Marvel

Julia Louis-Dreyfus reveals she has "really known for a long time" about the big 'Thunderbolts*' plot twist

By Sophia Soto | Last updated Jun 20, 2025 11:22 AM ET

Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been keeping a big MCU secret since she was approached about the role of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. "I met with Kevin Feige and Louis D'Esposito many years ago, when they first pitched me this whole idea of playing Val, and they pitched me this," she told Entertainment Weekly. "So I've really known for a long time. I haven't said a thing to anyone!"

The actress is referring to the twist in Thunderbolts*, aka the group's title change to The New Avengers, which includes Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), and Robert Reynolds/Bob (Lewis Pullman).

In terms of Marvel Cinematic Universe appearances, Louis-Dreyfus has been in The Falcon and Winter Soldier, Black Widow, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She has not yet been confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday, but her Thunderbolts* co-stars have been.

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Pugh, who starred in Black Widow and Hawkeye, shared that they filmed a fake scene in order to hide the new name: "We shot a version where she was like, 'The New Thunderbolts!'And everyone was like, 'Woo!' And then we took all of the background [actors] out and shot Julia's line, which was kind of cool."

The movie's credits were a unique and cool addition as they presented fans with press reactions to The New Avengers. "I think they do an incredible job in the credits sequence with all the articles about how people have varying opinions about it," Harbour, who was also in Black Widow, commented. "Because I know that audiences are probably going to have various opinions about these various rejects taking up that beloved mantle of theirs."

Thunderbolts* The New Avengers will be available on digital on July 1 and Blu-ray on July 29.

Sophia Soto

Sophia Soto is a writer and interviewer with a passion for all things entertainment. She is a Senior Reporter at The Nerds of Color and contributes to Yardbarker, Screensphere, Den of Geek, What to Watch, Nerdtropolis, and Temple of Geek. You can see her past work on Remezcla, Young Hollywood, Looper, Paste Magazine, Primetimer, Soundsphere, and Starry Constellation Magazine

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