New Marvel film Thunderbolts* has been heralded as something of a return to form for the superhero franchise – and one of the things that has been singled out for praise is the manner in which it handles its more dark themes.
The topic of depression – and mental health more generally – is something that looms large over the film, both through the experiences of some of the film's characters such as Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova and more symbolically through The Void, the alter-ego of comic book character Bob/The Sentry.
Of course, the film is also still very much a summer blockbuster full of action sequences and the usual quippy banter we've come to expect from the MCU, so when RadioTimes.com spoke exclusively to Bob/The Sentry/The Void star Lewis Pullman, we asked how he navigated the blend between the film's light-heartedness and its more serious themes.
Sponsored by Vue Save up to 30% on the latest releases at Vue in 2025 Are you a movie lover who always wants to be up to date with the latest releases? Then you're in luck, as RadioTimes.com readers can enjoy new films at Vue Cinemas for less. Customers will receive up to 30% off films with Vue Pass, as long as they have a RadioTimes.com account. It's a great time for new releases, with films such as Wicked, Nosferatu, The Brutalist and Moana 2 taking UK cinemas by storm. Head to your nearest Vue to catch these movies and more for up to 30% less if you're signed up as a RadioTimes.com member. Save up to 30% with Vue Pass
"It was a hard tonal balance to get exactly right," he explained. "Jake [Schreier, director] was really our compass for all that.
"And it's a hard topic, because you want to pay respect to the right terms that should be used when you're talking about stuff like this, but also, at the same time, you don't want to be scared of talking about it, scared of saying the wrong thing.
"And that's what's so helpful about having a gang of misfits trying to discuss topics like these," he added. "It kind of sheds that strict nature around, like, if you say the wrong thing, then you're a bad person [and] you shouldn't talk about this kind of stuff anymore.
"Like, we should obviously take the time and educate ourselves about the right terminology, but also, at the same time, just not be hard on ourselves for failing and falling on the way there.
"I think that's what's so beautiful about using the Thunderbolts as a vessel to explore some of these deeper topics."
Director Schreier – who is known for his work on the hit Netflix series Beef – added that he was keen to explore some of these topics based partly on the fact that it was something he could connect with personally.
"I'm friends with a lot of artists, and there tends to be a fair amount of that," he said. "[But] those people that I know that struggle with that are also some of the funniest, most engaging people that I know.
"There's never this sense that one place that you find yourself in defines you, and also there's often the best comedy in darkness. So it didn't feel like we had to pick and choose what that was."
Read more:
Thunderbolts* review: Florence Pugh shines in Marvel's emotional return to formThunderbolts* isn't really like an indie film, director emphasisesHe continued that he had explored similar themes in Beef and had come to realise that "ideas about the void or emptiness are not niche ideas anymore".
"Everyone at this point can connect with those things," he said. "And it might seem a little strange to make a summer blockbuster about that... [but] that isn't actually a contradiction, you know what I mean? This is something that can connect as widely as anything else."
As noted above, one of the avenues for exploring these themes came from the incorporation of The Sentry/The Void – and this was a character who Schreier took great pride in bringing to the MCU for the first time.
"He's always been a parable for mental health," he explained. "So it's been funny to see the online reactions [of], like, 'How are they gonna beat him?' And it's like, just like Superman has kryptonite, Sentry's kryptonite is The Void, this other side of himself. And it's always about that duality and that conflict."
Thunderbolts* is now showing in UK cinemas.
Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Thunderbolts* star Lewis Pullman breaks down how movie tackles mental health )
Also on site :
- Jerusalem wildfires latest: Israel says blaze is largely contained as help arrives from across Europe
- 33-Year-Old MTV Star's Family Asks for Prayers From the ICU
- Vance’s India trip couldn’t have come at a stranger time