LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – Marvel fans were buzzing with excitement when reports surfaced suggesting that Steven Yeun had been cast as the Sentry in Marvel’s highly anticipated film, “Thunderbolts.” Although the studio never officially confirmed the news, Deadline Hollywood first reported Yeun’s involvement in February 2023, hinting that his role held significant implications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe beyond the movie itself.
Yeun later commented on his decision to join the MCU, expressing his desire for new experiences. He stated, “Do I want to experience that?” However, the actor’s journey with “Thunderbolts” took an unexpected turn when he dropped out of the project due to scheduling conflicts, just days ago.
Comic book creator Robert Kirkman unintentionally revealed Yeun’s role in “Thunderbolts” as the Sentry during an interview in November. This revelation only added to the anticipation surrounding the film. However, Yeun’s departure left fans disappointed and questioning his decision.
Interestingly, Yeun is currently involved in filming a small independent romance film directed by Lee Isaac Chung, which suggests that scheduling conflicts may indeed be the reason behind his exit from “Thunderbolts.” Yeun’s upcoming projects mostly include recording lines for new episodes of “Invincible” and co-starring in the sci-fi film “Mickey 17” alongside Robert Pattinson.
In an interview with Variety, Yeun attributed his departure from “Thunderbolts” to the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike and the resulting delays. He expressed regret and explained, “It took a lot of drafts on email to make sure that I conveyed the sincerity of how sorry I was to have to back out.”
Yeun’s decision may also be influenced by his previous collaboration with director Lee Isaac Chung on the critically acclaimed film “Minari,” which earned the actor an Oscar nomination. The opportunity to work with Chung again could have played a significant role in Yeun’s choice to prioritize other projects.
“Thunderbolts” is scheduled to hit theaters on July 25, 2025, and is set to feature a star-studded cast including Sebastian Stan, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Olga Kurylenko, and Ayo Edebiri. Furthermore, the film reunites the creative team behind Netflix’s acclaimed series “Beef,” with Jake Schreier directing a script co-written by Sung “Sonny” Jin Lee.
As fans eagerly anticipate the release of “Thunderbolts,” the speculation over Steven Yeun’s departure continues to raise questions. Despite the setback, Marvel enthusiasts look forward to the film’s production, which is scheduled to commence in Spring 2024.
In conclusion, while Steven Yeun’s involvement in “Thunderbolts” seemed promising, his departure due to scheduling conflicts has left fans disappointed. Marvel fans await the release of the film, which is expected to bring together an impressive ensemble cast and reunite a talented creative team.