Thunderbolts: David Harbour Teases Massive Upgrade for Red Guardian

Just when we thought that David Harbour's Red Guardian casting in 2021's Black Widow was just a one-and-done deal, it seems Marvel Studios has more plans for him after they announced his return in the upcoming film Thunderbolts at the recent D23 Expo. The upcoming film will see Harbour, Florence Pugh, and Olga Kurylenko reprising their Black Widow roles, alongside Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Wyatt Russell (US Agent), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Valentina Allegra de Fontaine).

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The Thunderbolts project is undoubtedly one of Marvel Studios' highly-anticipated films, with speculations that it would be Marvel's own version of DC's Suicide Squad. Aside from seeing the infamous anti-heroes together, it looks like fans also have to expect some character upgrades as Harbour revealed in an interview with Marvel.com that Red Guardian is set to don a new suit in the film:

"I was told I would get a new suit. And I don't want to say the 'F' word, but I am really psyched about that. You watch Captain America and you see him in all of these different movies, and you see him the white star and the black star [on his costume.] I just want a full closet's worth of suits, and I'm well on my way."

In a previous interview with Variety, The Stranger Things actor also teased a tremendous transformation with the Red Guardian, especially after The Blip and Natasha's heartbreaking demise affected him.

"What happens to him after this movie, and why isn't he fighting Thanos? Where is he in that time, what happens then? And then post that, when [Natasha] dies, what happens then? It's very interesting to me and I hope that there is interest on other levels, and maybe we'll see some more."

It's absolutely thrilling how the Thunderbolts would develop. At the D23 Expo, Marvel President Kevin Feige described the film as, "It tells you a lot about the team when beloved Winder Soldier is the most stable among them," along with rumors circulating that Florence Pugh's Yelena will lead the team.

Thunderbolts will be screening in theaters on July 26, 2024.

Also read: Marvel Confirms Thunderbolts Line-up Will Include Black Widow's Taskmaster