Florence Pugh Adores Yelena’s Heart of Gold in Thunderbolts*

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Yelena Belova might be a hardened mercenary, but as shows, she’s still good at caring for others.

One of the aspects I admire about her character, Yelena, is that she consistently goes out of her way to aid those who might be less capable or in need of some kindness. As Florence Pugh explained, this compassionate nature extends not only to fellow characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, such as Bob from Thunderbolts and Kate Bishop from Hawkeye, but even to a rescued hamster in the film’s opening sequence. In essence, Yelena is someone who truly comprehends what it means to require assistance herself.

Furthermore, Yelena’s latest movie storyline revolves around her learning to cope with the demise of Natasha Romanoff, a struggle that actress Florence Pugh found deeply resonant due to its depiction of loss and mental health struggles. Despite Yelena’s personal turmoil in the film, she remains compassionate, as shown by her desire to protect the hamster and assist Bob. This duality of raw emotion and deep affection is captivating to play, according to Pugh. In essence, even when Yelena is grappling with her own pain, she continues to show love – a quality that I find incredibly heartwarming about her character.

As the movie was about to premiere, director Jake Schreier announced that Yelena would be the central figure, although the storyline highlights the individual trauma experiences of every member in this group, including Bucky Barnes, Ghost, U.S. Agent, and others. This is also true for Bob, whose schizophrenia, like his comic counterpart, presents itself as both the heroic Sentry and evil Void personas. Critics have commended Pullman for his portrayal of a “modern-day Jekyll and Hyde” version of the character.

Since her debut in “Black Widow”, Pugh has been a beloved addition to the MCU. She later made a return in Disney+’s “Hawkeye” that same year and will reprise her role as Yelena in the upcoming “Marvel Zombies” series. Not only does Pugh deliver an impressive performance, but she also took part in some daring stunts, such as jumping off the top of the Merdeka 118 for the opening scene of “Thunderbolts”. This movie received widespread acclaim upon its release and is projected to earn $160-175 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-rated films released post-“Avengers: Endgame”.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Hits theaters in July

2025 will mark the end of Marvel’s epic film journey this summer, as “Thunderbolts” hits theaters in July. Excitingly, the stars from that movie, along with some Thunderbolts members, are set to reappear next year for the highly anticipated Marvel crossover, “Avengers: Doomsday.” (As a fan, I can hardly wait!)

Thunderbolts* is currently playing in theaters.

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2025-05-04 01:05