A new teaser for Thunderbolts has sparked a debate among fans about the fate of Taskmaster after they noticed the character's apparent removal from a key scene. The original trailer from September 2024 showcased Taskmaster positioned between Ghost and U.S. Agent in the Watchtower scene. However, the latest teaser reveals the same setting, but with Taskmaster conspicuously absent.
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 inclusion of Taskmaster in the original trailer and her subsequent omission in the new teaser has prompted a flurry of theories. Some fans believe Marvel might be engaging in a double-bluff, while others think it could be a strategic move to keep fans guessing about the storyline leading up to Avengers: Doomsday.
Further fueling the speculation, a detailed comparison of the frames from both trailers shows not only Taskmaster's removal but also slight differences in the positioning of the other characters. This has led to theories that Sentry, who is known for his ability to 'delete' people, might have already killed Taskmaster in this scene, unbeknownst to the other Thunderbolts. Another possibility is that Taskmaster could have switched sides.
"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..."
On the other hand, some fans like puckallday believe there might be a twist in store: "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."
It's worth noting that Sentry's immense power is highlighted in the new teaser, 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's fate could be sealed with just a thought from Sentry.
The MCU has been buzzing with activity this week, and we've covered more on these developments, including whether the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement might have spoiled Thunderbolts. Additionally, Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more cast reveals for Avengers: Doomsday are on the way, leaving room for hope that Taskmaster might still have a role to play.
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 set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following in May 2027.
