Latest news with #YelenaBelova
Geek Tyrant
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Hot Toys Reveals its THUNDERBOLTS* Yelena Belova Action Figure — GeekTyrant
Hot Toys have revealed their first figure from the Marvel Studios Thunderbolts* movie, and it looks great! The Yelena Belova 1/6 Scale Figure stands at 10.8″ tall, with 28 points of articulation. The figure includes moveable eyes, multiple interchangeable hands, a pistol, a knife, batons, scythe blades for the batons, and a display stand. Yelena is available to pre-order from Sideshow Collectibles. The figure will cost collectors $270 and it's scheduled to ship out between April and September 2026. See additional details and new photos below. Thunderbolts* – Yelena Belova 1/6th Scale Collectible Figure 'We can't stop him alone. No one can. But we can find a way together.' – Yelena Belova In Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*, Yelena Belova steps into the spotlight, embracing her role as a formidable operative with a complex past. Yelena's journey from a trained assassin in the Red Room to the leader of the Thunderbolts* (New Avengers) team showcases her resilience and depth. Her character's evolution is marked by vulnerability, strength, and a quest for redemption, making her a standout figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hot Toys is proud to introduce the 1/6th scale Yelena Belova Collectible Figure, the first member of our Thunderbolts* lineup. This figure features a newly developed head sculpt with movie-accurate facial expression, detailed make-up, and separate rolling eyeballs. Her blonde hair is sculpted precisely, capturing the character's on-screen likeness. Yelena's combat costume is recreated with exceptional attention to detail, featuring a one-piece tactical suit with hand-sewn stitching details, complemented with shoulder armor and the signature Black Widow's Bite wristlets on both wrists. Her gear is as deadly as it is iconic, including short batons and long batons with attachable scythe blades, alongside a pistol and combat knife for close-quarter encounters. With nine interchangeable hands for varied poses, from relaxed stances to action-ready gestures and signature superhero landing poses, this release offers incredible display flexibility for dynamic and expressive poses. Assemble the New Avengers with this meticulously crafted collectible figure of Yelena Belova.
Geek Girl Authority
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Natasha Romanoff vs. Yelena Belova: The Value of Well-Written Women Characters
Natasha Romanoff vs. Yelena Belova: The Value of Well-Written Women Characters by Amanda Vincent With the release of Thunderbolts* (2025), more fans have fallen in love with Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh). Although she appeared in Black Widow (2021) and the Disney+ series Hawkeye (2021), the MCU's most recent installment provides more emotional depth and shows more of her personality. Yelena is Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff's (Scarlett Johansson) younger adoptive sister, who was also raised in the Red Room. Yelena spent most of her life under the Red Room's control, leaving her with many emotional scars and resentment for Natasha. The two reunited and made amends in Black Widow (2021) before Natasha died in Avengers: Endgame (2019). Appreciation for Yelena has sparked online conversations comparing her to Natasha. One tweet said, 'I think I've enjoyed Yelena more than I ever enjoyed Natasha ngl.' Other users responded, pointing out that this comparison is unfair. RELATED: Concert Review: Marvel Studios' Infinity Saga Concert Experience Underdeveloped and Oversexualized It is important to consider the era of the MCU Black Widow was a part of, a time when it was normal for female characters to be underdeveloped and oversexualized. Female heroes have come a long way since Natasha's debut in 2010. Black Widow's first appearance in Iron Man 2 (2010) featured multiple scenes of her being ogled by the men around her and fighting in very sexually charged positions. The way she moved on screen focused on emphasizing her body rather than her skills as a super spy. Her costumes, up until more recent films, consistently prioritized sexiness over practicality. Oversexualization of her character was not the only issue. Natasha was one of the founding Avengers, yet was constantly sidelined and served as the 'token girl.' She functions as a confusing mix of a maternal yet sexual figure for the team. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) shows this dichotomy the best with Natasha making jokes like: 'I'm always picking up after you boys,' and her strange, short-lived relationship with Bruce Banner (The Hulk). RELATED: The Missing Women From the Avengers: Doomsday Cast A Caricature More Than a Character Throughout the MCU, we learn very little about Natasha. She is written to have little personality besides her sassy quips and one-liners. Her male counterparts got multiple films focusing on their backstories and character growth. She should have gotten the same treatment rather than a few one-off lines about her past. Unfortunately, Natasha comes off as a caricature more than a character, which explains fans' lack of connection with her. However, some women fans have always found themselves rooting for Natasha and have been able to see beyond the poor writing to find value in her story. As someone who loves Natasha, I wish the MCU had provided us with more than a 'cool girl' version of her. After