Ayo Edebiri’s Backstage Drama: How She Lost Her MCU Role and Helped Her Replacement!

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Geraldine Viswanathan made her debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or the realm of superheroes altogether, with this specific role. Initially, Ayo Edebiri was set for the part as Mel, but she had to step down due to calendar clashes.

In a similar fashion as numerous others before him, Viswanathan found himself grappling with the same apprehensions and uncertainties. When stepping into the colossal world of a media titan like Disney, matters are typically kept confidential. This means that when a part is assigned, novice actors seldom get to peruse the entire script. In an instant reminiscent of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”, Viswanathan opted to consult a friend – one who had already secured the identical role.

Viswanathan said, “‘Hey, I got a call about something interesting. What’s your take on it?’ he asked. To which she replied, ‘Definitely, completely, you should definitely do this! You’ll be meeting Julia Louis-Dreyfus.’ She added that the character goes bad, which she found intriguing. She also mentioned that it presents a great opportunity to play a slightly villainous role.’

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve been consistently impressed by the versatile performances of Ayo Edebiri in various roles. From Sydney in “On the Rocks,” Josie in “The Odd Couple,” April O’Neill in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” and as both Missy and Envy, her talent knows no bounds.

Initially, she was set to play Mel, the assistant to a comedy icon (Julia Louis-Dreyfus from “Veep” and “Seinfeld”), but scheduling clashes with filming for “The Bear” Season 4 unfortunately forced her to step back. But one might wonder, why would Marvel entrust someone with such a packed schedule? The answer lies in the undeniable talent that Ayo Edebiri brings to every role she undertakes.

Edebiri’s decision to step back from the movie “Thunderbolts” can be traced back to the Writers Guild of America/SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023. By the time she consulted with Viswanathan, she had already reluctantly decided to leave the production. The WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike also denied fans a highly anticipated casting choice. The actor, who gained prominence as Glenn in “The Walking Dead” and has continued to be a captivating presence in projects such as “Minari,” “Sorry to Bother You,” the Netflix series “Beef,” and most recently Bong Joon Ho’s film “Parasite” alongside Robert Pattinson, also lends his voice to the title character in the Amazon Prime Video animated series “Invincible.

Joining Thunderbolts* Worked Out Well

Even though Edebiri’s advice played a significant role in Viswanathan’s final decision, the budding actress was already strongly considering taking on the role. She recounted her casting experience, including director Jake Schreier’s description of her character, saying, “It sounded intriguing, even though I didn’t fully understand it. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel drawn to it. The opportunity to join this production and become a part of the Marvel Universe was too tempting to resist. Moreover, Jake is an exceptional director, so it felt like a serendipitous chance to immerse myself in this world.

Thunderbolts* is currently out in theaters and will eventually make its way to Disney+.

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2025-05-05 02:32