Thunderbolts’ Original Villain Change Reveals Shocking Behind-the-Scenes Secrets

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In the most recent blockbuster movie from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the menacing antagonist is none other than the Sentry and his twisted counterpart, The Void. Yet, it turns out that during the script-writing process, one of the Thunderbolts‘ members was initially intended to be the film’s primary villain, but reshaping resulted in the Sentry taking center stage instead.

As a passionate cinephile, I’m thrilled to share an exciting piece of information I recently came across. In an intriguing interview, Eric Pearson, the screenwriter behind the blockbuster film, Thunderbolts, revealed a fascinating tidbit about John Walker, or U.S. Agent, in relation to Phase Five. Initially, John Walker was intended to be the main antagonist in the grand finale!

In an earlier draft of the storyline, we discover that Walker was subtly manipulated by Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Val) during The Falcon and the Winter Soldier miniseries on Disney+. This manipulation transformed him into a ticking time bomb, ultimately leading to his role as her mercenary.

According to Pearson, the initial versions featured John Walker as the antagonist who would ultimately clash in a final fight. The plan was that part of Val’s deception involved telling him his serum was weakening and administering medications to keep him active. In truth, he was like a ticking time bomb; a metaphorical Hulk scenario. There was an intended climax reminiscent of the setting sun, as from the start of this narrative, it seemed that Pearson wanted to conclude their third act battle with a heartfelt embrace.

The initial idea of incorporating a villain was abandoned since it didn’t align with the film’s somber tone and focus on redemption for past wrongdoings. Instead, Pearson opted for a character who couldn’t be defeated in physical combat but required emotional connection, which he felt better reflected the theme. He drew inspiration from the Sentry comics, where the character symbolized Good versus Evil. However, in this film, he reimagined the character as a representation of heroic ambition and self-esteem battling self-loathing and depression, essentially encapsulating the heroes’ journey within one entity. This character fit seamlessly into the narrative, leading to the development of the Void space and other related elements.

In this scenario, Walker and his band of anti-heroes – Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour), Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen), Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko) and the enigmatic Taskmaster – find themselves ensnared in a lethal predicament, orchestrated by Valentina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). As they navigate this perilous mission under the guidance of Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), an unforeseen adversary emerges. Initially presented as Bob, a man with memory loss and clad in a tattered coat, he is later disclosed to be none other than Sentry, albeit with a sinister twist that poses challenges for the Thunderbolts.

Under the guidance of director Taika Waititi, Thunderbolts* has been hailed as one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s standout films of late. In its debut weekend, it raked in an impressive $76 million within U.S. territory.

Will the Sentry Have a Major Role in Avengers: Doomsday?

In the storyline of “Thunderbolts,” we witness a series of events that pave the way for the much-awaited showdown in “Avengers: Doomsday.” This epic confrontation brings together the Thunderbolts, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, and the Wakandans against the formidable foe, Doctor Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. Furthermore, Schreier hinted at additional plot developments.

Thunderbolts* is now showing in theaters.

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2025-05-05 18:20