Marvel’s Thunderbolts* wasn’t born in a day—and believe it or not, it didn’t even start off like your average superhero team-up. In an insightful chat with original screenwriter Eric Pearson, Polygon uncovered how the film’s narrative morphed from a high-octane, Die Hard-style vault escape to a more intimate, character-driven story reminiscent of The Breakfast Club.
Background on the Script’s Evolution Pearson spilled the beans on how early drafts were pretty much a telephone game of ideas. Initially, the movie was pitched as a contained, locked-in scenario—think of a group of hard-bitten heroes trapped in a deathtrap, scrabbling to make it out alive, much like Bruce Willis in Die Hard. But here’s the twist: as the story evolved and more beloved MCU characters like Bucky, Bob, Sentry, and John “U.S. Agent” Walker were added, the narrative’s shape transformed significantly. By the time director Jake Schreier hopped on board, audiences were set for more than just high-flying escapades—there was going to be a fair share of on-the-road detours and those bittersweet moments that give you all the feels.
A Journey of Creative Experimentation You know how in every great creative project there are a few “what if” moments? Pearson’s account is chock-full of them. Early on, he tried out ideas that, in retrospect, seem almost absurd—overloaded with road trip antics in the second half of act two. As Pearson explained, sometimes in those initial drafts, you get so crazy that you end up scrapping certain ideas and starting fresh. It’s like testing out the impossible in order to finally settle on something that really clicks. And oh, did he have a blast pushing boundaries, even if it meant letting one of his favorite characters exit the story way too soon.
Venturing Beyond the Vault: Character-Centric Focus One of the most striking shifts in the film was the character development. Pearson revealed that his original pitch wasn’t spoon-feeding the audience any vampire-style villains–it needed to be fresh. Rather than replicating the Suicide Squad formula seen in other projects, he wanted to infuse the movie with a different vibe—more emotional isolation, more frustration, and a dash of humor. The Thunderbolts* team was designed to be like detained classmates forced into a group project: bickering, disliking one another, yet slowly discovering that, underneath it all, they needed each other to break free. “This is The Breakfast Club!” might as well have been the rallying cry in the script.
Director Collaboration and a Dash of John Malkovich When director Jake Schreier came on board, he didn’t just inherit a script—he reshaped its tone. Drawing inspiration from films like Being John Malkovich, Jake introduced the concept of the “Void,” a spooky, physical maze-like landscape that wasn’t just metaphoric but a literal reflection of the characters’ internal traumas. This collaboration opened up a treasure trove of opportunities, like the brilliant elevator-shaft escape scene that seamlessly blended humor, exposition, and character backstory. It’s always a joy to see directors and screenwriters so in sync that they can toss around ideas like “scooching up an elevator shaft” while still delivering depth and irony.
The Dark Side of Heroism: John “U.S. Agent” Walker If you thought the evolution was all fun and games, wait till you hear about John Walker’s transformation. Once seen as the overly sanitized New Captain America, Pearson decided to strip away any facade of redemption. Instead, Walker evolves into a full-on dark and miserable character—the kind you love to hate. Pearson’s vision was to showcase his inner torment with a moment where his bravado crumbles, revealing that beneath all the humor and swagger was a man broken by the weight of disappointed expectations. Wyatt Russell’s portrayal captured that perfect balance of sardonic wit and raw vulnerability, making for one of the film’s most memorable moments.
Brewing Up a Marvel Original Interestingly, Pearson wasn’t even an avid Thunderbolts comic reader before the movie came together. Instead, he leaned into the idea of using the comic’s framework to build something entirely new—far from a rehashed or formulaic version of Marvel’s Suicide Squad. By merging elements of Die Hard vault escapes with the intimate drama of The Breakfast Club and even a touch of Being John Malkovich’s surreal corridors, Thunderbolts* stands as a refreshing spin in the crowded Marvel universe. The final movie isn’t just about assembling a team; it’s about these flawed individuals navigating forced team-building exercises, clashing, bonding, and ultimately finding that their mutual mistrust might just be the perfect catalyst for something truly unexpected.
In the end, this behind-the-scenes look is not just a testament to the creative chaos of filmmaking, but also a reminder: sometimes, the best ideas come from mixing genres, testing the absurd, and embracing the messy, emotional truths of our favorite characters.
Source: This article was inspired by content from Polygon . All images belong to their respective owners.