Alerta spoiler. In the movie Thunderboltsone of the most shocking events for the public was the early death of Taskmaster. This character, played by Olga Kurylenkohe had been promoted as part of the antihero team, but his destiny changes drastically from the first scenes of the film.
In a surprising turn, Ghostplayed by Hannah John-Kamenshoot Taskmaster in the head, killing her quickly and without contemplations. This brutal, although unexpected action underlines the unpredictable and dangerous nature of the group of characters that make up the team.
As described by the director Jake SchreierThe intention was precisely that viewers felt the constant risk that any character could die at any time. “We knew that it was complicated today, when things are revealed before the movies, but in the context of the movie, we felt that we needed to risk that way so that it would not really be known who was going to succeed,” Schreier explains Entertainment Weekly.
One of the main motivations of the creators of Thunderbolts It was to make the audience feel No character is safe. The death of Taskmaster It occurs almost at the beginning of the film, a fact that is not common in the productions of the Marvel Cinematographic Universe (MCU).
To Jake Schreierthis turn was not only shocking, but fulfilled a crucial role in the construction of the narrative. According to the director, Taskmaster’s rapid death established a tone of uncertainty and danger to the characters. “Thunderbolts was never going to have R classification, but we still wanted any of the characters to die at any time, especially considering that all are murderers and former villains,” says Schreier in the same interview. The purpose was that the public could not anticipate the outcome, which strengthened the emotional connection with the plot.
Although death occurs without great emotional development at the time, it has a deep impact on the rest of the film. Taskmastera character with exceptional abilities is quickly eliminated from history, which highlights the fragility of the characters involved.
YELENA BELOVAplayed by Florence Pughhe reflects on Taskmaster’s death later in the film, saying: “He had a difficult life. He killed many people, and then killed her, just like us someday.” For Schreier, this death reflects the uncertain future of the characters and the consequences of their past acts. Despite not having a greater development in history, death reinforces the gloomy and fatalistic tone of the film, where each team member seems to be destined to pay the price for their actions.
In the director’s words: “His character is still alive in the film, in the way they think about that, what they have done, and what simply means walking around doing what is ordered, and exists in a dark and isolated place.”
The process of carrying out Thunderbolts It was not simple. During the production of the film, the filming was interrupted by a strike, which gave the creative team time to reconsider some decisions. According to Jake Schreierafter the strike, when they returned to the editing room, the film seemed “a little disappeared” and needed to improve their tone.
It was then that they decided to add the death of Taskmaster More prominent so that history does not seem predictable or too comfortable. The director’s intention was to maintain a equilibrio tonal that kept the spectators interested and emotionally committed to the narrative. “We felt that, although it would have been great to have it on the team more time, her death would have had a much greater impact and would have made it difficult to find the tonal balance if it had happened later in the film,” says the director in the interview with Entertainment Weekly.
In a cinematographic universe so full of characters with superhuman abilities and a constant tendency to resurrection, the death of Taskmaster offers an important reminder: No character is invincible. Jake Schreier emphasizes that, despite the exceptional skills of the characters of Thunderboltshow Yelena y Ghostall are vulnerable. “I think it’s good to remember the public,” says the director.
Taskmaster’s death and the perception that any character could fall at any time reinforces the latent danger facing the team. According to Screamerthis risky and challenging approach was necessary for the audience to feel that the characters were really in danger, especially in an environment where villains and antiheroes, such as those that make up ThunderboltsThey have few moral ties. This element of uncertainty and vulnerability helps humanize even to the most dangerous characters of the MCU.
