Latest news with #JuliaLouis-Dreyfus
Buzz Feed
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Thunderbolts Cast Compete In Cast Trivia
Thunderbolts* has officially arrived, and personally, I am enjoying every single second of this cast and the return to what I love about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thunderbolts* follows Yelena, who suddenly finds herself stuck in a rut and feeling alone and isolated after working for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine for several years. When she ends up fighting alongside Bucky Barnes, John Walker, Ava Starr, Alexei, and a mysterious new guy named Bob, Yelena suddenly finds herself on an unlikely team of heroes. So, to celebrate this new entry into the MCU, BuzzFeed had the cast — Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lewis Pullman, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, and Geraldine Viswanathan — compete in a game of Cast Wars, aka a trivia game all about each other. And literally nothing about each other was off limits. Like, we started with the cast guessing what Meryl Streep told Florence she desperately wanted while filming a scene for Little Women. The cast had to guess who David's biggest celebrity crush was, and spoiler, he got to work with her every single day on the set of Stranger Things. *cough* Winona Ryder *cough* And we tested their knowledge on one of Julia Louis-Dreyfus's iconic Veep quotes about a croissant because, let's be honest, we all need more Selina Meyer in our lives. And they even learned new things about each other, like the fact that Sebastian starred in Gossip Girl or that Geraldine was gifted a purse by Taylor Swift. Basically, they are my new favorite cast, and I cannot wait to go watch Thunderbolts* again. You can watch their full Cast Wars video below: And be sure to watch Thunderbolts*, which is in theaters now!
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Scoop alert: Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Geraldine Viswanathan dish on their roles in Marvel's 'Thunderbolts'
Geraldine Viswanathan and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a scene from 'Thunderbolts'. Image: Supplied In her over four-decade career in Hollywood, Julia Louis-Dreyfus firmly planted her feet in comedy, be it for a TV series or film. That she is at the helm of 'Thunderbolts', the 36th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), is surprising and fascinating at the same time. Of course, when I was offered a virtual interview opportunity with the veteran actress and newcomer Geraldine Viswanathan, I immediately agreed. Seriously, Louis-Dreyfus is a legend, a fact 'Seinfeld' fans will agree with. As CIA director, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's ambiguous morality will likely surprise viewers, as she operates in the gray area between good and evil. Viswanathan portrays Mel, Valentina's innocent assistant, who grapples with her superior's unethical tactics. She noted that her popularity in playing characters like Elaine ('Seinfeld') becomes advantageous when agreeing to new projects. 'It's nice to be welcomed, assuming folks are on board, assuming they are willing to take on whatever journey you are proposing, character-wise, story-wise.' In the movie, directed by Jake Shreier, a group of antiheroes is caught in a deadly trap and forced to work together on a dangerous mission, orchestrated by Valentina in a bid to conceal her involvement in a covert program. Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Chris Bauer, Wendell Pierce and David Harbour, are among the ensemble cast in the movie. The veteran actress also sang the praises of the film's crew. 'I would say not just the actors, there's so much expertise across all departments in terms of making a film like this when you consider the production design, the costume design, the stuntwork, the prop design. "Everybody brings their best game to a situation like this. And, in that sense, it feels very old school Hollywood.' The cast of 'Thunderbolts'. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Leveraging her strength, the writers skillfully incorporated humour into the script. Louis-Dreyfus explained: 'There were comedic bits certainly within the script. Both Geraldine and I have a background in comedy, so to speak, so we would bring a comic sensibility to moments in a scene, but it isn't the driver for the movie. 'It's a pretty dramatic and raw film with moments of levity that we certainly helped contribute to that were very intentional, and we very much relied on the direction by Jake Shreier; he knew the tone that he wanted to nail, and I think he did so successfully.' It's safe to say that this role ushers in a new era in Louis-Dreyfus's career, and she was brimming with excitement over it. She admitted, 'When I met with Kevin Feige and Joanna Calo a few years back, they said they wanted me to play this part. But they were going to sprinkle her into other films and TV series with the intention for her to be a part of the whole story later on in this particular film, which they had mapped out. 'So I'm happy that the day has come. And I had more material to sink my teeth into for this particular film, it was very gratifying.' Expanding on her character, she noted: 'In the case of Valentino, we peel back a little on her life to see why she is the way she is and explore the idea of somebody who has this insatiable appetite for power that, for an actor, is a dream. It's just an intriguing characteristic and fun to play around with.' Any MCU release generates a fair amount of hype. When asked what sets this film apart from others, Louis-Dreyfus maintained, 'To a certain extent, it is a callback to old school Marvel in the sense that the majority of the stuntwork is practical. It is not CGI in the film. "There was not a ton of green screen, and everyone is an antihero, so there's a grittiness to all these folks that feels very human. 'And the story itself is based in character, so audiences are drawn in, following the arc of all of these characters.' Louis-Dreyfus and Viswanathan were consummate professionals during our 15-minute chat, and their feedback also highlighted that inclusivity has become a cornerstone in Hollywood. Viswanathan had this to say… Famed for her role in 'Bad Education', the 29-year-old Aussie actress was a bit more reserved during the interview. But she did weigh in on a few things during the press junket. 'I'm grateful that I entered the world in this way, and with Mel. M is also stepping into a new reality, so it felt very organic for me. 'This movie tackles a lot of darker themes. It explores existential dread and trauma, and I think that that feels pretty new in the Marvel Universe. There is a nuance and emotional depth, while having all the action and comedy that you are used to. Just an extra dimension.' She even recalled a precious behind-the-scenes memory from the project. 'Florence hosted a beautiful pool party and made incredible food. She's such a good chef. She's a foodie and a wonderful hostess.'
