Why did they kill Taskmaster in Thunderbolts? Details explored

Thunderbolts* is a Marvel Cinematic Universe ensemble film directed by Jake Schreier. The movie premiered at London's Cineworld Leicester Square on April 22, 2025, and on May 2, 2025, it was released in theaters across the United States as the last installment of Marvel's Phase Five. After its theatrical run, the film became available for streaming worldwide on Disney+ starting August 27, 2025.

The plot centers around Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's recruitment of a group of former criminals and antiheroes for a secret government mission. The assignment is initially framed as an opportunity for atonement, but it soon turns into manipulation and betrayal, revealing Valentina's more sinister intentions.

As they fight to live and establish their identities beyond being replaceable agents, the team encounters fatal internal conflicts, heartbreaking losses, and moral issues. Taskmaster was killed in Thunderbolts* to raise stakes, add unpredictability, and convey that no character was safe. The choice was not part of the original script but surfaced after rewrites, sacrificing her larger arc for a shocking plot twist.

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Why Taskmaster was killed off in Thunderbolts*: creative choices, script changes, and story impact

A still from the film (Image via Prime Video)

According to director Jake Schreier, the decision to kill Taskmaster was a deliberate move to establish a darker tone for the film from the beginning. He clarified that early drafts of the script made the plot feel "a little bloodless" and that they required a scene that would create "real tension."

Killing off a character who had already been introduced in Black Widow and was featured in the marketing was a way to show that no one on the team was truly safe. Also, Taskmaster's death sets off other character arcs, particularly for Ghost (Ava Starr). A trap created by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine pits the Thunderbolts against one another in a secret complex.

Ghost shoots Taskmaster in the head during this violent confrontation. She decides to reevaluate her role and eventually join the main team as a result of this incident and her later discovery of Val's manipulation. It is more about what Taskmaster's death causes in the survivors than her own story, especially Ghost and Yelena Belova.

Co-writer Eric Pearson states that a significantly broader plotline for Taskmaster was part of the original plans for the movie. She was intended to have a mentor-like relationship with Ghost, as both were characters who were experimented on and controlled. But in the end, this subplot was dropped.

Thunderbolts* (Image via Prime Video)

Since it was considered the emotional center of Thunderbolts*, the directors chose to concentrate on the core connection between Yelena Belova and Bob (Lewis Pullman). Taskmaster's early elimination allowed them to "keep our tonal balance" and avoid taking up more emotional space that would have interfered with the main plot they were attempting to develop.

One challenge was how Taskmaster was portrayed in the MCU, which differed significantly from the comic book version. Taskmaster (Anthony "Tony" Masters) is a self-interested mercenary who can imitate physical actions in the comics. Antonia Dreykov, the MCU's Taskmaster, is a victim of her father's brainwashing and mental abuse.

Even though her tragic background was captivating, it proved difficult to incorporate her into a team environment without her being treated more like a "combat tool" than a fully realized character in a crowded ensemble. Her death avoided the problem of providing her with a significant storyline in a movie that already had numerous characters.

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Thunderbolts* is available to stream on Disney+. Stay tuned for more updates.