Wyatt Russell, known for his role as U.S. Agent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is determined to silence the skeptics surrounding the upcoming film Thunderbolts. In a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Russell emphasized the collective drive among the cast to transform the movie into something extraordinary, drawing on his own ice hockey background for inspiration.
"We came to this as a group of people who were like, 'Let’s make this our own thing, let’s make it great and let’s make people put their foot in their mouths,'" Russell stated. He further explained his personal motivation, fueled by his athletic past, to prove any naysayers wrong about the film's potential.
Russell highlighted the unique challenge of Thunderbolts, describing it as a "non-primed movie." Unlike blockbuster franchises such as the Avengers, which benefit from origin stories leading into their films, Thunderbolts features a cast of characters without established solo narratives. The ensemble includes Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster, Lewis Pullman as Bob / Sentry / Void, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr / Ghost, and Wyatt Russell himself as John Walker / U.S. Agent.
"There are no characters in this film, really, that have their own stuff in the Marvel universe that much," Russell noted. He emphasized the film's focus on a group of misfits, a challenge embraced by director Jake Schreier and the cast under the guidance of Marvel's Kevin Feige.
Russell also reflected on the diverse career paths of his co-stars, pointing out that many, including himself, had not achieved success solely through mainstream avenues. He mentioned his own journey through "weird TV shows," David Harbour's extensive Broadway experience, Sebastian Stan's varied career before and alongside his Marvel work, and Florence Pugh's accomplishments outside the MCU.
The Thunderbolts: The Tumultuous History of Marvel's Twisted Super-Team
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Earlier this month, Sebastian Stan shared insights into his career challenges before joining the MCU as the Winter Soldier. In a conversation with Vanity Fair, he revealed how a $65,000 residuals payment from Hot Tub Time Machine played a crucial role in sustaining him financially before he landed the role of James "Bucky" Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011.
"I was actually struggling with work," Stan admitted. "I had just gotten off the phone with my business manager, who told me I was saved by $65,000 that came in residuals from Hot Tub Time Machine."
Stan's portrayal of Bucky has been integral to multiple MCU films, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, various Avengers movies, and the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. He is also set to reprise his role in next month's Thunderbolts. Additionally, Stan's involvement in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday suggests that Bucky, along with other Thunderbolts members like John Walker, will continue to play significant roles in the MCU's future.
