Marvel Studios has finally got their director for the Thunderbolts movie

Marvel’s Thunderbolts movie has finally found its director with Robot & Frank director Jake Schreier now attached to direct the supervillain ensemble film.

On Thursday, June 9, Deadline’s Justin Kroll gave the scoop that the director behind Robot & Frank – Jake Schreier – has been granted the keys to direct a Thunderbolts movie for Walt Disney’s colorful production label and entertainment powerhouse, Marvel Studios.

There have been whispers of a Thunderbolts adaptation in development for some time now, with reports dating back to as early as late 2014 while in the middle of Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to Collider, the Guardian of the Galaxy trilogy and DC’s 2021 follow-up The Suicide Squad writer/director, James Gunn, expressed interest to helm the project and there was speculation of him even developing it.

Now it seems they are a step closer to that being a reality. Schreier is set to helm the villainous ensemble film with Black Widow screenwriter Eric Pearson tapped to pen the screenplay and COO and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige producing.

What can we expect from Jake Schreier as director of the Thunderbolts movie?

The video, promo, and film director made his come up after signing up with corporate and film production company, Park Pictures, Schreier directed some of the music videos for the likes of Kanye West, Francis and the Lights, Kendrick Lamar, and Benny Blanco.

He made his feature-length directorial debut with the unusual buddy comedy Robot & Frank penned by fellow Tisch graduate Christopher Ford (also a writing partner of Jon Watts). It won the Alfred P. Sloan Prize from the Sundance Film Festival. Schreier also directed the film adaptation of the John Green novel Paper Towns starring Nat Wolff and Cara Delevingne.

It seems to me Feige or his constituencies may have found their Jon Watts acolyte, but don’t be too hasty. They are from locating their FF replacement to sit on the folding chair. From Schreier’s track record it seems that he is the kind of director who is a shooter that is good at handling “minimalist” type plots while emphasizing key topics that make up the general theme with character interactions.

Original Thunderbolts and possible MCU roster

Created by Astro City and Marvels writer Kurt Busiek and modern-era Spider-Man artist, Mark Bagley, The Thunderbolts first made their appearance in the pages of The Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 No.449 in the late 90s, the original roster was led by the Helmut Zemo and was brought together from allies and members of the Masters of Evil; Beetle, Fixer, Moonstone, Screaming Mimi and Zemo’s bodyguard, Atlas.

Unlike DC’s Suicide Squad, they were a group of reformed villains trying to be heroes. The roster has changed over time. Some members came and went but were usually anti-heroes as opposed to villains although more baddies were added to the roster. Notable members of the team included the Green Goblin, Shocker, Red Hulk, Nighthawk, Deadpool, Elektra, Punisher, Agent Venom, and Hawkeye.

The roster that could be in the MCU’s Thunderbolts film is most of which we have seen already with the likes of Baron Zemo, Winter Soldier, Yelena Belova, Taskmaster, US Agent, Abomination, Justin Hammer and Red Hulk supervised by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine with the Power Broker not far behind.

What do you think of Jake Schreier being attached as director for the Thunderbolts movie? Which member do you want in the MCU’s Thunderbolts? Has your interest been piqued or are you already stoked by Marvel Studio’s choice? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.