bad news for Thunderboltsthe next big bet of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Steven Yeunwho was going to be one of the protagonists of the film, has abandoned the project.
The information has been independently confirmed by Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Both media indicate that the actor, known worldwide for his role as Glenn in The Walking Deadultimately will not be part of the film.
For now, the reasons for Steven Yeun’s departure from Thunderbolts. Although Marvel had not officially confirmed his hiring, the artist himself had publicly acknowledged that he would be part of the feature film directed by Jake Schreierwith whom he had already worked in the series Beef.
The arrival of Steven Yeun to the cast of Thunderbolts was known in February 2023. However, his role was kept secret until last November, when Robert Kirkman, creator of the comic The Walking Deadrevealed that the South Korean would play Sentry. The aforementioned even mentioned that the actor had already done a costume test.
Steven Yeun will not be Sentry in Thunderbolts
Will the apparent spoiler of Kirkman in the departure of Steven Yeun from the cast of Thunderbolts? At the moment, it is impossible to know. It is also not known if the actor’s departure may be related to schedule problems that affect filming.
Let’s not forget that Thunderbolts It has been one of the many films that has been seen affected by the strikes of Hollywood screenwriters and actors. Jake Schreier’s film had to stop production in May, during the writers’ strike. Meanwhile, the start of filming, originally scheduled for the summer of 2023, was postponed due to the conflict between SAG-AFTRA and the film and TV studios.
This caused Disney and Marvel Studios to delay the release of Thunderbolts for almost a year. The original date for its arrival in theaters was scheduled for July 26, 2024. but it was moved to July 25, 2025.
With Steven Yeun out of Thunderboltsgreat doubts arise regarding what will be the fate of Sentry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Variety indicates that it has not been defined if the introduction of the character will be “rethought” – that is, that he will not finally make his debut in this film – or if a new actor will simply be sought to take the reins of it.
Although we are traveling through territory of assumptions, it would not be illogical for the second to happen. After all, Marvel has vast experience changing actors or actresses in their films and series, even when they have already appeared on screen. With Thunderbolts still in pre-production, replacing Steven Yeun could be much less complicated.
For now, Thunderbolts It has several actors and characters confirmed. Among them, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine), Wyatt Russell (US Agent), David Harbor (Red Guardian), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost) and Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster).
It is expected that Harrison Ford is also part of the film in the role of General Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross. Although this new incarnation of the character, with Ford replacing the late William Hurt, will appear first in Captain America: Brave New World. This film will be released in February 2025.