Is the MCU getting too strict? Lewis Pullman recently spoke on his experiences auditioning for the role of Bob in Thunderbolts.
Lewis Pullman is set to make his MCU debut next year with the release of Thunderbolts. He was a quick sub-in for the role of Bob, highly speculated to play Sentry, after Steven Yeun was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. However, it seems for even such a speedy process, the audition was kept under tight guard.
“It always felt like kind of an untouchable realm, kind of a cool kid’s table that I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get an invite to, or at least an invite to even try and be a part of,” Pullman told Variety in a recent interview. “And so it was a hell of an experience going out there and test screening. It felt like I was going into the FBI or something. It was all very locked and sealed…They’re like, ‘You’re lucky to hold onto a set of sides for longer than an hour.’ There were shredders everywhere.”
It certainly makes sense why the studio would be so protective over Lewis Pullman’s role specifically. They’ve still never confirmed that he’ll be playing Sentry in Thunderbolts, despite it being a mostly open secret. This is likely due to the flood of leaks the MCU has been experiencing over the past few years, with a whole cottage industry springing up around getting the craziest scoops.
Lewis Pullman Breaks Down Thunderbolts’ Stunts
Yet it seems the audition may not have been all bad when it came to trying out for Thunderbolts. In the same interview, Lewis Pullman explained how director Jake Schreier helped get him acclimated to his character despite the MCU’s strict rules regarding scripts and classified information, likening it to the campfire tales of old.
“But Jake Schreier, the director, sat down with me and he told me the story, but I couldn’t read any script or anything. It was cool. It was kind of old fashioned in that sense. It was like, ‘And now by the campfire, I will tell you the story of Thunderbolts.’”
While it’s a shame that Lewis Pullman had such a hard time during his audition for Thunderbolts, it’s good to hear that the experience wasn’t all bad. Much of the beauty of the MCU is the passion and love put behind every project by the cast and crew. So even if he truly just is “Bob,” it’s certain to be an incredibly memorable role.
Thunderbolts is currently set to hit theaters on May 2, 2025. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