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Sebastian Stan reveals mystery behind asterisk in Thunderbolts title; unveils new name. Internet calls it ‘spoiler'
*Spoilers ahead* The new Marvel film Thunderbolts has changed its title just a few days after its release. Marvel India posted a video on their Instagram of Sebastian Stan hilariously going around to put up fresh posters of the film with its new title – The New Avengers. Posters and billboards are also cropping up with the new title. Here's how the internet reacted. (Also Read: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, pause Doomsday shoot to watch Thunderbolts, share message for 'new Avengers') The Marvel film Thunderbolts* has now been re-titled as The New Avengers. Turns out the film's cast wasn't joking in the trailer when they decided on Thunderbolts only as a temporary name for their misfit group. Because the mystery of the asterisk in the title is finally revealed, indicating that it was, in fact, just a temporary name. In an interesting marketing decision, the studio decided to change the film's title based on the film's ending, which saw CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) announce the group's rebrand as The New Avengers. A title card after the post-credits scene reads, 'The New Avengers will return'. The film that was released on May 1 in India stars Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, Wendell Pierce, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Internet reacts While some expressed excitement about the title change from Thunderbolts to The New Avengers, others believe this marketing stunt is a major 'spoiler' for those who haven't watched it yet. 'Isn't this a spoiler??? They should have probably waited like a week before doing that,' wrote one fan reacting to the news on X (formerly Twitter). Another wrote, 'Um… spoilers? I've seen the movie but this is just desperation – why would you ruin it for everyone like that?' Some thought that Thunderbolts was a better name for the film, with one Marvel fan commenting on Instagram, 'Thunderbolts is such a cool name.' One posted a GIF of Paresh Rawal from Hera Pheri, writing, 'Mast joke mara re (What a joke).' One hurt fan hilariously wrote, 'Not my Avengers.'
News.com.au
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Marvel film Thunderbolts receives huge name change after release as it rebrands to The New Avengers
Marvel has changed the title of its latest blockbuster just days after it hit cinemas around the world. Thunderbolts* arrived in cinemas last Friday and appeared to finally buck the trend of critical flops for Marvel after it scored glowing reviews, with many labelling it a 'return to form' for the franchise. Now, Marvel has revealed it's made the decision to change the name of the film from Thunderbolts to The New Avengers, with immediate effect. *Warning, spoilers to follow* At the end of Thunderbolts*, CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) announced the group's rebrand as The New Avengers. A graphic on screen after the film's post-credits scene then informs cinemagoers that 'The New Avengers will return'. Now, the asterisk by the name of the movie has finally been explained, and posters and promotional material around the world have had their name altered. While many fans have celebrated the change, some have criticised Marvel for essentially spoiling the movie for all the fans who haven't had the chance to see it in cinemas yet. 'Isn't this a spoiler??? They should have probably waited like a week before doing that,' ranted one fan on Twitter. A second remarked: 'Advertising a movie you want people to watch using a different name, and one that spoils the movie? Seems like a mistake.' 'Um … spoilers? I've seen the movie but this is just desperation – why would you ruin it for everyone like that?' added a third. The New Avengers features Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), The Sentry (Lewis Pullman), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell). In the comics, the New Avengers were first introduced 2004. They made their debut in the aftermath of a major tragedy in Marvel's Avengers: Disassembled comic, where a mentally ill Scarlet Witch loses control of her powers and kills several members of her team.
Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Marvel's ‘Thunderbolts' officially changes title to ‘The New Avengers' one week after release
In a highly unusual post-release move, Marvel Studios has rebranded its latest film Thunderbolts as The New Avengers just one week after it debuted in theaters. The title change follows a twist revealed in the film's final scenes, in which CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) announces a rebranding of the team, setting the stage for future Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) installments. After the credits roll, a message appears onscreen confirming that 'The New Avengers will return,' a nod to classic Marvel post-credit teases and a clear signal of where the franchise is heading next. Marvel has swiftly updated promotional materials—including posters, digital ads, and billboards—to reflect the new title. This change also brings clarity to the asterisk featured in the original Thunderbolts title, which hinted at a deeper twist. While some Marvel fans have embraced the switch and its implications for the MCU's future, others argue the change is poorly timed. Critics online have called it a spoiler, with some suggesting the rebranding should have been delayed to allow audiences to experience the twist firsthand. 'It feels like a marketing panic move,' one viewer posted. 'Why spoil a major plot point in your advertising?' The move comes after Thunderbolts posted a moderate box office opening, and it's clear Marvel is hoping the Avengers branding will boost long-term performance. As of now, it's uncertain whether movie theaters will update listings to reflect the new title. However, the sudden shift underscores the enduring power of the Avengers brand within the Marvel universe.
