The recent teaser for Thunderbolts has ignited a fervent discussion among MCU fans about the fate of Taskmaster, following the character's noticeable absence from a key scene previously featured in the September 2024 trailer. In the original trailer, Taskmaster was prominently positioned between Ghost and U.S. Agent in the Watchtower scene, but the new teaser omits the character entirely, leaving fans puzzled and speculating about the implications.
This development, coupled with the recent announcement of the Avengers: Doomsday cast, which included Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Lewis Pullman, but notably excluded Olga Kurylenko, the actress portraying Taskmaster, has led many to believe that Taskmaster may not survive the events of Thunderbolts.
The change in the scene has sparked numerous theories among fans. Some speculate that Marvel might be employing a double-bluff tactic, while others suggest the studio could be adjusting its narrative approach in light of future plans for Avengers: Doomsday. Moreover, slight differences in character positioning between the two frames have led to additional theories. One popular idea is that Sentry, a character known for his immense power, might have 'deleted' Taskmaster in the scene, a capability demonstrated in other trailer footage. This could mean that the rest of the Thunderbolts are yet to notice Taskmaster's disappearance, or perhaps Taskmaster has turned against the team.
"Marvel pretty much just sealed the fate of this character in the movie," remarked redditor Matapple13, highlighting the absence of Olga Kurylenko from the Avengers: Doomsday cast and the new teaser's implications. On the other hand, user puckallday suggested, "The amount of people saying she’s dying and Marvel seemingly leaning into that by barely showing her make me think there's a reveal there with her in the movie and that she lives."
The teaser also opens with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, describing Sentry as "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one," which further fuels speculation about Sentry's potential role in Taskmaster's fate. Whether Taskmaster has been killed, deleted, or sent to some other dimension remains a mystery that fans are eager to unravel.
As the MCU continues to evolve, the upcoming releases promise to shed more light on these developments. Thunderbolts is slated for a May 2025 release, followed by the Ironheart TV show in June, and the kickoff of Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July. Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following in May 2027. Meanwhile, Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted at further cast announcements for Avengers: Doomsday, leaving a glimmer of hope for Taskmaster's future in the MCU.
