Florence Pugh Explains The Storyline She & David Harbor “Really Fought For” In Thunderbolts*: “If I Hadn’t Been Able To Play This Beat, I Would’ve Been Pissed Off”

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Florence Pugh discusses the significance of the Thunderbolts team in acknowledging Yelena Belova’s and Red Guardian’s debut in Black Widow during their second joint appearance within the MCU. The Thunderbolts team, where Yelena Belova makes her third MCU appearance following Black Widow and Hawkeye, also marks Red Guardian’s second showing after Black Widow. After successfully capturing General Dreykov, Yelena Belova and Alexei Shostakov (Red Guardian) find themselves cooperating with their previous adversary Antonia Dreykov aka Taskmaster, as well as other formidable anti-heroes in the team.

During a candid conversation with ScreenRant, actress Florence Pugh, who plays Yelena Belova in the Marvel universe, expresses her feelings about the portrayal of her character’s relationship with Alexei Shostakov in the upcoming movie, Thunderbolts. Pugh mentions that she would have been frustrated if this significant connection and the emotional fallout from Natasha Romanoff’s death were not addressed in the film. While viewers don’t necessarily need to watch all the previous movies to follow Thunderbolts’ plot, Pugh emphasizes that Natasha’s demise is so integral to Yelena and Alexei’s narrative that it should be acknowledged in the movie. For more insights from Florence Pugh, check out her detailed comments below.

As a passionate movie reviewer, I can confidently say that the latest addition to this series truly resonates with its audience, striking a chord particularly when it comes to exploring the complexities of mental health. The character development of Yelena is undeniably one of the film’s highlights, and delving into her vulnerable side was indeed a crucial decision. It not only adds depth to her character but also allows viewers to empathize with her struggles, making the story more relatable and impactful overall.

Florence Pugh: “It’s crucial for the storyline. I think it wouldn’t have felt real if Natasha weren’t vulnerable. Natasha was her role model and inspiration. She considered her as an older sister. Even when she was frustrated with her, her affection never wavered. So, the thought that she’s no longer here and they didn’t get to repair their relationship in Black Widow? If I hadn’t been given the chance to portray this emotion, I would’ve felt disappointed because it’s essential for characters to be relatable and emotional. Fans wouldn’t have appreciated it either.

In the film, David and I had a similar struggle in our relationship, which couldn’t avoid conflict following Natasha’s death. Despite our wish to create a standalone movie without requiring viewers to watch previous films about these characters, it’s impossible. We can’t dismiss the audience’s intelligence by assuming they wouldn’t want to see the tension between us. If I were watching and not involved in this movie, I would expect that scene with them arguing. The scene needed to be included because it was crucial to maintain character development, ensuring we continuously challenge and question ourselves, and provide moments of vulnerability.

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2025-04-28 21:29