Thunderbolts* Misses a Key Black Widow Scene, David Harbour Hints at Future Returns

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe film brings back various characters who last appeared earlier. Regrettably, a crucial character with significant connections to David Harbour‘s Red Guardian and Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova failed to be included in the movie.

In an open conversation, Harbour discussed Rachel Weisz’s absence from the Thunderbolts film as the Black Widow character, Melina Vostokoff. Despite earlier rumors suggesting Weisz would feature in the ensemble movie, the role was ultimately vacant. However, Harbour expressed hope for a future reunion of Melina with the Red Guardian in the MCU. “I’ve had discussions about Melina with Marvel folks,” he revealed, adding that there remains a strong possibility for Melina to return.

Harbour explained, “It’s ironic, during the filming of Black Widow, this particular scene didn’t make it into the actual movie since the focus was on Scarlett’s character. However, some behind-the-scenes content was released… there was a moving scene between Rachel and me after the crash. I gently touched her face; it was one of my favorite moments from that film.

The deleted scene suggests a possible renewal of romantic feelings between Harbour’s character Alexei and Weisz’s character Melina. However, since the movie ‘Black Widow’ is placed between the events of ‘Captain America: Civil War’ and ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has progressed significantly beyond that time period on its chronological timeline. This implies that much could have transpired with Melina in the subsequent years. Nevertheless, Harbour expresses optimism about Weisz returning to the series someday, stating, “I believe there’s potential for Melina’s return in some intriguing manner, and I would be thrilled if she reappears in Alexei’s life. She would bring such an engaging complexity.

Thunderbolts* Continues 3 Black Widow Characters’ Storylines

In my perspective as a movie critic, I must say that “Thunderbolts” skillfully carries forward the narratives of Red Guardian and Taskmaster, both characters we’ve grown fond of in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Interestingly, Florence Pugh’s character Yelena is also part of this new adventure. Unlike the other two, however, MCU fans have already seen a glimpse of Yelena post-“Black Widow”, as she made a recurring appearance in the Disney+ series “Hawkeye” a few months after the 2021 movie. Here, Yelena is on a mission to seek vengeance against Clint Barton, who she mistakenly believes was responsible for the demise of her sister Natasha Romanoff.

Following its premiere in an MCU film, *Thunderbolts* seems poised for a successful opening. Recent predictions suggest that the superhero blockbuster could generate $73 million domestically and between $160 million and $175 million globally during its first three days in cinemas. Given its production budget of approximately $180 million, there’s a strong possibility that *Thunderbolts* might recoup its costs within just 36 hours. After *Captain America: Brave New World*, Marvel was counting on it to be a hit, and it appears that *Thunderbolts* is set to deliver the studio the success it needs as it prepares for *Avengers: Doomsday* next year.

Thunderbolts* hits theaters this Friday, May 2, as the final film in Phase 5 of the MCU.

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2025-05-01 18:37