"MCU Star Vows to Prove Thunderbolts Skeptics Wrong"

Marvel Cinematic Universe actor Wyatt Russell, known for portraying U.S. Agent, is determined to silence the critics of Thunderbolts.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Russell expressed how he and his co-stars aimed to defy expectations surrounding the film. Drawing from his background in ice hockey, he approached the role with a competitive mindset.

“We came into this as a group of people who were like, ‘Let’s make this our own thing, let’s make it great, and let’s make people eat their words,’ ” Russell explained.

He added, “I have a bit of an athletic background, so I was like, ‘Yeah, I want to make you eat your words if you’re someone who thinks this movie’s going to bomb and you don’t even want to see it.’”

Russell also acknowledged the unique challenge Thunderbolts presents, noting that it isn't a "primed" franchise like The Avengers, where characters already had established backstories through solo films.

Featuring a cast including Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster, Lewis Pullman as Bob / Sentry / Void, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr / Ghost, and Wyatt Russell as John Walker / U.S. Agent, the film leans heavily on lesser-known figures within the MCU.

“There are no characters in this film, really, that have their own major presence in the Marvel universe,” Russell said.

“It’s not Captain America, Thor, or Iron Man—it's more of a team of misfits. And that challenge Kevin Feige gave Jake [Schreier] and this particular group of actors? It was like, ‘Hell yeah.’”

Russell emphasized the diverse paths each actor took to reach the MCU. “I don’t want to speak for everybody, but most of us didn’t break through in this industry by doing blockbuster films. We did smaller projects, weird TV shows, theater work—you name it. I spent years doing obscure TV, David Harbour has been performing on Broadway since 2000, Sebastian had a full career before and beyond Marvel, and Florence has built her success through varied roles.”

The Thunderbolts: The Tumultuous History of Marvel's Twisted Super-Team

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Earlier this month, Sebastian Stan opened up about his early career struggles prior to landing the iconic MCU role of the Winter Soldier. Speaking with Vanity Fair, Stan revealed he was "saved" financially by a $65,000 residuals check from Hot Tub Time Machine before being cast as James "Bucky" Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger. He played antagonist Blaine in the 2010 sci-fi comedy before starring alongside Chris Evans in the 2011 Marvel film.

“I was actually struggling with work,” Stan admitted. “I had just gotten off the phone with my business manager, who told me I was saved by $65,000 that came in residuals from Hot Tub Time Machine.”

Stan reprised the role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), multiple Avengers films, and most recently in Captain America: Brave New World (2025). He will return once again as Bucky Barnes in next month’s [ttpp].

Additionally, Stan’s name appeared in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal, indicating that Bucky—and potentially other Thunderbolts members like John Walker—will remain integral to the MCU for the foreseeable future.