Actor David Harbour, who plays Red Guardian in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, recently shared an update on the test screenings of the upcoming MCU movie Thunderbolts*.
After only releasing one movie in 2024 in the form of Deadpool & Wolverine, the MCU will be looking to return to a more frequent release schedule for its films in 2025. The confirmed MCU slate, at the time of writing, has three movies that are scheduled for a release next year. Aside from Captain America 4 and the much-awaited Fantastic Four reboot, fans will also see an unlikely team-up of antiheroes in Thunderbolts*. However, while an exclusive trailer for the film was revealed at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, little else is known about its plot, and Harbour has teased that the movie will “surprise people.”
David Harbour says Thunderbolts* is ‘playing well’ in internal test screenings
According to David Harbour, the movie has generated positive responses during its internal screenings.
In a recent discussion with ComicBook.com, the Stranger Things star shared his enthusiasm for being an integral part of Thunderbolts*. Harbour also gave an insight into the movie’s reception at its test screenings. “I’m very proud of this movie, what we shot. I hear it’s playing well internally and I’m excited for people to see it. I think it’s going to really surprise people,” Harbour stated. “It’s a pretty cool direction of the MCU’s sort of making now. And I’m excited to be a part of that.”
During the conversation, Harbour also talked about his desire for audiences to give Thunderbolts* a fair shot before passing judgment on it. “Making a movie, you can’t really look outside for critiques because everybody, everybody sees the poster and they have an opinion,” the actor said. “You’re like, ‘Just watch the two-hour movie and if you still hate it. Great. Love it? Great.’ But, like, you’ve got to give us a chance.”
Harbour made his MCU debut in 2021 as Red Guardian in the film Black Widow and is reprising his role for the first time in Thunderbolts* after an absence from the franchise of almost four years. Thunderbolts* is currently scheduled to release on May 2, 2025.
