When Florence Pugh introduced her live-action version of Yelena Belova to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Black Widow, the sense of humor and emotional depth she provided instantly cemented her as one of the fan-favorite roles to be introduced to the franchise post Avengers: Endgame.
That emotional complexity will be seen on-screen next in Thunderbolts*, where she is joined again by David Harbour's Red Guardian, as well as Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes, Wyatt Russell's John Walker, Hannah John-Kamen's Ava Starr/Ghost, Olga Kurylenko's Taskmaster, and Lewis Pullman as Bob.
Ahead of the film's release, Collider's Perri Nemiroff discussed what it was like bringing Yelena to the screen again for Thunderbolts*. Pugh reflects on her evolving role within the MCU, discussing how her journey across the films and the Hawkeye series has shaped both her character and her influence within the franchise. She also covers the responsibility and honor of leading a new ensemble of characters, how she aimed to bring complexity and vulnerability to Yelena’s arc, and the emotional textures that make Thunderbolts* feel distinct from what has become the more familiar MCU production. Pugh also touches on the leadership qualities Yelena has inherited from her sister, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), her instinct to protect and uplift others, and her hopes for continuing to explore those traits in future Marvel projects.
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