The latest teaser for Thunderbolts has ignited a flurry of speculation and debate among MCU fans regarding the fate of Taskmaster. In the original trailer from September 2024, Taskmaster was prominently featured standing between Ghost and U.S. Agent in a pivotal Watchtower scene. However, the new teaser released recently shows the same scene, but with Taskmaster conspicuously absent.
Adding fuel to the fire, actress Olga Kurylenko, who plays Taskmaster, was notably missing from the recently announced cast list for Avengers: Doomsday. This absence, coupled with the teaser's omission, has led many fans to speculate that Taskmaster may not survive the events of Thunderbolts.
The question on everyone's mind is: why was Taskmaster included in the initial trailer but removed in the latest teaser? Theories abound, ranging from Marvel attempting to mislead fans to strategic adjustments for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Moreover, keen observers have noted slight differences in character positioning between the two frames, suggesting a possible in-story explanation for Taskmaster's disappearance. Could Sentry, known for his ability to 'delete' individuals, have already eliminated Taskmaster in this scene, unbeknownst to the other Thunderbolts?
Redditor Matapple13 remarked, "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 offered a different perspective, saying, "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 do know is that Sentry is an incredibly powerful character, as highlighted in the teaser by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who describes him as "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one." This suggests that Taskmaster could have been easily dispatched by Sentry, perhaps even sent to the void or otherwise removed from the scene.
The MCU has been buzzing with activity this week, and we've covered more on the latest developments, including whether the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement might have spoiled elements of Thunderbolts. Additionally, Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more cast reveals for Avengers: Doomsday are on the horizon, leaving a glimmer of hope for Taskmaster's future.
Fans won't have to wait long to uncover the truth. Thunderbolts is slated for release in 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 to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following in May 2027.
