Thunderbolts Trailer Debate: Taskmaster's Scene Removal Sparks Controversy

A newly released teaser for *Thunderbolts\** has ignited intense speculation regarding the fate of Taskmaster, following fan observations that the character appears to have been digitally removed from a key scene. In the September 2024 trailer, Taskmaster is clearly visible standing between Ghost and U.S. Agent inside the Watchtower. However, in the latest teaser, that same scene shows only Ghost and U.S. Agent—with no sign of Taskmaster.

This omission, paired with the recent *Avengers: Doomsday* cast announcement—where Olga Kurylenko, the actress behind Taskmaster, was notably absent while other *Thunderbolts\** characters were confirmed—has led many Marvel fans to believe that Taskmaster may not survive the film.

So why include Taskmaster in the original trailer but remove him in the newer teaser? Fans have proposed several theories, ranging from Marvel intentionally misleading viewers to keep storylines under wraps, to possible last-minute reshoots or script changes tied to the broader *Avengers: Doomsday* narrative.

It’s also worth noting that the two scenes aren’t exact matches. While Taskmaster is missing from the new version, slight differences in character positioning raise questions about whether this moment reflects a timeline shift, or even an in-universe alteration caused by Sentry—who has already been shown erasing people from existence in other parts of the trailer. Could Taskmaster have already been eliminated? Or did he switch sides at the last minute?

Reddit user Matapple13 commented, “Marvel pretty much just sealed the fate of this character in the movie. 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...”

Conversely, some fans like puckallday suggest otherwise: “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.”

What’s certain is that Sentry is one of the most powerful beings in the MCU. The new teaser reinforces this as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine—played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus—states, “Sentry is stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one.” If true, it’s entirely plausible that Taskmaster could be erased, vaporized, or sent into the void in an instant.

For more updates on the MCU’s evolving storyline following this dramatic week, including whether the *Avengers: Doomsday* casting hints at deeper spoilers for *Thunderbolts\**, stay tuned.

Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have both hinted that the *Avengers: Doomsday* cast isn’t fully revealed yet, leaving room for hope that Taskmaster’s story might not be over after all.

Fans won’t have to wait too long to find out. *Thunderbolts\** hits theaters in May 2025, followed by the *Ironheart* TV series in June. Phase 6 officially begins with *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* in July 2025. Then, *Avengers: Doomsday* arrives on May 1, 2026, with *Secret Wars* set to conclude the saga in May 2027.