Could Steven Yeun have been the perfect Sentry? Concept art from Thunderbolts reveals what the actor could have looked like prior to being replaced by Lewis Pullman.
Thunderbolts is proving to be a success beyond anyone’s wildest imaginations. And while there are a lot of factors as to why, such as director Jake Schreier and the darker tones of the film when compared to the rest of the MCU, much praise has been laid at the feet of Lewis Pullman, who played “Bob,” a.k.a. the Sentry. However, fans who have followed the film from its inception know that it wasn’t always Pullman in the leading role, as Steven Yeun was originally supposed to play the character.
Back when Jake Schreier first joined Thunderbolts, Steven Yeun, who had previously worked with the director on Beef, was added to the project in an undisclosed role. It wasn’t long until it was leaked (by, of all people, Robert Kirkman) that Yeun would be playing the MCU’s version of Sentry. However, following the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, Yeun had to drop out of the project due to scheduling conflicts, leading to Lewis Pullman taking up the mantle.
Was Steven Yeun Going To Play Sentry?
Despite it being a very open secret that Steven Yeun was originally slated to play Sentry in Thunderbolts, fans never got the chance to see how the actor would have looked as the beloved Bob. Especially given how well Lewis Pullman pulled off the suit, it’s almost impossible to imagine anyone else in the role. However, newly surfaced concept art from the production reveals what seems to be the first official look at what his design would have been.
Official concept art of Steven Yeun as Sentry in ‘THUNDERBOLTS*’ pic.twitter.com/T92uB0ChoJ
— Thunderbolts* News (@thunderbnews) May 4, 2025
This design is fairly close to the one Lewis Pullman had in the final film, aside from very dark roots at the top of his head. If this concept art is reflective of what Steven Yeun would have looked like in Thunderbolts, it’s likely that the actor’s impressive theatrical chops would have allowed him to rival Pullman’s performance in the final product. Though ultimately, fans should simply be relieved that, no matter what timeline one lives in, Sentry was always going to be peak.
Thunderbolts is now playing in theaters. 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!
