Florence Pugh reacts to co-star Sebastian Stan praising her performance in Marvel’s Thunderbolts and admits she had no idea about Robert Downey Jr.’s return

Aug. 1, 2024

Exclusive: The Yelena Belova opens up about returning in Marvel’s Thunderbolts*

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Florence Pugh is returning as Yelena Belova in Marvel’s upcoming anti-hero team-up Thunderbolts*. Fans at San Diego Comic-Conwere treated to the first look at the trailer, as well as some teases from the cast.

At one point Bucky Barnes star Sebastian Stan was asked what the stand-out of the upcomingMarvel Phase 5movie was, and he pointed at Pugh. Speaking to GamesRadar+ after, the Black Widow tells us she’s “chuffed” with the praise.

“I was very, very chuffed that he said that about me,” she explains. “Also, it’s so kind when people that you look up to and respect and love working with say wonderful things about you because it just makes you fill yourself with confidence and makes you feel that the thing you appreciate is also appreciating you and it’s a lovely feeling. And he’s been in the MCU for such a long time so to hear that from him is very special.”

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Not much is known about theupcoming Marvel movieyet, aside from the fact it’s directed by Jake Schreier and will bring back a group of the MCU’s most beloved antiheroes under the stewardship of Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina. Among the supporting cast are Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr, Wyatt Russell as John Walker, and David Harbour as Red Guardian.

Alongside a tease of the new movie at the Marvel panel, there was also some big MCU casting news.Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU, not as Iron Man, but asDoctor Doomin a new Avengers movie.

Pugh tells us she had no idea that was happening, adding: “I didn’t even see that either, I was doing press with you lot!”

For more from SDCC, check out our guide toeverything announced at SDCCas well as our breakdown of all the news from theMarvel San Diego Comic-Con panel.

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I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I’ve also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.

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