"Thunderbolts*" Geraldine Viswanathan Confesses Messing Up On Set Was "Scary"

Buzz Feed

01-05-2025

Australian actress, Geraldine Viswanathan, has quietly crept onto Hollywood's radar, in recent faves Miracle Workers (2019), Blockers (2018) and You're Cordially Invited (2025). Now, she's stepping up to the MCU plate as a pivotal character in Jake Schreier's superhero smash, Thunderbolts *.
Questions are already being asked of her future involvement in the Cinematic Universe and if she'll be returning as bright-haired hero, Songbird. Geraldine's answer is Marvel media training at its finest — which could really mean anything.
Ahead of the cinematic release of Thunderbolts*, we sat down with Newcastle-raised Geraldine Viswanathan to confirm (or deny) her future MCU role, chat about the biggest menace on set and her career "WOAH" moment.
Here's everything she told us:
BFOZ: Growing up in Australia and pursuing acting over here, when it feels so far away from the big lights of Hollywood, what's the moment that made you realise, "Holy shit, I've made it"?
Geraldine: I mean, [ Thunderbolts* ]' is kind of crazy and I'm looking at the poster here and I see my name at the bottom and I'm like, "Wow".
I feel like it hasn't dawned on me the massiveness of joining the Marvel universe until I've started doing press. But I think also doing Blockers and having our premiere, was such a pinch me full circle moment because I think it was a couple — five years prior to that, I had gone to that same theatre for the Bridesmaids premiere, just as a fan waiting at the barricades to get autographs.
And so to be on the other side and have a movie that's premiering at the same theatre felt like a very cool moment.
BFOZ: If Marvel dreamed up a new South Asian-Australian superhero, what backstory and powers would they have? Would grow up in Newcastle just like you did?
Geraldine: Woah. What a question. You know what? I've thought about this before.
I think I was like, wouldn't it be interesting if there was a mixed race superhero who can live in this liminal space between worlds or something like that? Maybe she could shapeshift or time jump or something.
But I definitely, would love to see more superheroes from Newcastle.
Samir Hussein / Samir Hussein/WireImage
BFOZ: Speaking of new heroes, will we be seeing Mel step into her own hero role in the future?
Geraldine: I really can't say, or else I'll be sniped, but all I can say is that... Hey! I would love to. I'm available, and this experience has been such a dream and I would love to do it again, if I could.
Just for your visual reference, here's Geraldine's reaction to the question:
Anyways...
BFOZ: Back to Thunderbolts*, the ensemble is full of absolute characters. Which cast member was the biggest menace on set?
Geraldine: Biggest menace?
I feel like everyone was pretty well-behaved because it was so scary when you mess up and they have to reset. But I think David Harbour is a big crack and I think was cracking up the team.
So, he might win the award for biggest menace.
BFOZ: And finally, in today's world, if you could pick one of these Marvel villains — Thanos, Valentina de Fontaine, Loki, The Green Goblin or Killmonger — to rule, who would it be and why?
Geraldine: Oh my god, these are terrible options. No, I don't want any of them to rule to the world, but maybe if I had to choose, I guess Val. I'm staying loyal to my boss. I think she's not all bad.
There's some nuance, there's some gray area there, and I love to see a woman in charge, so I'll go with Val.
BFOZ: How do you think she would change the world?
Marvel Studios / Courtesy of Marvel Studios