Valentina Allegra de Fontaine actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus acknowledges the Thunderbolts* antagonist’s ambiguous intentions and explains why Val is a more complex character than she seems. Val made her MCU debut in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where she recruited John Walker into her growing team of anti-heroes. She later returned in Black Widow‘s post-credits scene, where she hired Yelena Belova for a secret mission. Since then, Val has acquired Avengers Tower and ᴀssembled her own team of heroes.

In an exclusive interview with ScreenRant, Thunderbolts* star Julia Louis-Dreyfus addresses the multiple layers behind Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Louis-Dreyfus explains that Val is “complicated” and “a bit of an enigma,” as she’s not evil, but her intentions are ambiguous and her plans are always changing. The actor also reveals that Thunderbolts* will explore “the genesis of Val’s trauma.” Read Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ full comments below:

ScreenRant: Julia, you’ve popped up in so many corners of the MCU over the years. What was it like finally staying in one place long enough to really dig into Val’s character in Thunderbolts*? Are there any unexpected sides you think the fans will be surprised by?

Julia Louis-Dreyfus: “Well, it was a complete treat for me to really get material that I could sink my teeth into for this. I just loved peeling back the layers on Val and figuring out what makes her tick, why she’s built the way she is, and to see her in action in lots of different ways.

She’s three steps ahead of people, and then all of a sudden the ground shifts underneath her and she has to pivot, and she does it. So, it’s fun to see her find her way through in a very powerful way in the film.

You have to root for your character, even if your character is a bad character. When you’re playing the character, you cannot judge. But I think Val’s not just a bad guy walking into a scene. She’s somebody who’s complicated, and you’re not sure what the move is she’s going to make, and you’re not sure what her intention is. I like that! She’s a bit of an enigma, and that makes sense.

But I think fans are not expecting to see the genesis of Val’s trauma.”

What Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Val Comments Mean For Thunderbolts*

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Confirms The Main Theme Of Thunderbolts*’ Plot

The Thunderbolts* trailers and promotional footage have delineated the movie’s main theme. Every anti-hero in Thunderbolts* and their main villain, Sentry, have their own deep-rooted personal issue to overcome. The final Thunderbolts* trailer suggests Sentry can only be defeated if the Thunderbolts come to terms with their own trauma, allowing Robert Reynolds to do the same. Now, Julia Louis-Dreyfus reveals Val’s own trauma will also be explored in Thunderbolts*. Whether Val’s origin will affect the Thunderbolts’ final battle against Sentry and the Void is yet to be seen.

Val’s plan to create her own version of the Avengers might backfire due to Sentry’s immense power and the Thunderbolts’ potential decision to break off from Val. However, Val is clever enough to have more than a back-up plan. Val may turn any unexpected event into an advantage, even if her deepest fears and weaknesses are revealed to her team and her enemies. This level of vulnerability could make Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Val an even more interesting character in future MCU installments.

Our Take On Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Val Comments

Val Has The Potential To Become A Fan-Favorite Recurring Character

As the Thunderbolts’ boss and a character who pulls the strings behind many MCU events, Julia Louis-Dreyfus seems like the Multiverse Saga equivalent of Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury. However, the MCU still hasn’t made the most out of Val’s potential. Exploring Val’s origin and motivations in Thunderbolts* could serve as the beginning of a proper arc for the character, which could be developed across several movie and series appearances.

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