Thunderbolts Trailer Debate: Taskmaster's Absence Sparks Controversy

A new teaser for Thunderbolts has ignited a fierce debate among fans regarding the fate of Taskmaster, following the apparent removal of the character from a pivotal scene.

The original Thunderbolts trailer from September 2024 showcased Taskmaster standing between Ghost and U.S. Agent in the Watchtower scene. However, the latest teaser reveals the same scene without Taskmaster.

This omission, coupled with the absence of Taskmaster's actress, Olga Kurylenko, from the recently announced cast of Avengers: Doomsday—while other Thunderbolts characters were included—has led many MCU fans to speculate that Taskmaster might not survive the movie.

The discrepancy between the original trailer and the new teaser has sparked numerous theories among fans. Some believe Marvel might be employing a double-bluff tactic or adjusting their strategy for Avengers: Doomsday. Additionally, subtle differences in character positioning between the two frames have led to speculation that Sentry might have 'deleted' Taskmaster in the scene, a power he's demonstrated in other trailer shots. This could mean Sentry has already killed Taskmaster, or perhaps Taskmaster has turned against the team.

"Marvel pretty much just sealed the fate of this character in the movie," remarked redditor Matapple13. "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, some fans, like puckallday, believe there might be a twist: "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."

What we know for sure is that Sentry is incredibly powerful, as highlighted by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's line in the teaser, stating that Sentry is "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one." This suggests that Taskmaster could have been easily eliminated or sent to another dimension by Sentry.

The MCU has been buzzing with activity this week, including discussions on whether the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement might have spoiled elements of Thunderbolts. Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more cast reveals for Avengers: Doomsday are on the way, leaving room for hope that Taskmaster might still have a role to play.

We won't have to wait long to uncover the truth. Thunderbolts is set to hit theaters in May 2025, followed by the TV show Ironheart in June, and Phase 6 will kick off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July. Avengers: Doomsday is slated for release on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following in May 2027.