Florence Pugh, who has become one of Marvel Studios' most promising talents, recently spoke about her return to the MCU in the upcoming film, Thunderbolts.
The actress initially made her mark in the franchise with her impressive performance in 2021's Black Widow, which served as her introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
After making a brief appearance in Hawkeye on Disney+, Pugh was confirmed to reprise her role in Phase 5's Thunderbolts, which is scheduled to begin filming in June 2024. As she prepares to step back into her character's shoes, Pugh shared her thoughts on returning to the MCU and working with Marvel Studios once again.
Florence Pugh on Thunderbolts & Marvel Studios
Florence Pugh recently spoke to Total Film via GamesRadar and revealed, for the first time, her thoughts about reprising her role as Yelena Belova in Thunderbolts. In the interview, Pugh admitted that she was unsure about how much she was allowed to reveal, but she expressed her gratitude for being a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and moving forward with it. She stated that she is excited to continue working with the MCU but was cautious about revealing any plot details or spoilers about the upcoming film.
“I don’t know how much I’m supposed to say actually! But I just want to say on this topic: I’m incredibly grateful to be moving forward with the MCU. I’m incredibly grateful to have had the original experience and to be able to step back into that world again in my old character."
The Black Widow star enthusiastically stated that she'll "act the hell out of" whatever script she's given for Thunderbolts:
"I don’t know much about what we’re shooting or what the storyline is, but I am very lucky to be in this position. That family is a very supportive one. Whatever they give me, I’ll act the hell out of it.”
Although Florence Pugh did not disclose any details regarding her character's role in Thunderbolts, her co-star David Harbour has already hinted at what fans can expect from the upcoming film. Harbour revealed that director Jake Schreier has some "very interesting" plans for Yelena's character, even though he did not provide any further information.
“What [director Jake Schreier] wants to do with Florence’s character is very interesting and how I factor into how we develop our relationship is very interesting. And then when you see what Jake and Eric Pearson is trying to fashion, it’s really clever...So you have this movie that’s, you know, kind of ragtag.”
In addressing the expectation that her Marvel role signaled the end of her small film career, Pugh noted that "there's beauty in the massive, epic storyline like 'Dune,' like Marvel, like even 'Oppenheimer':"
"Because I think there’s beauty in all types of those films. There’s beauty in the massive, epic storylines like ‘Dune,’ like Marvel, like even ‘Oppenheimer’ that I did. They’re amazing, mega movies. And then there’s also beauty in all these little ones that not everyone is going to see, but are going to affect the right person at the right time. I’ve never, ever only thought that I was going to just do one type of movie. I’ve always known that I want to dabble in all areas.”
Is Florence Pugh Marvel's Biggest Champion?
Florence Pugh's involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a significant victory on multiple fronts. Unlike some of her peers in the industry, Pugh recognizes that beauty and creativity are not restricted to certain genres or box office profits.
Pugh's conviction is evident not only in her exceptional acting abilities but also in her public statements. She firmly believes in the importance of artistic expression and its power to transcend boundaries, and she consistently advocates for this notion.
Pugh's recent praise of Marvel Studios and her commitment to giving her all in any role they give her is helping to shift public perception ahead of her return to the MCU.
In fact, she appears to know more than she's letting on about the upcoming Thunderbolts film, which is set to bring together a host of beloved characters, including:
- Yelena Belova/Black Widow (Florence Pugh)
- Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour)
- Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko)
- Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen)
- John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell)
- Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan)
While specifics about the movie are still under wraps, Pugh's infectious enthusiasm is a good sign for what's to come. We can expect more details to emerge once filming begins.
Thunderbolts arrives in theaters on July 26, 2024.