In a stunning revelation, Eric Pearson, the co-writer behind the upcoming Marvel film *Thunderbolts*, shared a surprising twist about one of the key characters—the enigmatic Taskmaster, portrayed by Olga Kurylenko. While Pearson has an impressive portfolio, including *Black Widow* and *Thor: Ragnarok*, nothing prepared him for the jarring change that unfolded in the final cut of *Thunderbolts*.

As Pearson settled in to watch the first cut of the film, he was shocked to discover that his carefully crafted character arc for Taskmaster had been dramatically altered, resulting in her untimely demise during the first act. "I was completely taken aback; everything else felt just like the movie I envisioned, but losing Taskmaster was a different story!" he expressed in an interview with Polygon.

In Pearson's original vision, Taskmaster not only survived until the film's climax but also played a vital role within the team dynamic. He envisioned her as a mentor figure to Ava, played by Hannah John-Kamen, guiding her on her journey to autonomy and self-discovery after obtaining similar powers. The camaraderie between the characters was heartwarming, as Ava stepped into a big-sister role, facilitating Taskmaster's growth.

Adding a layer of humor, Taskmaster's memory issues were a recurring gag. Pearson's portrayal had her frequently forgetting past events, leading to comedic moments where she would restart confrontations with John Walker (Wyatt Russell), oblivious to her teammates’ reassurances. "Imagine her charging back into battle only to be pulled away mid-fight because they had already become friends! It added a fun twist to their dynamic," Pearson joked.

While Pearson isn't entirely sure why the decision to cut her was made, he speculated that Taskmaster's memory struggles might have clashed with another character's similar backstory—Bob. He noted, "Bob's memory issues were a central part of his arc, and you clearly couldn't cut him. Perhaps that influenced the decision to streamline the plot."

Fans remain divided over Taskmaster's fate in the film—would her survival have enriched the plot? What adventures await her if she had remained on the team? What do you think? Join the conversation and let your thoughts be known!