Julia Louis-Dreyfus has promised that we will be seeing much more of her in the MCU’s future, and we’re so thankful that Marvel isn’t wasting the talents of this 11-time Emmy-award winner. The actress has only appeared in short bursts so far, as the calculating Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, but this looks set to change in Thunderbolts.
Speaking to Screen Rant whilst promoting another film, the actress was asked about her character. In true Marvel fashion, she couldn’t divulge much, but did say, “I can tell you nothing! Yes, I can tell you, you will now see a lot more of her. There’s your scoop!”
The actress took on the role of the shady government figure appearing back in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, recruiting the disgraced John Walker. She then popped up again at the end of Black Widow with yet another proposition for master assassin Yelena Belova. We know that she points the latter in the direction of Clint Barton in Hawkeye with the hopes that she will take him out, so already we are well aware that we cannot trust her.
Her last appearance was in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, where we find she has become the director of the CIA, and also that she used to be married to Everett Ross (Martin Freeman). At no point so far have we rooted for her character, as she comes across as conniving, manipulative, and incredibly self-serving. She is, however, becoming a very interesting character, with many drawing comparisons between herself and Nick Fury and we are excited to see what more the character has to offer in the MCU.
It is likely that Val will be at the center of the Thunderbolts team, pulling all the strings shall we say, as she takes this group of powered beings and channels them wherever she sees fit. Unlike DC’s Suicide Squad though, the mission for these individuals is not a suicide one where they are easily disposable but rather a chance for reformation and a new public image.
We still don’t know much about how this will play out on screen but we are all very interested to learn about this mysterious character and to witness more of the fabulous Louis-Dreyfus in action, and according to the star she is raring and ready to get stuck in.
There is still some time before Thunderbolts is set to hit theatres (slated for July 26th, 2024), so we may yet see her pop up again before then.
