‘It’s Not Something We Did Lightly’: Thunderbolts* Director Finally Responds To The Backlash Over Taskmaster Twist

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SPOILERS are ahead for Thunderbolts*.

Though Thunderbolts is currently being hailed as one of Marvel’s finest recent releases, many viewers have been discussing a plot twist that left a sour taste for some. Despite Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster being heavily advertised as part of the film’s main team, she met an untimely end in the very first scene she appeared in. Now, director Jake Schreier has offered his perspective on her character’s demise within the movie.

In a recent chat, the director of “Thunderbolts” was queried about whether any iteration of the film featured Taskmaster lingering for a more extended period than she does in the ultimate cut. This is what he told Variety regarding that topic.

Indeed, Olga has discussed that topic before. It transpired following the strike, during our script’s reconstruction phase. I’ve been informed by several individuals who are unhappy with it, and I can empathize with their sentiments. This wasn’t a decision made casually.

Indeed, Kurylenko did mention earlier this month that in an early draft of the Thunderbolts script, Taskmaster stayed until the end. She expressed regret that the character’s demise occurred so soon in the 2025 film release. Schreier acknowledges that some fans were disappointed with this decision, particularly since, as Mike Reyes from TopMob noted, there was essentially no consequence to her death.

It’s quite ironic that the team known as Thunderbolts was dubbed the New Avengers by the movie’s end, and they’re poised to become part of the main superhero squad in future Avengers movies. The director shared this during an interview with Variety.

When reworking the script for a fresh adaptation, we found it somewhat devoid of the raw intensity required. To authentically portray these characters, who are contract killers, omitting the depiction of their actions seemed unlikely to deliver the intended impact. We explored various alternatives for the storyline.

During the script revisions, Jake Schreier observed that since they were all contract killers, it seemed inevitable that one of them would meet their end. He decided to make it Taskmaster who would perish in the storyline. This twist was anticipated by some viewers following the Thunderbolts Super Bowl trailer and after she was absent from certain toy product lines. The director also commented on this point.

It’s clear to me that Olga is an exceptional actress. Portraying such complex roles requires great skill, as it involves conveying the idea that these characters believe their entire lives lack significance.

Jake Schreier faced a tough choice, and ultimately stuck with it, which regrettably means Taskmaster won’t be joining the cast of Avengers: Doomsday alongside his fellow cast members from Thunderbolts*. However, as we’re in the midst of the Multiverse Saga, t In this context, Thunderbolts refers to the upcoming Marvel Comics-inspired film titled “Thunderbolts.”)

After the debut of “Thunderbolts” in May, the next Marvel film arrives this weekend titled “The Fantastic Four: Initial Footprints“. Additionally, Jake Schreier has been appointed director for the initial installment of the MCU’s X-Men series.

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2025-07-25 04:08