Thunderbolts* cast member Sebastian Stan compared the Marvel Studios film to one of the most celebrated coming-of-age movies of the ’80s.
Thunderbolts features a talented group of actors returning to portray some of the most iconic anti-heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The team includes Stan as Bucky Barnes, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell as John Walker/US Agent, Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, and Lewis Pullman as Sentry. Unlike the Avengers, this ensemble is made up of characters who have emerged from various MCU films but possess a more complex moral compass.
Last year, Stan drew a parallel between Thunderbolts* and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. However, in a recent interview with Deadline, he shifted his comparison to The Breakfast Club, the iconic 1985 teen comedy by John Hughes. He emphasized that Thunderbolts* stands apart from any previous MCU films due to its unique ensemble of actors and characters.
Stan shared his thoughts on why he described Thunderbolts* as “real,” emphasizing that the actors performed genuine stunts with minimal reliance on CGI. He pointed out, “When you see a truck explode, it’s an actual explosion, not just computer-generated imagery.”
At first glance, a superhero film like Thunderbolts and a teen comedy such as The Breakfast Club might appear quite different. However, it’s easy to understand why Stan draws a parallel between the two. Both stories showcase a group of outcasts from diverse backgrounds who develop a bond after being thrown together in unexpected situations.
Thunderbolts* is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 2, 2025.