Natasha died in Avengers: Endgame (2019), she finally got her moment in the spotlight with Black Widow (2021). In this film, Natasha is noticeably different. From her costume, hairstyle, and emotional depth, she was given the representation she deserved. She finally felt authentic, not like a one-dimensional 'femme fatale.' RELATED: Movie Review: Thunderbolts* Paving the Way The movie is not perfect, but we learn about Natasha's backstory and see her have vulnerable moments with those she cares about. This was partly thanks to Scarlett Johansson's heavy involvement with Black Widow 's production and her pushing for a better story for Natasha. This movie proved the character can be relatable and interesting to audiences; she just needed to be written that way. This progress, spearheaded by Johansson, truly paved the way for characters like Yelena. Seeing her on the big screen as a main character who is not being sexualized or sidelined by male heroes is refreshing for fans and allows them to connect with her better than her predecessor. We can understand her as a tragic yet lovable figure who feels like a real person rather than a male fantasy. Yelena shines as a reluctant hero who wants to emulate her sister Natasha while struggling with her dark past and intense loneliness. In Thunderbolts*, we see the full scope of Yelena's emotions and end the film empathizing with and understanding her. RELATED: Why Did Thunderbolts* Even Bother Including Taskmaster? The success of Thunderbolts* is proving the importance of well-written women characters. Fans deserve a character like Yelena, but it's unfair to discount Natasha's legacy while celebrating her. Who Is Bob Reynolds, the Newest Hero Introduced in THUNDERBOLTS*?
Geek Tyrant
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
THUNDERBOLTS* Concept Art Reveals Cool Alternate Looks For Yelena Belova — GeekTyrant
Concept artist Ji Hye Lee recently shared several alternate unused costume designs for Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova in Thunderbolts* , and they cover a wide range of styles. Some designs stick close to the aesthetic introduced in Black Widow , reinforcing her spy roots with tactical gear and sleek silhouettes. Others go in a totally different direction, offering a more laid-back, utilitarian look—like a character caught somewhere between covert agent and scrappy survivor. Marvel was obviously experimenting with how to evolve Yelena's look as she steps into more leadership and frontline roles in the MCU. After breaking out as a fan-favorite in Black Widow and Hawkeye , she took on a co-lead position in Thunderbolts* alongside Bucky Barnes, and she will be playing a key part in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday . Pugh has been candid about the emotional journey that came with filming Thunderbolts*. Speaking to Glamour, she shared: "During the making of this movie, I had one of the most wonderful, bizarre realisations where the lesson that this film was trying to teach us was something that I was learning from as we were shooting the movie. And it was really wonderful to be taking inspiration from the art that we were creating." She went on to say: "And allowing myself, I suppose, the graciousness that Yelena allows herself of actually accepting that she needs help and accepting that she needs to allow others to care for her, which is something that I find very, very hard. I like being the carer and I like being the person that is there for everybody." And finally: "And I think during that movie it was a real nice wake-up call of actually going, 'It's okay,' and it's okay to accept that you're not [feeling] great and it's okay to accept that you're feeling quite weak and it's okay to ask for help and it's okay for people to help you. I had a nice mirrored realisation of the work that I was creating was the exact thing that I needed to teach myself." I loved how Marvel and Pugh handled Yelena in Thunderbolts* and I'm very excited to see what her future in the MCU looks like.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Florence Pugh shares a playful kiss with male pal as she shares fun-filled snaps spending time with her friends in London after winning rave reviews for star turn in Marvel's Thunderbolts*
Florence Pugh looked to be riding high on her recent Thunderbolts* success, as she shared a slew of sunny snaps of enjoying some well-deserved time off, hanging out with her friends in London. The actress, 29, took to her Instagram on Thursday to give fans a glimpse into her summer so far, showing her larking about with her pals and some adorable dogs. One hilarious shot showed the result of the Oscar nominee having fun with pal Theo Smith in a photobooth, with the duo pulling funny faces for the camera and even sharing a cheeky smooch. Florence could also be seen cuddling her beloved pet pooch Billie in the back of a car and receiving a slobbery hello from another sweet four-legged friend in a park. The Little Women star displayed her trendy sense of style, dancing in a bar in a stylish barn jacket, a patterned bandana and red sunglasses. