Taskmaster's Absence in New Thunderbolts Teaser Sparks Debate

A new teaser for Thunderbolts has ignited a lively debate among fans regarding the fate of Taskmaster. The initial trailer from September 2024 showcased Taskmaster standing prominently between Ghost and U.S. Agent in the Watchtower scene. However, the latest teaser reveals a notable change: Taskmaster is conspicuously absent from the same scene.

This omission, coupled with the absence of Taskmaster actress Olga Kurylenko from the recently announced Avengers: Doomsday cast list, which included other Thunderbolts characters, has led some MCU enthusiasts to speculate that Taskmaster may not survive the film. The question arises: why include Taskmaster in the original trailer only to remove the character in the new teaser? Fans are buzzing with theories, ranging from Marvel attempting to mislead viewers to strategic adjustments for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

Adding to the intrigue, the frames from both the original trailer and the new teaser show subtle differences in character positioning, aside from Taskmaster's removal. This has sparked speculation that Sentry, known for his ability to 'delete' individuals as seen in other trailer segments, might have already eliminated Taskmaster in this scene, unbeknownst to the other Thunderbolts. Alternatively, some wonder if Taskmaster could have turned against the team.

Redditor Matapple13 commented, "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 flip side, user puckallday suggested, "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 is clear is that Sentry possesses immense power, with the new teaser opening with Julia Louis-Dreyfus' character, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, proclaiming that Sentry is "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one." This statement fuels speculation that Taskmaster might have been dispatched or sent to an alternate dimension by Sentry's mere thought.

The MCU has seen a flurry of activity this week, and we've covered it all, including our analysis on whether the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement might have inadvertently spoiled 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.

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