Thunderbolts* Killed Taskmaster, But Black Widow Almost Had a Wildly Different Version

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It’s been a week since “Thunderbolts” shifted from the lineup of upcoming Marvel movies to the 2025 film schedule. Olga Kurylenko’s portrayal of Taskmaster in an MCU film is one of the title characters, but her role is, at the very least, unsettling. Moreover, the recent revelation adds to the puzzle, as it seems we almost witnessed a significantly different version of the character in “Black Widow”.

Information about this stems from actor O-T Fagbenle, who portrayed Rick Mason, a former ally of Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) during her S.H.I.E.L.D. days, in the movie ‘Black Widow’. Interestingly, the role he initially tried out for wasn’t that of Rick Mason; instead, Fagbenle revealed to The Direct during the promotion of Hulu’s exclusive series ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 6, that he had actually auditioned for the part of Taskmaster.

Initially, I tried out for Taskmaster, and let me tell you, it was a truly remarkable performance that I gave. I’m quite pleased with how it turned out, and I still have a copy of it saved somewhere. In the audition, I portrayed a character with an African accent, and he was this eccentric, maniacal type of individual.

In a departure from the on-screen portrayal by Olga Kurylenko, the original comic book character Taskmaster is a male mercenary named Tony Masters, and it’s uncertain if O-T Fagbenle would be playing a version of this character or an entirely new one. It’s also not yet confirmed whether this Taskmaster has connections to the Red Room like Antonia Dreykov did, but unlike her, he may not have been controlled by mind manipulation techniques.

Despite initial plans, O-T Fagbenle mentioned that when it came to selecting who would play the role, the character of Taskmaster in Black Widow underwent changes. Instead, he was presented with the opportunity to play the Rick Mason character. This is how the actor remembered it.

During my writing endeavors and matters beyond my professional scope, I found myself in a situation where it seemed like they were deciding between me and another candidate for the Taskmaster role in that specific version of the movie. However, as different versions of the film unfolded, that particular Taskmaster character was dropped. Later on, they approached me with an offer for a character named Mason, which I happily accepted, excited to play him. Consequently, the Taskmaster I was initially set to portray in Black Widow didn’t materialize in that specific adaptation of the movie.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the film “Black Widow” serves as a bridge between “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” The movie concludes with Rick Mason handing over a device called the Quintet to Natasha Romanoff, allowing her to depart and assist Steve Rogers in rescuing the imprisoned Avengers who opposed the Sokovia Accords. Since his last appearance, it’s been more than a decade within the MCU timeline. Although there’s no hint that Mason will reappear, actress Famke Janssen, who portrayed the character of Taskmaster, is open to the possibility of another chance to bring that chaotic character back and showcase him on screen again.

Warning: SPOILERS for Thunderbolts* are ahead!

If the MCU intends to keep the character of Taskmaster, it will need to introduce a fresh iteration, regardless of who portrays the character – be it O-T Fagbenle or someone else. This is because Olga Kurylenko’s portrayal met her untimely end in the film “Thunderbolts,” with Ava Starr (Ghost) fatally shooting her early on in the movie. Although I generally appreciated the Jake Schreier-directed film, I found this plot choice less than satisfying, particularly since an earlier version of the script featured a more significant role for Antonia within the narrative’s storyline.

Regardless, she’s not here anymore, so perhaps Marvel Studios should reach out to Fagbenle again about the Taskmaster role. If not, you can catch up with Black Widow on Disney+, where you’ll also be able to stream Thunderbolts later in the year.

Since she’s no longer around, maybe Marvel Studios should contact Fagbenle again regarding the Taskmaster role. Alternatively, you can watch Black Widow on Disney+, which is where you’ll also be able to stream Thunderbolts later this year.

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2025-05-09 04:16