Thunderbolts* Star Wyatt Russell Reveals He Did Not Want US Agent To Say Iconic Captain America Quote

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Thunderbolts*.John Walker actor Wyatt Russell reveals his Thunderbolts* character originally didn’t say Captain America’s iconic line in Jake Schreier’s MCU movie. Soon after the Thunderbolts realize they have to work together to escape Val’s vault, Walker takes a more aggressive approach than his fellow anti-heroes and breaks the generator that powers the vault’s defense system. Walker drops a line that could be interpreted as a Thunderbolts* easter egg, as he warns his teammates saying, “on your left” — the line that kicked off Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson’s close friendship in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

During an interview with EW, Thunderbolts*star Wyatt Russell reveals John Walker’s “on your left” line wasn’t originally in the movie. Instead, director Jake Schreier added the line in post-production, allegedly as “just something to fill a void” when John Walker takes the lead. Wyatt Russell also clarifies that he “didn’t want to say” the line. Whether Schreier added the line as a reference to Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson isn’t specified. Read Russell’s comments below:

“That was a line I didn’t want to say. Jake [Schreier]felt like we needed something to say in ADR. That was an ADR-ed line. That is not connected at all. It was just something to fill a void.”

What Wyatt Russell’s Captain America Line Comments Mean For Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts*’ Captain America Line Shows The Difference Between John Walker And The MCU’s Previous Two Captain Americas

“On your left” became an in-joke between Steve and Sam when Steve poked fun at Sam’s running speed when they first met in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Years later, Sam Wilson’s “on your left” line signaled the return of all the snapped after Hulk’s second snap brought everyone back to life in Avengers: Endgame. The fact that Sam’s line is the first thing Steve hears from the rest of the Avengers strengthens the bond between both Captain Americas, and it may have played a role in Steve’s decision to pᴀss on the torch to Sam.

Just like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier creates a dark parallel between Steve Rogers and John Walker with Walker’s murder of a Flag-Smasher, Thunderbolts* seems to create a parallel between John Walker and Steve Rogers’ use of the “on your left” line. While Steve and Sam exchange it like a friendly challenge, Walker drops it carelessly like a warning. Director Jake Schreier may have come up with this idea while looking for ways to “fill a void” in the scene.

Our Take On Wyatt Russell’s Captain America Line Comments

John Walker Will Never Be Like Steve And Sam, But He’s Becoming A Hero Of His Own

Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson running in Captain America The Winter Soldier

John Walker still struggles with anger issues by the end of Thunderbolts*, but he learns to trust other people and work in a team. Fourteen months later, Thunderbolts*‘ post-credits scene reveals new looks for the now-renamed New Avengers. By this point, John Walker may be much more at peace with himself and friendlier to his teammates. Perhaps in Avengers: Doomsday, Avengers: Secret Wars, or a Thunderbolts* sequel, John Walker could display this growth with another go at the “on your left” line.

Source: EW