, this series was entirely new to me. Intrigued, I gave it a try and now, having watched the first two episodes, I’m absolutely captivated!

In my creative pursuits, I strive to take a fresh approach compared to my previous work, which might not be the most effective method for connecting with others today. For instance, just as I was auditioning, they’d ask, “Can he show vulnerability? His father is Snake Plissken.” The entertainment industry isn’t exactly teeming with innovative minds; they often rely on what they’ve seen before. However, in the series Lodge 49, the writing by Jim Gavin was outstanding. It was an introspective show with layers that went beyond initial perception. I found it captivating and critics did too. Unfortunately, it aired at an unconventional time and wasn’t marketed effectively.

It’s hard to even describe what it is.

I find myself naturally drawn to these types of things, for the most part. That’s why when Marvel approached me, I initially felt hesitant, saying something like “This isn’t my area of expertise.” However, I’ve always believed that one should be open to change and listen to life’s guidance a bit. I’m grateful I took this approach because it allowed me to offer more depth to the character than just portraying a traditional superhero standing as if holding luggage.

So what is the name of your Marvel hero?

His name is John Walker, and his superhero name is US Agent.

He doesn’t get a flashier name than that.

I don’t get a cooler name.

I recently looked up information about your character, John Walker, in the Disney+ series Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Wikipedia. It mentioned that Kevin Feige stated Marvel intentionally cast a white actor for the role – as a representation of a deliberate political decision by the U.S. government to have a white man as Captain America. Is this account accurate?

I strongly disagree with that interpretation. To me, it’s more like a misconception. In the comics and the movies, Captain America is indeed a white man, portrayed by Chris Evans. However, in the latest film, the role of Captain America has been passed on to a new character, John Walker (played by Wyatt Russell), who is a decorated war veteran. This character struggles with his insecurities after being given the superhero serum, which I found intriguing as it presents a complex portrayal of an insecure yet competent superhero learning self-discovery. Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) didn’t want the shield initially, and John Walker was chosen to take up the mantle.

What I appreciated about it was that t Doomsday”.

And how far into filming that are you?

We started about a month and a half ago.

Are TV shows and movies produced differently? Are they more stressful, have larger budgets, and bigger production sets?

Instead of being just casual viewing, these Marvel movies are more like significant occurrences or events. Compared to TV shows, they seem more grandiose and meaningful. When you attend premieres and press events for them, it feels as though they’re not just ordinary happenings; they’re something bigger and more impactful. I can’t think of a better way to express this than calling them “events.

Disney+ releases showed with minimal publicity, and their quality varied from excellent to poor. As you may recall, the outcome wasn’t particularly impressive. The strategy didn’t produce outstanding results, but it was a daring attempt. I believe Bob Iger has hinted in his remarks that they are shifting towards quality over quantity. Undeniably, that’s a wise decision.

Have I caught your attention recently, with people who aren’t experts noticing the character more through Thunderbolts? Can you sense a shift in interest?

or

I’ve observed that laymen have started to take notice of the character thanks to Thunderbolts. Have you felt a change in popularity or attention towards it?

Absolutely, my professional journey has been quite unusual. Recently, I’ve found myself portraying the Mormon baby killer character from “Under the Banner of Heaven“. Additionally, I play John Walker in another project. As more details about these roles emerge, people are starting to connect the dots.

Just now, it struck me that you’re the thirty-year-old man hidden in Richard Linklater’s film Everybody Wants Some!!, a movie I truly admire.

Indeed. Over nearly two decades, there’s been a growing realization among many, “Wow, it seems the man from the ‘Black Mirror’ episode is John Walker.” Consequently, my role in ‘Thunderbolts’ has unexpectedly solidified the way people perceive me as an actor, often leading to reactions like, “Are you that guy?!” To which I usually respond with a casual, “Why, yes.

Man, it’s quite amusing how distinct my parents’ personalities are. From the get-go, people could instantly recognize them for who they were. On the other hand, I seem to blend in more like a chameleon, adapting to different situations and environments.

As I ponder over the reason for my affinity towards embodying diverse characters, let me share an anecdote from my recent chat with none other than Steven Spielberg. After wrapping up his latest production, we found ourselves reminiscing about our shared pastimes, and I found myself drawing a striking parallel between my love for acting and my days on the ice hockey field.

You see, when I was playing hockey, I was drawn to the role of the goalie. The mask they wear, concealing their face, resonated with me as an actor. It’s a fascinating comparison, isn’t it? Just like a goalie hides behind a mask on the ice, an actor wears a character’s persona to shield their own identity, revealing a different side of themselves to the world. And that’s what makes it so intriguing and fulfilling!

As a gamer, it feels like I’ve been putting in the time and effort, step by step. Now, finally, the rewards are coming in, maybe not as soon as I hoped, but my persistence is finally paying off.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my hope that things continue to evolve for you. You consistently give your all, and over time, the industry inevitably transforms. Today, it’s no longer about creating movie stars or churning out the same volume of projects as four years ago. Instead, we find ourselves in a realm where adaptation is key. I consider myself fortunate to have witnessed this journey you’ve been on.

I was wondering if you could tell me something about Goldie Hawn, who had a significant impact on my childhood through her movies. I particularly enjoyed “Foul Play” and “Private Benjamin.” Did you happen to attend the Oscars this year when Andrew Garfield paid tribute to her on stage?

Indeed, I didn’t go, but I did send a message to Andrew earlier saying something like, “Enjoy yourself!” He was really kind to my mother, and I hold him in high regard.

It was a really touching moment.

Really, it really was. It made me cry, of course.

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2025-06-06 22:55