MCU Star Vows to Prove Thunderbolts Skeptics Wrong

Wyatt Russell, the actor behind U.S. Agent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is determined to silence the skeptics of the upcoming Thunderbolts film. In a candid conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Russell highlighted the team's collective drive to transform the movie into something extraordinary, drawing on his own athletic background in ice hockey to fuel his determination.

"We approached this project with a unified goal: to create something unique and exceptional, proving the doubters wrong," Russell explained. "With my sports experience, I'm motivated to show those who might dismiss the film that they'll regret their skepticism."

Russell emphasized that Thunderbolts presents a unique challenge as it isn't a "primed movie." Unlike the Avengers, whose members have well-established origins, Thunderbolts features a cast of anti-heroes without their own standalone films leading up to it. 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 reprising his role as John Walker / U.S. Agent.

"There aren’t many characters in this film with extensive backstories in the Marvel universe," Russell noted. "It's not about Captain America, Thor, or Iron Man; it’s about these misfits. Kevin Feige’s challenge to Jake Schreier and our cast was incredibly motivating."

Russell also spoke about the diverse career paths of his co-stars, highlighting that many, like himself, had varied experiences before joining the MCU. "Most of us didn't start our careers in Marvel," he said. "I did odd TV shows for years, and David Harbour has been acting on Broadway since 2000. Sebastian had a rich career before Marvel, and Florence has done remarkable work outside of it."

The Thunderbolts: The Tumultuous History of Marvel's Twisted Super-Team

View 11 ImagesIn a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Sebastian Stan shared his career struggles before landing his pivotal role as the Winter Soldier in the MCU. Before portraying James "Bucky" Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger, Stan was facing financial difficulties. "I was saved by a $65,000 residuals payment from Hot Tub Time Machine," Stan revealed, referencing his role as antagonist Blaine in the 2010 sci-fi comedy.

Stan's journey continued as he reprised his role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, various Avengers films, and the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. He is also set to return as Bucky Barnes in next month's Thunderbolts. With his name included in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal, fans can anticipate seeing Bucky and other Thunderbolts members, including John Walker, in future MCU projects.