Florence Pugh Describes ‘Thunderbolts*’ as a “Quite Badass Indie, A24-Feeling Assassin Movie with Marvel Superheroes”
Marvel’s next big hit, Thunderbolts*, is set to hit theaters on the first weekend of May 2025, kicking off the summer movie season. Unlike the Avengers, this team isn’t full of heavy hitters. Instead, it’s a group of misfits—assassins, anti-heroes, and villains—brought together by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine for a risky mission. Directed by Jake Schreier, the movie promises a unique feel, blending Marvel action with an indie edge.
Schreier, known for the indie hit Robot & Frank and Netflix’s Beef, was told by Marvel to “make it something different,” he said. The result? A film that stands apart from other MCU projects.
Florence Pugh, who returns as the Black Widow-trained assassin Yelena Belova, describes it simply: “It ended up becoming this quite badass indie, A24-feeling assassin movie with Marvel superheroes.”
Schreier agrees, pointing to a familiar vibe from his past work. “There’s a certain amount of that Beef tone in it, that does feel different,” he said. “There’s an emotional darkness that we brought to this that is resonant, but doesn’t come at the expense of comedy.”
The Thunderbolts crew includes familiar faces like Sebastian Stan, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, David Harbour, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Most of them lack superpowers—Ghost’s ability to phase through objects is the closest they get.
What ties them together is a shared search for purpose and belonging. Pugh’s Yelena, seen before in Black Widow and Hawkeye, finds a soft spot for Lewis Pullman’s character, Bob. “Bob is going through what all of them are probably, secretly, going through,” she said.
“Yelena sees parts of herself in him. She’s always been someone that wants to look after people. She has a sweet spot for him, and essentially likes looking after him because he’s useless. He’s absolutely useless.”
The film’s journey to the screen wasn’t smooth. It faced multiple changes, including recastings and rewrites. Ayo Edebiri and Steven Yeun both left due to scheduling conflicts, while cinematographer Steve Yedlin was replaced by Andrew Droz Palermo for the same reason. The script saw several hands too—Eric Pearson wrote the first draft, followed by rewrites from Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo, all sharing credit.
This comes after a mixed start to 2025 for Marvel. Captain America: Brave New World disappointed many, but Daredevil: Born Again won fans over with its first two episodes.
Now, Thunderbolts* aims to shake things up. While its $150 million budget and heavy effects might not scream indie, Schreier and Pugh insist it carries a darker, more grounded tone. Trailers hint at a ‘90s action vibe, with music from The Pixies and Toadies, but the focus remains on a team no one saw coming—one that might just find what they need in each other.
What do you think about this description for the movie? Let us know in the comments below.
