Geraldine Viswanathan Talks Thunderbolts*, MCU Future, & Songbird | Interview
Thunderbolts* star Geraldine Viswanathan spoke with ComingSoon about starring in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. Viswanathan spoke about Mel, working with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, her Marvel future, and more. Thunderbolts* is available on Digital, 4K, and Blu-ray. The film will stream exclusively on Disney+ on August 27.
“In Thunderbolts* Marvel Studios assembles an unconventional team of antiheroes — Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker,” the official synopsis reads. “After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late?”
Tyler Treese: Geraldine, your character, Mel, she’s inherently sympathetic because she’s being bossed around so much by Valentina, and she has that moment where her morals are really tested by what’s going on. What did you enjoy most about her overall arc in Thunderbolts? Because sometimes with MCU introductions, we only get a tease, but you have a pretty meaty role here.
Geraldine Viswanathan: Yeah. When I first heard about the movie, I zoomed with Jake, and I wasn’t able to read the script yet, but he had to kind of explain the role and the arc to me. And I thought it sounded really like something that I kind of could understand and connect to and relate to, and see a lot that’s like a position as a young person where you have this capacity for something great and you wanna make something of yourself, but you’re not totally sure where and how.
And you know, that question gets introduced of like, “at what cost,” and I think it felt like a really cool way into the Marvel universe and relatable. I loved her journey and kind of thought that it would be a cool thing for maybe more of the Gen Z audience to kind of see themselves in.
Yeah, it’s a cool, very personable role in a film with so many people with crazy superpowers to have just one person trying their best. It’s very relatable. And most of your scenes are with Julia Louis Dreyfus, and she’s such a legend in comedy royalty. Were there any lessons that you took away from just getting to see her work so closely?
Yeah, she gives it 110% and really is so sharp in like her precision with her language and words and kind of the details of a scene in a way that I found really inspiring. And yeah, that’s why I think she’s such a master. Like, she doesn’t rest on her laurels or kind of glaze over anything. Like she’s really detail-oriented and just really smart. It was really cool to watch, and I feel like her sort of endless dedication was very like something that I will kind of take on with me for sure.
That’s amazing. She’s the best. And some of my favorite scenes in the movie were between Mel and Bucky. There’s also a little bit of romantic tension. Sebastian even pulls out his bedroom voice for a moment. That was fun. We haven’t really seen that side of Bucky in the MCU. What did you like most about those characters and in their interactions? Because that’s a fun duo. I even stumbled upon some fan fiction earlier today when I was doing research. So people, people are here for it.
People are shipping it. Yeah, it’s cool to get to see Mel in that in a dynamic where that’s not with her boss. I think those scenes were really fun to do because they do have this kind of back and forth. I mean, Sebastian is such a legendary actor and is such an incredible veteran of the MCU, so I really, yeah, relish getting to do those scenes with him, and I love that the fans have run off with that go forth because yeah, it’s a fun one.
I was curious since the ending of this film took everybody by surprise, when did you finally know about the big New Avengers twist?
Geraldine Viswanathan: When did they tell me? I just remember when we did the table read. And yeah, when it came to the ending there, there was just a sense of excitement in the room, and then when we were on set and, you know, we had to send the extras away, and it felt really exciting to be handling top secret material like that.
When you’re in the process of making something, you can kind of experience it outta context, and I think it’s just like putting it into the context of the impact that these movies have and how they play with excitement and expectation. It’s so unique in that sense and really, really exciting. No one ever trusts me with their secrets [laughs], so I was happy to do it for this one.
There’s always so much speculation about where these characters will go. There’s been a lot of talk about Mel becoming Songbird. Who knows what Marvel has in store, but I did wanna ask, would you be down for like suiting up in the future and getting into some action scenes?
Absolutely, absolutely. Suit me up. Who wouldn’t? That’s such a dream. And you know, her suit is awesome. Getting me in there would be so, so fun, and yeah, I could do a pushup now, so I’m ready.
That’s all you need to do. And I saw fans are so excited you did this Fashion Journal photoshoot, where you had a platinum blonde look, and they were just so excited. These Marvel fans are so passionate, they’re gonna follow you to all these other projects now, too. How has it been just seeing that fandom? Because they’re intense, and it has to be cool to see.
Geraldine Viswanathan: It’s so cool to see, and I’m always learning new things and learning new phrases, and it’s really, it’s so awesome. I mean, how else do you really experience anything like that? They’re also just really funny, and yeah, just that enthusiasm is so infectious, and yeah, I love them. I love the threads. I love the artwork. It’s so cool. I’m always amazed by the fans.
This is inherently an overwhelming question because there are just so many great actors and characters in Marvel, but are there any dream MCU actors that you would like to do scenes with in the future?
Ooh, oh my gosh. I love, I don’t know, I’m a big Mark Ruffalo girl. That would be really cool to be in a scene with him, but dunno how that would happen, but yeah, he’s a favorite of mine. Then throw in my old friend Hugh Jackman in the mix as well.
I love that. Would you want Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, or would you like him hulking out?
I accept him in whatever form he comes. I’m down, but I do like him in the glasses. Yeah [laughs].
Thanks to Geraldine Viswanathan for taking the time to talk about Thunderbolts*.
Source: Comingsoon.net