Thunderbolts Trailer Debate: Taskmaster's Removal From Key Scene Sparks Controversy

A new teaser for *Thunderbolts* has ignited a fiery debate among fans about the fate of Taskmaster after keen-eyed viewers noticed the character's absence from a pivotal scene. The original trailer from September 2024 showcased Taskmaster standing between Ghost and U.S. Agent in the Watchtower scene. However, the latest teaser depicts the same scene, but with Taskmaster mysteriously omitted.

This change, coupled with the absence of Taskmaster actress Olga Kurylenko from the recently announced cast of *Avengers: Doomsday*—while other *Thunderbolts* characters were included—has led many MCU fans to speculate that Taskmaster may not survive the film. The omission of Taskmaster from the teaser has sparked numerous theories among fans. Some believe Marvel might be employing a double-bluff tactic, while others think the studio is still finalizing its plans for *Avengers: Doomsday*.

Adding to the intrigue, the frames from the original trailer and the new teaser are not identical. Besides Taskmaster's removal, the positioning of the other characters is slightly different. This has led to speculation that Sentry might have 'deleted' Taskmaster in this scene, a power he's demonstrated in other trailer shots. Could Sentry have already eliminated Taskmaster at this point? Or did Taskmaster switch sides? The MCU community remains divided and uncertain.

"Marvel pretty much just sealed the fate of this character in the movie," remarked redditor Matapple13. "Yesterday they announced Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Lewis Pullman in the *Avengers: Doomsday* cast, but Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster's actress) was blatantly absent, and now, Marvel posts this..."

"The amount of people saying she’s dying and Marvel seemingly leaning into that by barely showing her make me think there's a reveal there with her in the movie and that she lives," commented puckallday.

What we know for sure is that Sentry is incredibly powerful. The new teaser begins with Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, stating that Sentry is "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one." This suggests that Taskmaster could have been killed, deleted, or sent to the void with just a thought from Sentry.

The MCU has been buzzing with activity this week, including discussions on whether Marvel's *Avengers: Doomsday* cast announcement might have spoiled *Thunderbolts*. Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more cast reveals for *Avengers: Doomsday* are on the horizon, leaving a glimmer of hope for Taskmaster's future.

We won't have to wait long to uncover the truth. *Thunderbolts* is slated for release in May 2025, followed by the TV show *Ironheart* in June, and Phase 6 will kick off with *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* in July. *Avengers: Doomsday* is scheduled to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, with *Secret Wars* following in May 2027.