Fresh concept art has revealed a surprising detail about Taskmaster in Thunderbolts. Marvel concept artist Aleksi Briclot shared the new image online. It shows the full Thunderbolts team leaping into action — with Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko’s Antonia Dreykov) placed front and center.
This visual supports what Kurylenko previously said — Marvel originally planned a much larger role for Taskmaster in Thunderbolts.
Taskmaster in Thunderbolts Concept Art Revealed
The newly released artwork reveals a very different version of the film. Taskmaster is positioned prominently in the team shot. She appears to be one of the core members, leaping from what looks like the former Avengers Tower.
Her front-and-center placement strongly suggests she was meant to survive until the end — a major shift from how the final cut handled her arc.
Kurylenko Confirms Changes to Taskmaster in Thunderbolts
In the released version of Thunderbolts, Taskmaster is surprisingly killed off early, leaving fans shocked. However, actress Olga Kurylenko had already spoken about these changes:
“In the first script, my character was there until the end. But after the strike, the script had nothing to do with it… They changed the concept, the story, the places. It wasn’t the same anymore. It’s a pity — it was a cool character.”
Her words now make more sense than ever. With this concept art, it’s clear that Taskmaster in Thunderbolts was originally a key player — and not just a background casualty.
Despite Changes, Thunderbolts Is a Hit
Even with the rewrites, Thunderbolts has found major success. The movie currently holds an impressive 88% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 358 critic reviews — making it the highest-rated MCU Phase 5 film so far. The fanbase may still wish for more Taskmaster, but the film clearly hit the right notes elsewhere. Thunderbolts is now available for digital purchase and will hit 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on July 29. This gives fans the perfect opportunity to revisit the film and imagine what Taskmaster’s original arc could’ve been.
Could Taskmaster Still Return?
Given how the MCU often bends time and reality, there’s still a chance we’ll see Antonia Dreykov again. With the Multiverse, alternate timelines, and fan demand all in play, Taskmaster in Thunderbolts may not be her final chapter.
For now, the newly surfaced concept art offers a fascinating look at how drastically stories can evolve — and how much can change from script to screen.
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