Florence Pugh explains why it’s important for Thunderbolts* to address Yelena Belova and Red Guardian’s Black Widow debut in their second shared MCU appearance. Thunderbolts* marks Yelena Belova’s third MCU appearance after Black Widow and Hawkeye, as well as Red Guardian’s second appearance after Black Widow. Following their successful takedown of General Dreykov, Yelena Belova and Alexei Shostakov find themselves working alongside their former opponent Antonia Dreykov a.k.a. Taskmaster and a few other ᴅᴇᴀᴅly anti-heroes.

In an exclusive interview with ScreenRant, Yelena Belova actor Florence Pugh admits she “would’ve been pissed off” if Thunderbolts* didn’t acknowledge Yelena Belova and Alexei Shostakov’s complex relationship during the events of Black Widow and the emotional effects of Natasha Romanoff’s death in both characters. Pugh says viewers “don’t have to see all the previous movies” in order to understand Thunderbolts*‘ plot, but Natasha’s death is such an essential part of Yelena and Alexei’s story that Thunderbolts* needs to address it. Read Florence Pugh’s full comments below:

ScreenRant: This movie has real emotional depth to it, and it addresses mental health. How important was it to show that vulnerable side of Yelena in this chapter?

Florence Pugh: “It’s so important. I also think I wouldn’t have believed it if she weren’t [vulnerable]. Natasha was her hero and her idol. She’s her big sister. Even when she was angry at her, she never stopped loving her. So, the idea that she’s gone and she never got to have that relationship that she finally got back in Black Widow? If I hadn’t been able to play this beat, I would’ve been pissed off because it’s natural instincts. You’ve got to allow these characters to be human. You’ve got to allow them to feel. And also, the fans wouldn’t have liked it.

And it’s the same thing that David and I really fought for with our relationship in the movie. We can’t not have an argument about what’s happened to us since Natasha died. Even though we want to make a movie where people don’t have to see all the previous movies of all these characters, we cannot do that. We can’t let the audience think that they’re stupid because, realistically, I would want that scene if I were watching and wasn’t in this movie. I’d want those two arguing. It was just very, very important to make sure that we’re constantly evolving and questioning and making sure that we have those beats of vulnerability.“

What Florence Pugh’s Comments Mean For Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts* Will Give Each Character’s Backstory A New Meaning

Thunderbolts* is inherently an MCU crossover movie that brings together characters introduced in Black Widow, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Captain America: The First Avenger. Thunderbolts* probably won’t spend too much of its runtime explaining each anti-hero’s origins, but similarly to the Avengers movies, Thunderbolts* adds another layer to its protagonists’ character arcs. Three of Thunderbolts*‘ тιтular characters made their debut in Black Widow, and two of them are prominent heroes: Yelena Belova and Red Guardian.

Thunderbolts* adapts Sentry’s Void alter ego as a more metaphorical personification of darkness than its comic book counterpart. In Thunderbolts*, the Void seems to force the тιтular team to confront their darkest memories and experiences. By doing so, Yelena Belova and Red Guardian may have to heal their deepest emotional wounds and fully come to terms with Natasha Romanoff’s death. In this case, the Void makes it possible for Natasha Romanoff to return in flashbacks, though this isn’t strictly necessary for Yelena and Alexei to overcome Natasha’s pᴀssing.

Our Take On Florence’s Pugh’s Thunderbolts* Comments

Thunderbolts* May Represent A New Beginning For Yelena And Red Guardian

Both Florence Pugh and David Harbour have been confirmed to return soon by Avengers: Doomsday‘s cast announcement. Thunderbolts* may provide both Yelena Belova and Alexei Shostakov with some long-deserved closure before they begin a new chapter in their personal lives and their hero careers. After confronting their trauma in Thunderbolts*, Yelena and Alexei might feel refreshed and ready to face bigger threats alongside the surviving Thunderbolts and the Avengers in Phase 6.

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