What The Thunderbolts* Stunt Doubles Look Like In Real Life

As a hardcore gamer, I gotta admit, it’s no surprise that the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, like many blockbusters from the past two decades, lean heavily on digital wizardry. But peeling back those effects, you realize even the characters are partially or fully computer-generated. However, this doesn’t mean stunt work is absent in the MCU, or that there aren’t countless skilled performers ready to take hits and leap from skyscrapers to make every action scene feel authentic.

In the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), titled “Thunderbolts”, we see an assortment of characters who were previously introduced in various films and series, combined with fresh faces. If you haven’t caught it yet, fear not – this discussion will steer clear of spoilers or intricate plot details. Instead, let’s shine a spotlight on the stunt doubles who played a crucial role in ensuring that stars like David Harbour, Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hannah John-Kamen, and others in “Thunderbolts” delivered impressive performances by handling most of the action sequences, falls, and high-risk moves throughout the film. This behind-the-scenes effort helped the MCU’s Phase 5 end on a thrilling and fulfilling note.

Stephanie Baur (Julia Louis-Dreyfus)

One delightful aspect of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series on Disney+ lies in the unexpected actors they’ve introduced into their universe. For example, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who captivated audiences with her brief appearances as Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” Interestingly, it took just one word from Kevin Feige to persuade Louis-Dreyfus to reprise her role for “Thunderbolts” – that word was “Contessa.”

*(Assuming you want to keep the original title)*

Given that Selma Blair isn’t typically associated with action roles, it makes sense that she might require assistance in the stunt work for “Thunderbolts*”. Stepping into that role was Stephanie Baur, who had previous experience within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Her first stunt performer credit was on “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”, but she didn’t double Blair as they weren’t credited in the same episodes. In addition to “Thunderbolts*”, Baur also worked on two episodes of “Agatha All Along” between that project and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”.

Among Baur’s roles outside of Marvel productions include “Doom Patrol,” “Red One,” “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” and “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.” In 2022, she made her debut as a lead actor in the film titled “Macy Ray and the Legend of Dead River.

John Nania (Sebastian Stan)

Sebastian Stan’s character, Bucky Barnes (also known as The Winter Soldier), has taken a captivating and prolonged path within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). From antagonist in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” to a cherished hero across the entire franchise. Besides headlining the Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” Bucky is unique among the characters for appearing in every single “Captain America” film. As Bucky joins the upcoming “Thunderbolts*”, he becomes one of the few original Avengers’ allies who remained active throughout Phase 5 of the MCU.

* Thunderbolts is a speculated future project by Marvel Studios, not yet officially confirmed.

In the action-packed series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and the upcoming “Thunderbolts”, stunt performer John Nania served as Stan’s stand-in. With over 20 years of experience under his belt, it’s no wonder that he has doubled for actors like Keanu Reeves in films such as “47 Ronin” and “Destination Wedding”. Additionally, Nania has also taken on the role of stunt double for Chris Evans, Martin Starr, and Scott Adkins, among others. Beyond his work as a stuntman, John Nania’s skills have been showcased in numerous Marvel productions, including “The Defenders”, “Avengers: Infinity War”, “Daredevil”, “Runaways”, “Avengers: Endgame”, “Hawkeye”, “Ms. Marvel”, and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”. To top it off, he even made a brief appearance as an actor in two episodes of “Daredevil”, playing Agent Markham.

Alec Back (Lewis Pullman)

In Hollywood, those often referred to as nepo babies (short for nepotism babies) have a wide range of responses to this contentious nickname. For instance, Lewis Pullman, the son of Bill Pullman, has leveraged his privileged position to work even harder. This dedication eventually led him to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), playing Robert “Bob” Reynolds – also known as The Sentry and The Void – in the upcoming film “Thunderbolts.” While these characters are well-known in Marvel video games and trading card games, their screen debut will be in “Thunderbolts.

As a devoted fan, I’d like to share an exciting piece of trivia: In the blockbuster “Thunderbolts”, it was none other than Alec Back who performed as Philip Pullman’s stunt double! This talented action performer has quite an impressive resume, having previously served as the stand-in for Chris Evans and Karl Urban in “Ghosted” and “The Boys”, respectively. He also stepped into that role for Will Forte on a few episodes of the short-lived “MacGruber” series on Peacock.

Alec’s adventures have taken him far beyond Earth, as he’s done stunt work in the galaxy far, far away for shows like “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka”. His superhero credits include the film “Blue Beetle” and the CW series “Black Lightning”.

In 2021 and 2022, Alec even dipped his toes into acting by appearing in a few short films. When he’s not busy with stunt work, you can find him hiking with his beloved corgi, Moose – who has his own Instagram page!

