Marvel Studios might have heard our surprising theories concerning one character in Phase 5’s Thunderbolts* and may have been tricking audiences of the MCU in the movie’s recent updates. Thunderbolts* is scheduled for release on May 2 as the penultimate project in the MCU’s Phase 5, followed by June’s Ironheart series. While initially underestimated, anticipation has recently been rising for Marvel Studios’ upcoming Thunderbolts*, as Marvel Studios has embarked on a clever and provoking marketing campaign, but this has all but ignored one of the team’s core members.

In lieu of any Avengers crossover movies, Thunderbolts* will be the first team-up event of the Multiverse Saga, but it will bring together antiheroes and reformed villains from the MCU’s history instead of superheroes. The first Thunderbolts team will comprise antagonists from the Captain America, Ant-Man and Black Widow franchises, but one of them hasn’t been given as much attention as the others in recent trailers and promotional material. This has spurred theories that one member of the Thunderbolts will die in the movie, but Marvel might actually be hinting at the opposite.

Everyone Thinks Taskmaster Will Die In Thunderbolts*

Antonia Dreykov’s Taskmaster Debuted In 2021’s Black Widow

Olga Kurylenko first appeared as Taskmaster in Black Widow, debuting as the infamous Dreykov’s daughter, Antonia, who Natasha Romanoff believed she’d killed years prior, but had actually fallen under the control of her father, General Dreykov. Antonia was transformed into Dreykov’s most elite Black Widow ᴀssᴀssin, harboring the ability to perfectly mimic any other individual’s fighting style. Olga Kurylenko was confirmed to be returning as Taskmaster in Thunderbolts* back in 2022, but the masked antagonist has since been neglected in the movie’s marketing campaign.

In recent weeks, Taskmaster has been edited out of scenes from Thunderbolts*’ teasers, has been clearly pH๏τoshopped into posters and trailer footage, and has been ignored completely in some teaser trailers. Olga Kurylenko has also not made a single appearance in any press interviews for Thunderbolts*, and her face hasn’t been seen once in the movie’s footage. This has led many to speculate that Taskmaster will be dying early on in Thunderbolts*, perhaps falling victim to the Sentry or the other Thunderbolts themselves, but this might be an epic red herring.

I Wonder If Marvel Is Tricking Us About Taskmaster’s Role In Thunderbolts*

Taskmaster Might Actually Have A Huge Role In Thunderbolts*

The clear trickery used in Thunderbolts*’ marketing campaign, while perhaps most obviously hinting at Taskmaster’s demise, could also be a huge trick designed by Marvel Studios to simply make us all think Antonia Dreykov will meet her end. Instead, it’s possible that Taskmaster could actually have a huge role in Thunderbolts*, with her omission from promo being deliberate to throw audiences off the scent. Following her debut in Black Widow, Taskmaster became one of the MCU’s most criticized characters, as she’s not very comic-accurate, so she could do with redemption.

The best way for Marvel Studios to ᴀssuage criticisms regarding Antonia Dreykov’s Taskmaster would be to give her a much more substantive role in Thunderbolts*. Her character could be developed properly, giving her more gravitas, weight and meaning. If MCU audiences get to know Taskmaster more intimately, it’s possible she could become a more likable and essential character, and this would make Marvel’s promotional campaign for Thunderbolts* even more clever. We’re all expecting Taskmaster to die, but Marvel Studios could actually make her incredibly important.

Taskmaster Coming Back As An MCU Villain Would Make Her Phase 4 Story Even More Tragic

Valentina Might Have Manipulated More Than Just Sentry In Thunderbolts*

Since Thunderbolts*’ trailers suggest that only Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Ghost, US Agent and Bucky Barnes will form the core Thunderbolts team, it’s possible that Taskmaster could be reintroduced as a villain. Currently, the primary antagonist of Thunderbolts* is expected to be the dark half of Lewis Pullman’s Sentry, a.k.a. the Void, who may have been created by Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and has displayed the power to turn innocent people into shadows and cast darkness across the world. However, Valentina could have also recruited Taskmaster to her nefarious cause.

It would make sense for Antonia Dreykov to simply slip back into her old ways after being freed from her father’s mind control in Black Widow. Antonia might not know how to be an independent character, and especially not a hero, so Valentina may have manipulated her to work against the Thunderbolts team. This would create the opportunity for some emotional and poignant scenes for Taskmaster in Thunderbolts*, which could explore a huge progression for her, should she actually survive the first few moments of the upcoming Phase 5 movie.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

  Release Date

  
  July 31, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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