The latest teaser for *Thunderbolts* has ignited a fervent debate among fans regarding the fate of Taskmaster after keen-eyed viewers noticed the character's absence from a pivotal scene that was previously included in the September 2024 trailer. In the original trailer, Taskmaster was prominently positioned between Ghost and U.S. Agent during the Watchtower scene, but the new teaser shows the same setting with Taskmaster conspicuously missing.
Adding fuel to the speculation, the recent announcement of the cast for *Avengers: Doomsday* included Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Lewis Pullman, but notably omitted Olga Kurylenko, the actress who plays Taskmaster. This has led many MCU enthusiasts to theorize that Taskmaster may not survive *Thunderbolts*.
The decision to feature Taskmaster in the original trailer but exclude her in the new teaser has sparked numerous theories. Some fans believe Marvel might be employing a double-bluff strategy, while others speculate it could be a precautionary move related to the broader narrative involving *Avengers: Doomsday*. Moreover, close examination reveals that the characters in the scene are positioned slightly differently between the two frames, prompting further speculation. Could Sentry, known for his immense power to 'delete' individuals, have already eliminated Taskmaster by this point in the movie? Alternatively, might Taskmaster have switched sides?
Redditor Matapple13 commented, "Marvel pretty much just sealed the fate of this character in the movie. Yesterday they announced Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Lewis Pullman in the *Avengers: Doomsday* cast, but Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster's actress) was blatantly absent, and now, Marvel posts this..."
Conversely, another fan, puckallday, suggested a different perspective, saying, "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."
What is certain is Sentry's formidable power, highlighted in the teaser by Julia Louis-Dreyfus' character, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who describes Sentry as "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one." This raises the possibility that Taskmaster could have been dispatched by Sentry with ease, perhaps even sent to the void.
The MCU continues to evolve with an eventful week of announcements, including speculation on whether the *Avengers: Doomsday* cast reveal might have spoiled elements of *Thunderbolts*. Moreover, both Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that the *Avengers: Doomsday* cast announcements are not yet complete, leaving room for hope that Taskmaster might still have a role to play.
Fans won't have to wait long for answers. *Thunderbolts* is slated for release in May 2025, followed by the TV show *Ironheart* 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 a year later in May 2027.