Paul Andrew O’Connor (Lewis Pullman)

As a gamer, I can tell you that having just one stand-in doesn’t cut it for a character with three distinct identities like Lewis Pullman’s Bob/Sentry/Void. That’s why Paul Andrew O’Connor stepped in as a stunt double on “Thunderbolts.” This isn’t his first rodeo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as he started with stunt work for “Iron Man 3.” He then moved to TV shows within the MCU, appearing in an episode of “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” Since then, he’s been a regular on both films and TV series of the Marvel Universe, all the way up to “Thunderbolts*” and “Captain America: Brave New World.

Actors that O’Connor has served as a stunt double for include Walton Goggins, Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Costner, Josh Lucas, and Sebastian Stan. Besides being a stunt performer, he also functions as a stunt coordinator, a role he took on for the TV show “Stargirl” and movies such as “Marshmallow,” “The School for Good and Evil,” and “The Re-Education of Molly Singer.” In addition to these roles, O’Connor has also acted in minor parts in films like “Iron Man 3,” “Logan,” “American Ultra,” and “Kickboxer: Vengeance.” This versatile individual has numerous credits in the industry as a writer, director, producer, editor, and cinematographer.

Aurélia Agel (Olga Kurylenko)

2021’s “Black Widow” introduced several new characters from “Thunderbolts”, one being Antonia Dreykov, portrayed as Taskmaster by Olga Kurylenko. While the MCU character deviates somewhat from the original comic book version, namely in being female instead of male, the talent to replicate opponents’ combat styles remains a constant. In previous animated adaptations, Clancy Brown has been the voice behind the Taskmaster character as Tony Masters.

Following her role as Kurylenko’s stand-in during the 2021 film “Sentinelle,” Aurelia Agel proved to be an ideal fit for the stunt double position in the upcoming movie “Thunderbolts.” Agel has previously served as a stunt double for Charlize Theron, Karen Gillan, Milla Jovovich, and was Nebula’s stunt double on “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” She performed general stunts in “Black Widow,” but did not specifically act as Kurylenko’s stand-in. Furthermore, Agel is part of the fight team for “John Wick: Chapter 4.

2024 saw Agel portray Juliet in John Woo’s “The Killer” remake on Peacock, a revival of his 1989 film. Moreover, she received a Taurus World Stunt Award nomination for her exceptional fight choreography, as she stood in for Charlize Theron during the action sequences in “Fast X.

Ben Aycrigg (Wyatt Russell)

In the movie “Thunderbolts”, Wyatt Russell, who is known for having famous parents (Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn), is also making a name for himself independently. Contrary to expectations, he declined the opportunity to reprise his father’s role in the “Escape from New York” remake, choosing instead to carve out his own antihero path by portraying John Walker, or U.S. Agent, within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His debut was in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”, followed by a reprisal in “Thunderbolts”. He has also been confirmed to be part of the cast for “Avengers: Doomsday.

Besides performing stunt double duties for Lewis Pullman, Ben Aycrigg additionally took on this role for Wyatt Russell in “Thunderbolts.” He has also served as a stunt double for celebrities like Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Kyle Chandler, and Jon Hamm. To mention just a few of his accomplishments, Aycrigg’s stunt work can be seen in Marvel productions such as “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” “Loki,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “Captain Marvel,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “The Punisher,” and “Echo.” Apart from his work with Marvel, Aycrigg has also appeared in projects like “Megalopolis,” “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” “Ozark,” “Stranger Things,” and HBO’s “Watchmen” series.

Sarah Irwin (Florence Pugh)

The movie “Black Widow” was essentially a standalone film for Scarlett Johansson’s character, but it also introduced her on-screen sister Yelena Belova, played by Florence Pugh. Although Scarlett Johansson suggested that Black Widow’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) would be highly unlikely, Yelena was very much alive and could potentially reappear in “Thunderbolts.” Given her background as a Black Widow assassin trainee and the fact she isn’t yet officially known by that name in the MCU marketing for “Thunderbolts,” it is speculated that Yelena may one day take on the role of the Black Widow, but this has not been confirmed.

Sarah Irwin served as a stunt double for one of the action performers in the movie “Thunderbolts”. Impressively, she has stood in for a long list of actors, including Aubrey Plaza in “Agatha All Along”, Sophia Di Martino in “Loki”, Rachel Taylor in “Jessica Jones”, and Jen in “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” within the MCU. Moreover, she has also been a stunt double for renowned actors like Winona Ryder, Michelle Monaghan, Anna Paquin, Anya Taylor-Joy, Julianne Moore, Sofia Carson, Rose Byrne, Tilda Swinton, Kerri Russell, and Ruby Rose. On top of that, she has made appearances as an actor in episodes of “Chicago P.D.”, “Two Sentence Horror Stories”, and “FBI: Most Wanted”.

C.C. Ice (Florence Pugh)

As a devoted fan, I had the privilege of sharing stunt duties with C.C. Ice on the set of “Thunderbolts”. This talented individual has an impressive background, having previously worked as Scarlett Johansson’s stunt double for the Black Widow series. C.C. is no stranger to handling Elizabeth Olsen’s stunts, a role they fulfilled in “WandaVision”, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, “Avengers: Infinity War”, “Avengers: Endgame”, and even outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Olsen’s Max series “Love and Death”. It’s truly awe-inspiring to witness such skill and dedication!

