Korean-American actor Steven Yeun is officially out of Marvel’s Thunderbolts. The star who first became a recognizable face in the series The Walking Dead, shot to superstardom after his Oscar-nominated performance in Minari followed by his blockbuster gig in the dark comedy series, Beef. Yeun’s relatability with audiences led Marvel to consider him for the key role of Sentry in the upcoming Thunderbolts.
The actor though, confirmed that he turned down the offer owing to scheduling issues brought about by the SAG-AFTRA strike. But fans of the talented star are seeing this as a wise move on his part to do more meaningful films, and are applauding his decision to step down from this lucrative opportunity.
Fans Praise Steven Yeun For Turning Down Coveted Marvel Role
Steven Yeun is currently ruling the roost in Hollywood with his superlative turn in the dark comedy series, Beef. The actor who was already a popular face owing to power-packed performances in the Oscar-nominated Minari, has ensured that he is one of the most sought-after actors in the industry today. Yeun’s stardom made Marvel and Kevin Feige sit up and take notice as well. The franchise offered the Korean-American star the marquee role of Sentry in the upcoming film Thunderbolts featuring Florence Pugh.
A formidable anti-hero who has a dark alter ego, Sentry is supposed to possess infinite and unassailable power. While Yeun would expectedly have done a fantastic job of portraying the character, he shockingly let go of the opportunity owing to various reasons.
While it is not unreasonable to think that the star may have missed out on a golden chance to become a Marvel alum, fans applauded his brave stance and praised him for not getting carried away by fame. Many viewers also lauded his loyalty towards making independent films.
He backed out of a Marvel project to do this?
Fucking legend. https://t.co/6MM0eS157n
— Harris Dang aka Critic Name (@FilmMomatic) January 5, 2024
He’s a great actor. I love his decision making here!
— The Film Bee (@the_film_bee) January 5, 2024
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY!!
— Ophelia Overdose (@miss_overdose) January 6, 2024
He know his pocket wish more actors were this aware like some of those actors don’t need marvel
— homeslice 🫳🏾 (@surerightnever) January 5, 2024
Yes please we need some beautiful love stories ❤️❤️
— Y (@AliveYashraj) January 5, 2024
While Yeun did not choose another project specifically over his Marvel role as clarified by the actor himself, it is clear that fans of the star believe that his heart was in the right place with this decision.
Here’s Why Steven Yeun Rejected Thunderbolts
Steven Yeun was cast for the pivotal role of Sentry in the upcoming MCU film Thunderbolts, which also features Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, along with Harrison Ford, Sebastian Stan, and a host of other popular actors. The Oscar nominee though, confirmed publicly that he has stepped down from the role.
In an interview with Variety, Yeun revealed the real reason behind his decision, amid various speculations that were circulating among fans on social media. Admitting that he completely regretted having to take this decision, the Beef star explained how the SAG-AFTRA Strike changed a lot of things in terms of scheduling and dates.
“I think for me, time passing and things shifting kind of pulled me out of it. But Jake [Schreier], I know, is going to do an incredible job. It took a lot of drafts on email to make sure that I conveyed the sincerity of how sorry I was to have to back out.”
However, Yeun stated that he was definitely on board to star in a Marvel film in the future. When asked about the kind of role he would want to do, the actor preferred to keep his cards close to his chest.
