Is the MCU finally changing with the times? Florence Pugh reveals her input on Yelena Belova’s look in the new era of the blockbuster franchise.
Florence Pugh’s performance as Yelena Belova has quickly become one of the most beloved in the entire MCU. Despite making their debut in one of the franchise’s most hated projects, fans have grown to love the former Black Widow; this in no small part due to the powerful emotional journey that she’s gone through in subsequent appearances.
Florence Pugh gave fans a bit of insight into that evolution in a recently released artbook for Thunderbolts (via The Direct). The actress explained that Yelena Belova was meant to have a rather muted appearance in the film due to her own independence. However, she advocated that the heroine had to have “cool eyes” as one of her staples in the MCU.
“She is now her own person and can choose what to do. We want very stripped-back colors-no bright anything, and very simple hair and makeup. Though I was like, ‘Its Yelena-she can’t not have cool eyes.'”
How The MCU Has Evolved Over Time
This rich, emotional storytelling wasn’t just seen in the evolution of Yelena Belova. Many of the MCU’s most iconic heroes have been going through triumphs and tribulations these past years, such as John Walker, Spider-Man, and even Hawkeye. According to Florence Pugh, this is reflective of the franchise’s decision to dive deeper into the minds of everyone’s favorite heroes.
“When you think of super hero movies, you’re constantly imagining these amazing people being able to do these amazing things all the time. I think something that has been really brave of Jake and Marvel to start dipping their toe into is really looking at the inner workings of these characters and how they feel.”
“What these people must go through when they are around all of this action and this need to be on point all the time. What does that do to your brain? Because at the end of the day, they are humans. Maybe their shiny life isn’t actually so shiny.”
This quote reflects how the MCU, and blockbusters in general, are going through the same changes that network television went through in the 2000s. It’s no longer enough to simply have cool people do cool things. Audiences want more that they can sink their teeth into. Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova is likely only one of the first in this new generation of action hero.
Thunderbolts is now available on streaming. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
