David Harbour explains the fun way Thunderbolts is different from other MCU movies. Officially announced earlier this year at Marvel's SDCC panel after various reports indicating its development, Thunderbolts is an upcoming entry in the MCU's Phase 5, releasing in the summer of 2024 just after Captain America: New World Order. The film features an array of characters that have already been introduced in other MCU movies, often as villains or anti-heroes. Many began to suspect that an anti-hero team-up movie of sorts was in development after teases in both Black Widow and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
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At Disney's recent D23 Expo, the full line-up for the Thunderbolts was announced, revealing that the central team will feature Red Guardian (Harbour), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Harbour's Red Guardian was first introduced in 2021's Black Widow, serving as Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Yelena's adoptive father. Pugh's Yelena is featured at the forefront of the recent Thunderbolts artwork that was premiered at D23, with her character introduced in Black Widow before then showing up in Hawkeye.
In a new interview with Entertainment Tonight at D23, Harbour explains why Thunderbolts is different from other MCU movies, saying it's all about the cast and the characters. Unlike other offerings from the MCU, the actor explains, Thunderbolts revolves around a group of "misfits and outcasts and losers." Check out Harbour's full comment below:
"There's a lot of really exciting work happening on this movie. I also think it's a unique MCU movie in the sense that you've got a bunch of misfits and outcasts and losers and people who don't really live up to the super in superhero. And also all of us are such cool, interesting performers — I think audiences have some complicated feelings about a lot of us — and I think that's a terrific thing going in."
While the MCU doesn't usually shy away from depicting complex and shady characters, rarely do these figures get their very own movies. It remains to be seen how Thunderbolts will make a hero out of Harbour's Red Guardian and other characters who have done some questionable things throughout their time in the MCU, though Loki has already proven it's possible. When Tom Hiddleston's God of Mischief was first introduced in 2012's The Avengers, he was genuinely evil and power-hungry but now, in Loki, the character retains that mischievous side while also using his powers for good.
Acting very much as an answer to DC's The Suicide Squad, Marvel's Thunderbolts team could be a major shake-up to the MCU. While the Guardians of the Galaxy could also be described as a quirky group of misfits, Harbour's recent comment suggests Yelena's team of Thunderbolts will take this concept to a whole new level. With a release date set for 2024, it'll still be a while before fans are treated to a trailer for Thunderbolts, but, in the meantime, the upcoming team of anti-heroes will hopefully be further teased in post-credits scenes for other MCU movies, giving audiences a better idea of what to expect.