Steven Yeun is actually familiar with comic book films thanks to The Walking Dead and Invincible. Image source: AMC/Marvel
Marvel is plagued by another setback. Because Thunderbolts, scheduled for July 25, 2025, is losing one of its most important actors: Steven Yeun doesn’t become The Sentry for the anti-hero ensemble after all – like a report from The Hollywood Reporter revealed.
Steven Yeun is leaving Marvel’s Thunderbolts
It is not known why exactly the star of The Walking Dead and Invincible is leaving. One can only speculate as to whether there were creative differences or scheduling conflicts. Work on The Thunderbolts was also affected by last year’s writers/actors’ strike, after major studios refused for months to give their employees fairer wages and better working conditions.
There were also postponements for The Thunderbolts, which was originally supposed to start in July 2024. The film itself revolves around a team of anti-heroes (including Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, John Walker, Ghost, Taskmaster and Red Guardian), which is put together by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).
The Thunderbolts – basically the Marvel counterpart to DC’s Suicide Squad. In the film, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s team consists of Ghost, Red Guardian, Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, John Walker and Taskmaster. Image source: Disney/Marvel Studios
Who is The Sentry anyway?
With The Sentry or The Void, the star of comic book films such as The Walking Dead and Invincible should have played a superhero and a villain at the same time. Yeun’s proposed role is one of the most powerful Marvel characters, who is often compared to DC’s Superman.
What makes The Sentry different from Superman? The man with the power of a thousand exploding suns
is extremely mentally unstable and is plagued by delusions. Robert Reynolds’ second alter-ego The Void regularly becomes a threat to the entire Marvel universe.
Rumor has it that Thunderbolts will also play on this idea from the Marvel comics: While The Sentry initially appears as an ally of the anti-hero team, he could become the big boss in the final act of the film – the parallels to the 2016 Suicide Squad film are of course obvious.
The Sentry is one of the Avengers’ most important and powerful allies – but as The Void, he can also become one of their toughest opponents. Image source: Marvel Comics
It is currently unknown what will happen next with The Sentry’s role. Marvel is probably looking for a replacement for Steven Yeun, because there shouldn’t be too much time left for script changes: In order to meet the planned theatrical release on July 25, 2025, filming has to start soon – supposedly it will be in March.
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What do you think about Steven Yeun not becoming The Sentry after all? Would you have been happy to have the star of The Walking Dead and Invincible in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or can you do without it in good conscience? What hopes and expectations do you have for Thunderbolts? Let us know in the comments!
