Marvel Studios’ upcoming film, Thunderbolts, is still ways away from production let alone premiering, but it’s become the talk of the internet lately, and for a good reason – the departure of Steven Yeung and his subsequent replacement.
Yeun’s decision to drop out of his role for the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film due to scheduling conflicts are fueling rumors about his potential replacement.
According to reports from various sources, including film scooper Daniel Richtman and the subreddit r/DCUleaks, Yeun’s fellow The Walking Dead Actor, Austin Abrams, has signed on to replace Yeun and play Sentry in Thunderbolts. However, these reports remain unconfirmed, and no official announcement has been made.
In collaboration with @rDCUleaks
I can report Austin Abrams (Euphoria) has the current offer for Sentry in Thunderbolts pic.twitter.com/batuPUaLG3
— Daniel Richtman (@DanielRPK) January 13, 2024
As previously mentioned, Yeun’s departure from his presumed role as Sentry in Thunderbolts was attributed to what’s been described as scheduling conflicts resulting from the strikes-related delays. Despite leaving the project, Yeun has expressed confidence in director Jake Schreier’s abilities and conveyed his interest in joining the MCU in the future, albeit in a different role.
Nevertheless, Yeun’s departure is a major setback for Thunderbolts, a film highly anticipated for its ensemble cast that’s filled with unconventional anti-hero characters such as the Red Guardian, Ghost, Yelena Belova, The Winter Soldier, John Walker/U.S. Agent, Taskmaster, and the live-action debut of Sentry. But, if the rumors are true, Abrams brings a laundry list of acting credits that, at the very least, is on par with Yeun’s after landing starring roles in several successful projects, including Euphoria and Dash & Lilly. He’s also appeared in films like The Kings of Summer, Paper Towns, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and others.
Abrams’ potential involvement in Thunderbolts as Sentry adds another intriguing element to the film, which is set for release on July 25, 2025.
Still, much like with Yeun, questions remain about how Abrams can do the character justice in live-action. In the comic books, Sentry has superhuman-level strength that’s enough to put him in the conversation as Marvel’s equivalent to Superman. The actor who plays him, regardless of his name, will have a lot of filling out to do so that the MCU doesn’t rely too much on padded suits and CGI to make it work.
As for the upcoming MCU film, Thunderbolts is based on the Marvel Comics team of the same name, which refers to an alliance of selected antiheroes and villains working for the government. The film’s cast includes prominent actors such as Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Olga Kurylenko, and Harrison Ford.
The plot details of Thunderbolts are still under wraps, but it will likely feature a dynamic story with complex characters.
While the speculation around Abrams’ casting as Sentry in Thunderbolts has generated excitement among fans, it’s important to note that Marvel Studios has not confirmed these reports. As such, audiences should take the the casting news with caution. The film’s production begins soon, with principal photography reportedly starting in March. Fingers crossed, we’ll hear more about the film by or before then.
