The latest teaser for Thunderbolts has ignited a fiery debate among MCU fans regarding the fate of Taskmaster, played by Olga Kurylenko. Initially featured in a September 2024 trailer standing between Ghost and U.S. Agent in the Watchtower scene, Taskmaster is conspicuously absent in the new teaser, sparking speculation about the character's survival in the film.
The absence of Kurylenko from the recently announced Avengers: Doomsday cast list, which included other Thunderbolts characters, has fueled theories that Taskmaster might not make it out of the movie alive. The noticeable change in the teaser has led fans to question why Taskmaster was included in the original scene but omitted in the new footage. Some speculate that Marvel might be playing a strategic game, either to mislead fans or to keep their options open for future projects.
Adding to the mystery, the frames from both the original trailer and the new teaser show slight differences in character positioning beyond Taskmaster's removal. This has led to theories that Sentry, known for his immense power as highlighted by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in the teaser, might have "deleted" Taskmaster from the scene, a capability he has demonstrated in other trailer shots. Could Sentry have already eliminated Taskmaster at this point, or did Taskmaster perhaps switch sides?
The online community is abuzz with speculation. Redditor Matapple13 commented, "Marvel pretty much just sealed the fate of this character in the movie. Yesterday they announced Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Lewis Pullman in the Avengers: Doomsday cast, but Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster's actress) was blatantly absent, and now, Marvel posts this..."
On the other hand, user puckallday suggested a different angle, stating, "The amount of people saying she’s dying and Marvel seemingly leaning into that by barely showing her make me think there's a reveal there with her in the movie and that she lives."
Given Sentry's formidable power, as emphasized by Valentina's line about him being "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one," it's plausible that Taskmaster could have been dispatched with ease.The MCU continues to evolve with an exciting lineup of releases. Thunderbolts is slated for May 2025, followed by the TV show Ironheart in June, and the kickoff of Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following in May 2027. As Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. hint at more Avengers: Doomsday cast reveals, there might still be hope for Taskmaster's future in the MCU.