Prior to embarking on her career as a stunt performer, Ice gained experience in various roles within the entertainment industry. She worked as a set decorator for “Big Brother,” a production assistant for the TV movie “Inside Haunted Hollywood,” and a non-stunt stand-in on numerous films. Apart from stunts, she is proficient in stunt rigging, simulating active shooters and victims for emergency response training, and has a background in various dance styles. Additionally, she is the proprietor of Apex Entertainment Studios, a facility that primarily focuses on stunt training and often organizes seminars addressing the wellbeing and safety of stunt performers.

Adrienne Ballenger (Geraldine Viswanathan)

In the comic book series “Thunderbolts,” Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is depicted with an assistant named Mel, portrayed by Geraldine Viswanathan. This marks Viswanathan’s introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and her first major production role. Prior to this, she was mainly recognized for her appearances in films such as “Drive-Away Dolls” and “You’re Cordially Invited,” and the TBS series “Miracle Workers.

On the upcoming MCU film “Thunderbolts,” Geraldine Viswanathan may be a newcomer, but her stunt double, Adrienne Ballenger, is no stranger to the superhero scene. Ballenger has previously performed stunts in movies like “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” where she also appeared uncredited as a Talokan guard. She was also Viswanathan’s stunt double on “You’re Cordially Invited.”

Ballenger has an impressive track record in superhero movies, with credits including “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” “Black Adam,” and “The Suicide Squad.” She’s also been seen in the series “Doom Patrol.” Interestingly, she was Edi Patterson’s stunt double on several episodes of “The Righteous Gemstones.”

In summary, while Viswanathan is new to the MCU, her stunt double Ballenger has a wealth of experience in the superhero genre.

Niko Nedyalkov (David Harbour)

After the movie “Hellboy” (2019) failed, David Harbour made an essential phone call – it was to his friend Ryan Reynolds, who has experience with the consequences of starring in a flopped superhero film. However, Reynolds is also aware that leading a unsuccessful comic book movie doesn’t necessarily mean being barred from future opportunities within the genre, especially the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which is known for giving second chances in this field. True to form, Harbour received such an opportunity by playing Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian in “Black Widow,” a part he will reprise in “Thunderbolts” and continue in “Avengers: Doomsday.

Niko Nedyalkov served as the stand-in for action sequences in the film “Thunderbolts,” boasting a long career in stunt work dating back to 2004. While he has also worked within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Nedyalkov’s resume leans more towards stunt performances on DC projects, such as “Black Adam,” “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” “The Suicide Squad,” and “Blue Beetle” movies, as well as television series like “Gotham Knights,” “Stargirl,” “Black Lightning,” and “Watchmen.” In addition to his stunt work, Nedyalkov has dabbled in acting, frequently portraying henchmen and bodyguards, notably appearing as the villain Lobstercules over two episodes on Prime Video’s “The Tick.

R. Matthew Scheib (David Harbour)

In the movie “Thunderbolts*”, R. Matthew Scheib, who is also known as Matt Scheib, served as David Harbour’s stunt double. In 2025, apart from “Thunderbolts*”, he also performed stunts for Netflix’s “The Electric State” and Amazon Prime Video’s “Holland”. Prior to these roles, Scheib had doubled for Harbour in several episodes of “Stranger Things”, where he was also one of the stunt coordinators.

In addition to his acting roles in films like “All Eyez On Me,” “Black Water,” and “Army of One,” Schieb has also worked as a stuntman, notably doubling for Matthew Modine in an episode of “Stranger Things” as well as in the movies “Wrong Turn” and “Backtrace.” His impressive stunt work can be seen in shows such as “Hawkeye,” “Cobra Kai,” “Lovecraft Country,” “Ozark,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” and “Avengers: Endgame.” Beyond his stunt work, Schieb has also provided on-set security for various film and television productions.

Nadia Lorencz (Hannah John-Kamen)

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series “Thunderbolts”, many characters who have appeared before are primarily linked to “Black Widow” or associated with Captain America. The notable exception is Ava Starr/Ghost, played by Hannah John-Kamen, who made her debut in the 2018 film “Ant-Man and the Wasp”. While initially portrayed as a villain, Ghost becomes a team member in “Thunderbolts” and reportedly presents a changed aspect of her character.

Nadia Lorencz, who’s doubling as John-Kamen in the upcoming movie “Thunderbolts”, has already accumulated experience in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) through projects like “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Loki,” “WandaVision,” “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” and “Agatha All Along.” She also made an unaccredited appearance as a witch in “WandaVision” and took on minor roles in “Black Lightning” and the 2016 “MacGuyver” series. Furthermore, Lorencz is involved in fight team work for the 2024 film “Jackpot!”, where she also portrays the character “yoga mom.

2025-05-01 04:32