As Thunderbolts* prepares to close out Marvel’s Phase 5, Florence Pugh is shedding light on the dramatic transformation her character, Yelena Belova, undergoes in the upcoming ensemble film. After her debut in Black Widow and a brief but impactful return in Hawkeye, Yelena is now stepping into a more central, emotionally layered role.
Yelena’s Shift From Joyful Assassin to Grieving Soldier
In an interview with ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier, Pugh discussed the internal evolution of Yelena and emphasized how Thunderbolts* differs from her previous appearances. According to Pugh, Yelena in Black Widow was characterized by her youthful energy, her excitement over simple things like pockets on her vest, and her eagerness to explore life post-Red Room. But by the time we see her in Thunderbolts*, that light has dimmed.
“She doesn’t have purpose anymore, she doesn’t know why she’s here anymore… We have to see that she’s no longer the excitable girl that she was in Black Widow.”— Florence Pugh
Pugh highlighted that grief, trauma, abandonment, and a loss of purpose are central to Yelena’s state of mind in the upcoming film. This emotional depth presents a major shift from the fierce-yet-light-hearted operative audiences once knew.
What Thunderbolts* Means for Yelena’s MCU Arc
Thunderbolts* isn’t just a next chapter—it’s a significant milestone in Yelena’s journey. The film will delve deeper into her humanity and emotional resilience, aligning with the movie’s core theme of broken characters searching for purpose. Pugh’s remarks suggest the film will allow Yelena to confront her pain and possibly rediscover meaning through connection with her unconventional new team.
This sets the stage for her continued growth in the MCU, particularly as she is expected to appear in Avengers: Doomsday following Thunderbolts*.
Yelena in the Thunderbolts*: A Pivotal Role in a Darker MCU
Marvel’s Thunderbolts* brings together a complex cast of morally gray characters like Bucky Barnes, John Walker, Red Guardian, and Taskmaster. In this lineup, Yelena’s internal conflict and layered personality are likely to make her a central emotional anchor. As Pugh noted, portraying real, lasting emotional change is both a challenge and a privilege—one that signals her character’s growing weight in the franchise.
Our Take on Yelena’s Evolution
Florence Pugh’s insights make it clear: Thunderbolts* is poised to be Yelena Belova’s most transformative appearance yet. From a comedic, light-hearted assassin to a grief-stricken fighter seeking new purpose, Yelena’s journey mirrors real-world themes of loss, trauma, and growth. This marks a welcomed maturity in the MCU’s storytelling and gives audiences a deeper connection to one of Phase 4’s breakout stars.
With the May 2, 2025 release date fast approaching, fans can look forward to seeing how Yelena’s story unfolds—bringing more complexity and heart to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
As it has been a while since fans saw Yelena in the MCU timeline, there may be a lot to catch up on for her story by the time the world sees her in Thunderbolts*. But from Pugh’s comments, it’s clear that Thunderbolts* is meant to showcase that Yelena has grown as a person. From the sounds of it, Thunderbolts* is seemingly going to show some of her humanity being more developed compared to what was seen in Black Widow and Hawkeye.
This is also one of the core themes of the Thunderbolts* story, which focuses heavily on characters that are, more or less, broken, and looking for purpose, as Pugh pointed out herself about Yelena. It wouldn’t be shocking if the end of Thunderbolts* sees Yelena even more three-dimensional than ever, paving the way for her to take on bigger challenges in the MCU. That is why it will be fascinating to see how Thunderbolts* also impacts Yelena for her return in Avengers: Doomsday, as that will be the next MCU project where fans get to see her.
Thunderbolts* (2025) – Quick Facts
- Release Date: May 2, 2025
- Director: Jake Schreier
- Writers: Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
- Rating: PG-13
- Franchise: Marvel Cinematic Universe
