Marvel engulfed by new crisis as Invincible star Steven Yeun departs Thunderbolts movie cast
Steven Yeun has walked away from Marvel's Lightning strikes movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter (THR).
The trade publication claims that Yeun will not appear in the upcoming film, while sources close to the project suggest that he will not join the likes of Sebastien Stan and Florence Pugh in the Marvel Phase 5 film.
Yeun is said to have joined the cast of Thunderbolts in February 2023, with the Invincible star is reportedly signing on in an undisclosed role. At the time, we suggested that Yeun would be perfect for a certain superhero movie role – namely the super-powered individual known as Sentry – but it looks like our wish won't be granted.
Marvel has never confirmed Yeun's involvement in this Lightning strikes, so it's incredibly unlikely that the studio will comment on whether he has actually left the project. Still, we've reached out to Marvel for an official statement and will update this article if we hear back.
Yeun, who got his big break in AMC's live-action adaptation of The living Deadwill next be seen (or rather heard) when he reprises his role as Mark Grayson Invincible season 2 part 2, which is expected to release on Prime Video sometime in early 2024.
New year, same old problems for Marvel
Considering the seemingly never-ending cycle of negative press it endured over the past year, Marvel will have been excited to see the back of 2023. However, with Yeun's reported departure, the Disney subsidiary's hopes are increasing that 2024 could change the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). fortunes back in the area have only had a problem for three days into the new year.
After numerous delays due to the 2023 Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes, Lightning strikes Filming was expected to begin in early 2024. However, Yeun's departure complicates matters, especially now that Sentry will reportedly have a prominent role in the film. If Marvel wants to get the ball rolling on principal photography anytime soon, it will have to move quickly to hire someone new for the role; if this does not work, Lightning strikesThe current release date of July 25, 2025 could be in jeopardy.
Yeun's withdrawal from the film's roster is far from the only casting issue Marvel has had to deal with lately. Ahead of the 2023 holiday season, Marvel fired Kang actor Jonathan Majors after he was convicted of domestic violence, which has thrown the studio's multiversal plans into disarray. Additionally, rumors continue to swirl about who has actually been cast in Marvel's highly anticipated film Fantastic four movie restart, with The last of us star Pedro Pascal the latest actor to hold talks about playing Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic.
Should Marvel be forced to delay Lightning strikes' filming schedule and launch date due to Yeun's departure, this will be the latest in a long line of scheduling issues for the comic book giant. Deadpool 3 is the only Marvel movie set to hit theaters in 2024 due to last year's industrial push, with numerous MCU films including Lightning strikes, pushed to 2025 and beyond. On the TV front, only three Marvel shows have been confirmed for Disney Plus this year Echo leading the charge as early as January 9 in the US (January 10 in the UK and Australia).