A new teaser for Thunderbolts has sparked intense debate among fans regarding the fate of Taskmaster after keen-eyed viewers noticed the character's absence from a pivotal scene. The original trailer from September 2024 showcased Taskmaster standing between Ghost and U.S. Agent in the Watchtower scene. However, the latest teaser omits Taskmaster from this very scene, leaving fans puzzled and theorizing about what might have happened.

Adding to the speculation, Olga Kurylenko, who portrays Taskmaster, was notably absent from the recently announced cast list for Avengers: Doomsday, while other Thunderbolts characters were included. This has led some MCU enthusiasts to speculate that Taskmaster may not survive the events of Thunderbolts.

The question arises: Why feature Taskmaster in the initial trailer only to remove her from the subsequent teaser? Fan theories range from Marvel employing a double-bluff tactic to strategic adjustments in relation to Avengers: Doomsday. Moreover, a closer comparison of the frames reveals not just Taskmaster's absence but also subtle changes in character positioning, which has led to further speculation. Some fans suggest that Sentry, known for his ability to 'delete' individuals as seen in other trailer shots, might have already eliminated Taskmaster by this point in the scene, with the rest of the Thunderbolts yet to realize it. Alternatively, could Taskmaster have switched sides?

"Marvel pretty much just sealed the fate of this character in the movie," remarked redditor Matapple13. "Yesterday they announced Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Lewis Pullman in the Avengers: Doomsday cast, but Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster's actress) was blatantly absent, and now, Marvel posts this..."

"The amount of people saying she’s dying and Marvel seemingly leaning into that by barely showing her make me think there's a reveal there with her in the movie and that she lives," countered puckallday.

The MCU has been buzzing with activity this week, and we've delved into the implications of the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement on Thunderbolts. Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more cast reveals are on the horizon, leaving a glimmer of hope for Taskmaster's fate.

We won't have to wait long to unravel the mystery. Thunderbolts is slated for release in May 2025, followed by the TV show Ironheart in June, and the kickoff of Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following in May 2027.