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Looking on cloud nine to be having some quality time with her loved ones, she captioned the post: 'London summer hits the spot'. It comes as Florence's latest film Thunderbolts* has been strong numbers in the box office, taking in $74.6 million from its debut weekend. And her starring turn as Yelena Belova in the Marvel superhero film has been singled out for praise by fans and critics alike. The Daily Mail's Brian Viner wrote that 'she's the propulsive force that could just make a hit of Thunderbolts*' and that she 'quickly establishes herself as one of Marvel's more compelling characters'. While The Guardian's review declared Florence to be 'the saving grace' of the film and 'a superhero performer'. Radheyan Simonpillai wrote: 'But if it ultimately works, it's all due to Pugh, who can wrestle sincerity out of a screenplay (and a franchise) that has so little, capturing a whole emotional arc in just her moments of silence. Thunderbolts can be messy, sure. Pugh is the kind of star who can thrive in such mess.' Florence appears to be having similar success in her love life, with the Midsommar star thought to be currently dating Peaky Blinders star Finn Cole. While neither have officially confirmed their relationship, Finn, 29, showed his support for her by attending the UK premiere of Thunderbolts* last month. Looking on cloud nine to be having some quality time with her loved ones, she captioned the post: 'London summer hits the spot' Though he and Florence didn't pose together, he notably appeared in a group photo featuring her and her friends and family, making a red carpet debut of sorts with the actress. The pair are thought to have been dating for several months, after already having been friends for years. They were first reported to be secretly dating after they were seen slipping out of the after-party for the London premiere of Netflix hit The Perfect Couple together in September. They had previously been seen partying at Glastonbury Festival together, while Florence had been spotted liking his Instagram posts and shared her delight when it was revealed he had landed a role in the theatre production Red Speedo. She commented on the post: 'Oh my gosh this is unbelievably exciting!' and added that she'd be bringing her beloved grandmother, sharing: 'Granny Pat wants to come... #obvi'. Finn is best known for playing Michael Gray in the BBC series Peaky Blinders, which he starred in alongside his brother Joe. While she wouldn't name ho,, Florence confirmed her relationship status during her October cover shoot with Vogue, and has confessed she is very much in love and is approaching their romance differently to things in the past. She confirmed: 'I am [in a relationship]. OK, so something that I resonate with is that I believe that if magic is real, then it's falling in love.' Though he and Florence didn't pose together, he notably appeared in a group photo featuring her and her friends and family, making a red carpet debut of sorts with the actress Florence candidly revealed that she and her partner were 'figuring it out' and said she is ready to start a family. She added: 'We are figuring what we actually are. And I think for the first time, I'm not allowing myself to go on a roller-coaster. 'I'm allowing myself to take time to let something evolve and let it be completely real to its core, as opposed to racing into that. 'Falling is the most amazing feeling but unfortunately if that's the only thing that you know in a relationship, then that's the thing that you chase. That's not gonna last.'
Geek Tyrant
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova Will Reportedly Be Switching Up Teams in AVENGERS
It looks like the MCU's future might be even messier and more exciting than expected. A new rumor suggests Avengers: Doomsday is shaking up the roster in an unexpected way, especially for Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova. After Thunderbolts* , Yelena steps into her sister Natasha Romanoff's shoes and tries her hand at becoming a legit superhero. That journey lands her in a leadership role with the government-sanctioned New Avengers, alongside Bucky Barnes. But even though they're branded as the 'official' Avengers, the public isn't exactly rolling out the red carpet. And things are further complicated by Sam Wilson, who reportedly sued the team for using the Avengers name after forming his own squad of heroes in response to former President Thaddeus Ross. According to scooper Daniel Richtman, Yelena ends up switching sides. "Yelena is actually part of Sam's Avengers team in Doomsday .' There's no explanation given, just a tease that instantly raises a dozen questions. If this ends up being true, did she leave the New Avengers team? Did the team break up? Did something happen to the rest of the team leave her no other choice than to team up with Wilson? We'll have to wait for more details, but the idea of Yelena aligning with Sam Wilson's Avengers is interesting and unexpected. With Doomsday reportedly featuring three different Avengers teams with Wilson's Avengers, the New Avengers, The Fantastic Four, and some X-Men team members, things are sure to get wild. Florence Pugh, for her part, is all-in on the upcoming madness. When asked if she freaked out after seeing the Avengers: Doomsday cast, she responded with an emphatic, "100%!" She added, "Oh, god, there's too many people in it [to choose]! Pedro Pascal, obviously, always and forever. Paul Rudd, yes, so funny. Genuinely, the idea that all of those people are going to be in the same movie is nutso sauce." And where does Pugh see Yelena emotionally after everything? She said: "I hope that she's happy now. I hope that she feels fulfilled, like she has purpose. And I hope that we get to see some of her light and her charm and her color again, because I loved playing that before." Marvel Studios' Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters May 1, 2026.
