Steven Yeun drops out of Thunderbolts movie due to scheduling issues

Steven Yeun has dropped out of Thunderbolts. The 40-year-old actor's involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film had been reported early last year, despite his casting never being officially confirmed by Marvel. However, Yeun has now pulled out of the movie due to scheduling issues after a delay in production.

Thunderbolts had been set to begin filming last summer but was pushed back to this year by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which has ultimately led to Yeun's departure from the project.

The Walking Dead star previously explained that joining the MCU wasn't on his "bucket list" and the big appeal of the project was the opportunity to work with director Jake Schreier again after their collaboration on the TV series Beef.

He told Empire magazine: "I don't know if it was explicitly on my bucket list. It was more the story, getting to work with Jake Schreier again, who directed Beef, and what his intentions were."

Yeun – who had been due to feature in the blockbuster alongside Florence Pugh, David Harbour and Sebastian Stan – was thought to have had a significant role and explained how film chiefs had a "very clear" idea about what they wanted from his character.

He said: "The intentions of this particular character that they wanted me to play were very clear, and that's what drew me to the film."

Thunderbolts is slated for release in July 2025 although little is known about the plot of the movie. The comics revolve around a group of villains who are sent on missions commissioned by the government.