Marvel’s Thunderbolts Development Suspended Du To WGA Strike

The showrunners’ strike continues to generate delays and cancellations in Hollywood. This time it affects an MCU production, Thunderbolts, whose development was suspended indefinitely. The movie would bring several renegade characters, or villains redeemed somewhere in the history shown by Marvel.

Thunderbolts were one of the Phase V productions, along with Ant-Man 3, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Captain America: New World Order, Echo, and The Marvels, among other films. It would also be along with Blade among the productions officially suspended due to the strike of writers and directors.

Thunderbolts Suspended Due to WGA Strike

Image: Marvel Studios

According to Deadline, Marvel’s Thunderbolts was the next film suspended due to the WGA strike. The publication would indicate that all activities were suspended until further notice, so the production of this movie will be halted, and there is no certainty when it will start shooting again.

This is a hard blow for Marvel fans, who regret not only the suspension of this movie but also the recent halt in the development of the Blade reboot and the Wonder Man TV series. There are likely other films that will stop their development activities because of this protest by writers and directors for better pay.  

According to official statements from Marvel, production on the now-suspended Thunderbolts was set to begin in 3 weeks in Atlanta. However, now the set, writers room and everything related to the development process of the movie is closed.

There are several rumors concerning the suspension of Thunderbolts. These would indicate that the stoppage of development was executed more in support of the writers’ protest than because of problems with the script and the narrative. In fact, although Marvel did not reveal the plot, we have some ideas. The Thunderbolts are a group of villains looking for redemption, like the case of the Winter Soldier and the Phantom in Ant-Man 2.

These rumors make sense, considering that the cast of this movie is already defined. The actors who would play the characters would be Hannah John-Kamen, Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Harrison Ford, David Harbour, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Olga Kurylenko. 

This would involve the appearance of characters Yelena Belova, Thaddeus Ross, Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier. It will also star Ava Starr/Ghost, Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, and Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster.

Other Productions at Risk from the WGA Strike

Image: Marvel Studios/AMC

As we commented earlier, Marvel is known as a company that offers solidarity in protest movements. That’s why other movies and series could be in danger of being suspended due to the WGA strike. 

With the confirmation of the Thunderbolt’s movie being suspended, other movies may be in danger of being halted. Among these productions are The Marvels, the Echo series involving the appearance of the Kingpin and Daredevil. Among the candidates who suffer delays is the series of the hero named Born Again. Others would be Secret Invasion with Samuel Jackson, Ironheart, Agatha: Coven of Chaos.

However, this situation may suit Marvel, as it provides time to decide. The studio faces a rather strong dilemma related to the development of Phase V, and that is the fate of actor Jonathan Majors. He was charged with violence to a 30-year-old woman and faces trial.

The studio may exploit the situation to buy more time and see how the actor’s trial flows. Thus, the court could decide for them, and if he is found guilty, he would go to jail and be changed from his role and in the opposite case, he could resume his character of Kang the Conqueror.

Now, apart from Thunderbolts suspended, we could see more paused movies. The important thing is for the writers to achieve decent conditions. The current saturation of content forces them to work against the clock and with dire needs. It is important to recognize the value of these professionals and reward them as they deserve. 

Featured Image Via Marvel Studios