A new teaser for Thunderbolts has sparked a lively debate among fans over the fate of Taskmaster, especially after keen-eyed viewers spotted the character's absence from a key scene that was included in an earlier trailer. The September 2024 trailer showcased Taskmaster positioned between Ghost and U.S. Agent during the Watchtower scene. However, the latest teaser released recently shows the same scene, but with Taskmaster noticeably omitted.

This change, coupled with the fact that Taskmaster actress Olga Kurylenko was not listed among the cast members announced for Avengers: Doomsday—while other Thunderbolts characters were—has led many MCU fans to speculate that Taskmaster may not survive the film.

The question on everyone's mind is: why include Taskmaster in the original trailer only to remove the character from the latest teaser? Theories abound, ranging from Marvel attempting to mislead fans to making strategic adjustments related to the broader narrative involving Avengers: Doomsday. Additionally, a closer look reveals that the frames from the original trailer and the new teaser are not identical; aside from Taskmaster's absence, the positioning of the other characters is slightly altered. This has led to speculation that Sentry, who is known for his power to 'delete' people, might have already eliminated Taskmaster in this scene, unbeknownst to the rest of the Thunderbolts. Alternatively, some wonder if Taskmaster might have turned against the team.

"Marvel pretty much just sealed the fate of this character in the movie," remarked redditor Matapple13. "Yesterday they announced Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Lewis Pullman in the Avengers: Doomsday cast, but Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster's actress) was blatantly absent, and now, Marvel posts this..."

In contrast, another fan, puckallday, offered a different perspective: "The amount of people saying she’s dying and Marvel seemingly leaning into that by barely showing her make me think there's a reveal there with her in the movie and that she lives."

The new teaser underscores Sentry's formidable power, starting with Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, declaring that Sentry is "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one." This suggests that Taskmaster could have been easily dispatched by Sentry, perhaps even sent to the void or otherwise removed from the scene.

With the MCU buzzing after an eventful week, there's much to discuss, including whether the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement inadvertently spoiled parts of Thunderbolts. Moreover, both Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more cast reveals for Avengers: Doomsday are forthcoming, raising hopes that Taskmaster might yet have a role to play.

We won't have to wait long to unravel the mystery. Thunderbolts is slated for release in May 2025, followed by the TV show Ironheart in June, and Phase 6 will kick off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following a year later in May 2027.