Steven Yeun, who is popularly known for his roles in the movies The Walking Dead and Beef, has dropped out of the upcoming Thunderbolts movie.
It is reported that the actor has dropped out due to scheduling issues that arose when WGA and SAG-AFTRA declared that they were on strike. He was initially cast as Sentry in the upcoming movie by Marvel Studios.
The actor’s departure has raised many doubts and questions in the minds of fans about whether Marvel will replace him with another actor or change the storyline accordingly.
As the voice star of Amazon’s adaptation of the Robert Kirkman comic Invincible, Yeun already commands a significant following in the comic book industry. He became well-known as one of The Walking Dead’s main characters, and his Netflix short series Beef is currently up for an award this season.
Last year’s strike by WGA and SAG-AFTRA disrupted many actors and production schedules in Hollywood. The effect of the prolonged work stoppage is felt by many of the producers in the industry. Thunderbolts was planned to be released on June 26, 2024, but has been pushed back to July 25, 2025, along with many other Marvel films.
Yeun’s participation in Thunderbolts was initially mentioned in February, even though Marvel did not formally reveal the cast.
The studio had announced five months prior, during a D23 presentation, that the picture would star a number of Marvel staples, including Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Steven Yeun on why he dropped the movie
It was reported that Steven would no longer be part of the MCU Thunderbolts.
On his appearance, while celebrating the opening of the Louis Vuitton pop-up in West Hollywood, Yeun spoke about his exit from the Thunderbolts movie. He said that the SAG-AFTRA strike was the reason behind his decision to drop out of the upcoming movie Thunderbolts.
He also said that he wanted to do a Marvel movie for a long time.
Yeun stated that he thinks it’s too early to comment on it in response to the question of which Marvel film he would like to collaborate on in the future. He also said that he has annoyed many of the Marvel fans by exiting the movie.
Thunderbolts production was deeply affected by the strike
The production and filming of the movie by MCU were affected by the actors’ and writers’ strike in 2023. Yeun has backed off from the movie as the delay in filming it has led to a clash in his schedules.
Yeun’s exit from the production serves as a reminder of the long-lasting effects of SAG-AFTRA and WGA on the film business. The original release date for The Thunderbolts was June 26, 2024. Production for the film has not yet begun, though the protests’ disruption has caused a major delay in production.
The movie is rumored to be the union of all the anti-heroes from the MCU, and the team consisting of seven of them will be sent to retrieve adamantium from the body of the dead Celestial Tiamut, Attempting to regulate a few of the strongest forces in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe will be a challenge for Thunderbolts.
If Sentry’s role as Thunderbolts’ primary antagonist is true, as rumored, then production may be further delayed until Marvel adjusts to Sentry’s departure.
The doubt that arose in the minds of the fans was whether the character would be fully discarded after Yeun’s departure. However, if he is the main villain, then the character cannot be removed easily. In order to get the cameras rolling, the studio will have to locate an actor of Yuen’s level to play the part soon.
Eric Pearson is penning the screenplay for Thunderbolts, which will be directed by Jake Schreier. Alongside returning cast members David Harbour as Red Guardian, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova/Black Widow, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, the movie stars Sebastian Stan, an established member of Marvel Studios, as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier.
Harrison Ford will also make his screen debut in the film as the new General Thunderbolt Ross.
Thunderbolt is not the only movie that has been delayed due to the strikes. The entire lineup of Marvel Studios in 2024 has been disrupted. Captain America: Brave New World and Blade were also pushed back to 2025.
