Marvel’s Thunderbolts film loses another key cast member, with Ayo Ederberi set to be replaced by Blockers‘ Geraldine Viswanathan.
Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts project really does seem to be struggling to catch a break at the moment.
Production on the film was suspended last year due to the strikes, and as things look to get back up and running, the project keeps losing key creatives. The film’s cinematographer Steve Yedlin had to exit the project because of scheduling conflicts following the delay caused by those aforementioned strikes.
Beef's Steven Yeun also left the film before production restarted, citing scheduling conflicts. Although it was never confirmed, Yeun was heavily rumoured to be playing the role of Sentry in the ensemble, which may well have placed him as a central role in the film. A part which could well require a lot of the film’s heavy lifting as far as drama and tension go.
Yeun’s decision would have left a sour taste in the mouths of Marvel Studios’ producers given that his stock is particularly high in the wake of Beef’s searing success on Netflix. The same can be said for the newly-announced (thanks, Deadline!) departure of Ayo Edebiri who has reportedly also now dropped out of the project due to – yes! – scheduling conflicts.
Edeberi is a hot property given her acclaimed turn in TV’s The Bear, one of the most lauded shows on TV at the moment. She’s also making waves in the world of film, featuring in the vaunted high school comedy, Bottoms.
Like Yeun, Edeberi’s casting in the ensemble for Thunderbolts was something of coup for Marvel, but the studio has been forced to replace her with Blocker's Geraldine Viswanathan. An excellent substitution, we might add.
Top Gun: Maverick's Lewis Pullman has stepped in to replace Yeun.
It can’t be easy for the film’s director, Jake Schreier. Still, he’s in place, and set to make the film about a group of Marvel villains who are sent on missions commissioned by the government. Thunderbolts is set to release in mid-2025.
