Julia Louis-Dreyfus has officially confirmed that Marvel’s highly anticipated film, Thunderbolts*, has wrapped up its production. The actress, who portrays Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), shared this exciting update during her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz. “We just wrapped last week,” she revealed, adding to the growing anticipation for the film.
While Louis-Dreyfus was tight-lipped about the plot details, citing the stringent non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that are a staple in the MCU, she did express her enthusiasm for the project. “Loved [the production],” she said. “I got to work with really cool people, who we already know are in the film. Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Lewis Pullman, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell. It was pretty dreamy.”
The actress also shared an interesting tidbit about the mysterious asterisk in the film’s title, Thunderbolts*, but refrained from divulging its significance. This element adds another layer of intrigue to a film that is already shrouded in secrecy.
Louis-Dreyfus also took a moment to reflect on how she landed her role in the MCU. She recounted a meeting with Marvel Studios’ head honchos, Kevin Feige and Louis D’Esposito, who were fans of her work in Seinfeld and Veep. “I had a meeting with Kevin Feige and Louis D’Esposito, who run Marvel. They were big Seinfeld and Veep fans. I think they just wanted to talk about those shows,” she said. “I went in and we were hanging around, talking about that episode and this episode. It just came up; they said, ‘Would you ever want to do something?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, it’d be so much fun, and my boys would freak out.’ That’s how it began.”
Her character, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, has been a subject of much speculation among fans. Louis-Dreyfus finds the character’s ambiguous nature particularly appealing. “I like who she is, as a character, which is mysterious. Is she good, is she bad? It’s a little bit unclear. I like the idea of her maybe being a little bit of a puppet master. I liked that they were kind of just dropping her into different projects a little bit here, a little bit there,” she explained.
The film, which is set to hit theaters on May 5, 2025, promises to be a significant addition to the MCU. With a star-studded cast and a storyline that remains under wraps, Thunderbolts* is already generating considerable buzz. Fans are eagerly awaiting more details, but for now, they’ll have to be content with the knowledge that production has successfully concluded.
Louis-Dreyfus’s involvement in the MCU is a testament to the franchise’s ability to attract top-tier talent. Her journey from a casual meeting with Marvel executives to becoming a key player in one of the most successful film franchises in history is a fascinating one. It also highlights the MCU’s knack for integrating characters in a way that keeps audiences guessing and engaged.
As the release date approaches, the excitement surrounding Thunderbolts* is only expected to grow. With Julia Louis-Dreyfus at the helm, along with an ensemble cast of talented actors, the film is poised to be another blockbuster hit for Marvel Studios. Fans will undoubtedly be counting down the days until they can finally uncover the secrets that Thunderbolts* holds.
