Steven Yeun, the man who made men shed tears in AMC’s The Walking Dead, had just left the Marvel Cinematic Universe but he already wants back in. Previously cast to play Sentry, basically Marvel’s version of Superman, Yeun will not get to wear a cape, a decision he’s finally opened up about. However, we might still see him in the future of the continuity if he has his way.
In an interview with Variety, Yeun revealed that the scheduling conflicts brought about by the SAG-AFTRA strike were a major reason behind his exit, stating, “I think for me, time passing and things shifting kind of pulled me out of it. But Jake [Schreier], I know, is going to do an incredible job.”
The SAG-AFTRA strike, beginning in July last year, was prompted by the rise of streaming and its adverse effects on residuals, among many other industry issues. It aligning with the ongoing writers’ strike meant delays in nearly all Hollywood projects. Fortunately, a resolution was reached last month after 78% of SAG-AFTRA members voted in favor of ratifying the proposed contract.
Regrettably for Marvel Studios, the delay caused by this strike resulted in losing a major star for the upcoming Thunderbolts film. As part of Phase Six, Thunderbolts is poised to introduce audiences to the MCU’s version of the Suicide Squad (fortunately for them, their brains won’t go splat if they decide not to follow direct orders).
A lot about this movie is basically Marvel’s version of something DC did before, but the big two have cribbed each other since the beginning. The ensemble team will comprise The Winter Soldier, John Walker, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Taskmaster, and Ghost.
Insiders claimed that Sentry was going to be part of the Thunderbolt’s team during the film’s first act before turning villain and going against the team. Those who might not be familiar with the character will be surprised to learn that, despite being one of the greatest Marvel superheroes, his alter ego, The Void, has long been one of the biggest problems for the Avengers.
Ever since rumors surfaced that Yeun would be portraying Sentry in the MCU, many, including myself, have been looking forward to watching his performance on the big screen. All is not lost, however. The 40-year-old actor gave his fans a glimmer of hope that his MCU debut was still on the cards, asserting, “I wanna do a Marvel movie.” What film this might be, no one knows.
Yeun disclosed that he had a hard time drafting the perfect email to convey his sincere apologies for quitting the MCU project. Nevertheless, he still believes his decision did not sit well with a lot of people, so he’s not too keen to reveal what role he would like to play in the MCU if an opportunity presents itself in the future.
Thunderbolts is set to land in theaters on July 25, 2025.
