In Thunderbolts*, a death trap set by CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine with the help of her faithful assistant Mel results in a ragtag team of underdogs having to band together on a dangerous mission. Comprising Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and John Walker, the dysfunctional group will have to confront the darkest corners of their past—provided they can work together long enough to do so.
It’s one of Marvel’s most highly-anticipated films in recent years—and for good reason. It’s got all the epic action that one expects from a superhero film of this scale, but also plenty of heart. Between spectacularly-choreographed action sequences are moments that dive deep into the complex psyches of the characters, making for a film that feels fresh and markedly different from many that have come before it. Plus, it’s as good a re-entry point as any for fans who might not have caught up completely on the growing universe’s recent releases.
Having previously played the role in Black Widow, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns as Valentina, this time with Geraldine Viswanathan by her side as Mel. In the lead up to the film’s release, the duo open up on the parts of their characters that they were most excited to explore with this film, and what it was like working with each other.
Julia, how did it feel getting to revisit your character once again?
JLD: With the previous films and shows, it’s been a little bit of a toe dip here, and a toe dip there. But in this particular film, you really get to know who this person is. I loved everything before, but this film had a lot to chew on and explore. I’m referring to her as sort of an anti-villain, the way the rest are anti-heroes. [laughs]
Was there an aspect of Valentina that you were most excited to explore with this film?
JLD: Her backstory. That was incredibly exciting, to see her ability to really switch gears at a critical moment and do so fairly seamlessly. I think that you get an opportunity to see why she is the way she is, and why she has such an insatiable desire for power. It doesn’t necessarily excuse things, but it helps you understand. As an actor, this is the way you approach a character under all circumstances—whether they’re so-called good guy or bad guy—which is without judgment. And so that was a really exciting way to approach Valentina and her drive, and to almost reinvent her to a certain extent.
What about you, Geraldine? What about Mel resonated most with you?
GV: I related to Mel a lot—her optimism in entering the workforce, how your idealism can get challenged, and how it can be more difficult than you think to be a force of good in the world. I was really interested in her inner struggle and in watching her figure out her moral compass and what she can stomach.
Thunderbolts* is your introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What has it been like to step into this world?
GV: It’s funny, in this movie, I have the line, “I was in high school when the Avengers came.” And I really was in high school when I watched that movie with my friends in the theatre at the mall. [laughs] So it’s very surreal and full circle to now be in one of these. I just feel so fortunate to enter the universe in this particular movie, which just feels like such a breath of fresh air. It has that classic Marvel feeling, together with an emotional nuance and depth. When I first got to watch the movie as an audience member, because there’s a lot that I’m not in, I cried a bunch. So I’m excited for people to also have that experience, and just hug their loved ones afterwards.
What was it like working with each other?
JLD: It was very positive. We had a great time hanging out together on set, and it turns out we have friends in common. It was just lucky for us. It was a synchronicity from the very start, and we took advantage of it because it helped us in the actual work that we had to do as well.
Were there any particularly memorable days on set throughout the filming process?
GV: A day that stands out is when we shot in the desert in Utah. A majority of the effects and the big set pieces in this were shot practically. So we were really in the desert, and there really was a helicopter there in the scene with us. We got to just experience the massive scale of this production and how real it all felt, as opposed to the typical green screen and acting with tennis balls as you might expect. That was something that I’ll always remember.
Thunderbolts* is in cinemas on 1 May 2025.
