Thunderbolts Trailer Sparks Debate Over Taskmaster's Absence in Key Scene

A new teaser for Thunderbolts has sparked intense speculation among MCU fans about the fate of Taskmaster after the character was noticeably absent from a key scene that was previously featured in the film's September 2024 trailer.

The original trailer showcased Taskmaster standing prominently between Ghost and U.S. Agent in the Watchtower scene. However, the latest teaser released shows the same scene, but with Taskmaster conspicuously omitted.

What happened to Taskmaster? The absence of Taskmaster actress Olga Kurylenko from the recently announced cast of Avengers: Doomsday, while other Thunderbolts characters were included, has led many to speculate that Taskmaster might not survive the movie.

The alteration in the teaser has left fans puzzled. Why include Taskmaster in the original trailer only to remove them later? Theories abound, ranging from Marvel attempting to mislead fans to making adjustments in anticipation of Avengers: Doomsday.

Interestingly, even the positioning of characters in the two scenes is slightly different. This has led to speculation that Sentry, known for his immense power, might have "deleted" Taskmaster from the scene, a capability he has demonstrated in other trailer footage. Could Sentry have already killed Taskmaster at this point, or did Taskmaster perhaps turn against the team?

"Marvel pretty much just sealed the fate of this character in the movie," observed 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 believe this might be a misdirection. "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," suggested puckallday.

What's clear is that Sentry is incredibly powerful, as highlighted by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's line in the teaser: "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one." It's possible that Taskmaster could have been killed, deleted, or even sent to the void by Sentry's sheer will.

The MCU has been full of surprises this week, and the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement may have inadvertently hinted at Thunderbolts' plot developments.

There may still be hope for Taskmaster, as both Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted at more cast reveals for Avengers: Doomsday. Fans won't have to wait long for answers, with Thunderbolts set to hit theaters in May 2025, followed by the Ironheart TV show in June, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps kicking off Phase 6 in July. Avengers: Doomsday is slated for release on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following in May 2027.