The Marvel Cinematic Universe is only now coming under Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ rule.
The award-winning comic creator behind “Veep” talked about her foray into the multibillion-dollar comic book industry in her new Variety cover story and how far she’s ready to go to bring the enigmatic Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine to life.
Louis-Dreyfus made her film debut in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” followed by Scarlett Johansson‘s “Black Widow,” and has since appeared in cameos and credits scenes for several Marvel movies and television shows.
The Contessa, also known as Val, is a strong lady with sinister intentions. She frequently appears in the wake of major international conflicts caused by the world’s most influential individuals. When she does, she has a talent for enlisting the most broken and spiteful of them in her service.
The Contessa last made an appearance in the blockbuster movie “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” in 2022, where viewers learn that she has been appointed director of the CIA.
This prepares the audience for her most successful performance to date, the upcoming movie “Thunderbolts,” which Louis-Dreyfus confirmed to Variety will shoot this June.
The story follows a “rag-tag band” of unincorporated superheroes, including Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes and Florence Pugh’s Yelena Bolova, according to Marvel chief creative officer Kevin Feige. She claimed that Louis-Dreyfus was done with cameos. She desires some skull-cracking.
According to Louis-Dreyfus, “I genuinely pitched it. I told them I wanted to fight. We’ll have to wait and see. I’ve not yet seen the script. She hesitantly consented, “Ugh,” when informed of Marvel’s rigorous stunt training. I should start working out.
Wyatt Russell played the part of U.S. Agent once again; David Harbour, who played Red Guardian in “Black Widow,” Olga Kurylenko, who played Taskmaster; and Hannah John-Kamen, who played Ghost were among the other actors who worked out for “Thunderbolts.”
Nate Moore, a prominent Marvel production official, hinted that Louis-Dreyfus’ character would become the MCU’s most dominant behind-the-scenes figure since Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and that everyone would be subordinate to her.
Louis-Dreyfus described the gig as having “such much secrecy around it” that “when I initially started shooting it, I had to the set wearing a black cloak with a hood and keep my head down so nobody could tell it was me walking into the soundstage.”
She also backed up recent claims made by “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler that Contessa’s important position in “Wakanda Forever” was reduced to make room for a more in-depth plot involving the death of King T’challa, who the late Chadwick Boseman portrayed.
In “Thunderbolts” and afterward, her story will be explored in more detail. As we wait to discover more about the Contessa, Louis-Dreyfus has figured out ways to personalize the role.
The Contessa’s neon stripe in her hair differs from the original comic’s white one because the actor “felt purple would make it a little more of our world today.” Additionally, I didn’t want her to resemble Cruella or anything like that.
The release date for “Thunderbolts” is presently set for July 26, 2024.