Florence Pugh Had 1 Big Request For Yelena’s New Avengers Redesign

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I was really excited when Florence Pugh came back as Yelena Belova in The New Avengers – or, as we now know it, Thunderbolts! Apparently, she had one key thing she wanted to make sure happened with the role. The movie finally hit theaters this May and is now available on Disney+. And honestly, it’s been getting some of the best reviews Marvel’s had in a while, and it’s clearly building towards the next big Avengers movie, Doomsday, which is coming in 2026. I’m already counting down the days!

Florence Pugh shared that her only ask when reprising her role as Yelena Belova in The New Avengers was to give her character striking eyes. According to a new Marvel Studios Thunderbolts art book, Pugh wanted Yelena’s personality to show through small details, especially in her style, hair, and makeup.

I remember reading that Florence Pugh really wanted a simple, muted color palette for Yelena’s look – she specifically said ‘no bright anything!’ – and a generally minimalist style. But she was adamant about keeping Yelena’s iconic eye makeup as a key part of the character. It was cool to see her prioritize that detail!

She’s finally independent and free to make her own choices. For her look, we’re going for a very natural and understated style – think muted colors, simple hair, and minimal makeup. I did suggest, though, that we keep her eyes striking, as that’s a key part of who Yelena is.

Florence Pugh, known for her striking makeup in the film, also shared her thoughts in the art book about what she considered its boldest move. She felt the most courageous decision was how the movie—and director Jake Schreier—revealed the characters’ private thoughts and feelings.

Superhero movies often show us characters with incredible powers doing amazing feats. What’s really interesting about Jake’s work and Marvel’s recent approach is that they’re starting to explore what these heroes are like on the inside – their emotions and struggles.

The movie Thunderbolts tackled the important topic of mental health, and audiences generally responded positively, particularly to moments of emotional connection like when the heroes resolved conflict with a hug. Florence Pugh’s character raised a key question about the psychological toll of being a superhero – “What does that do to your brain?” – and the film explored that idea throughout.

It must be exhausting for these people to constantly be in the spotlight and feel pressure to always be perfect. It’s easy to forget they’re human, and their seemingly glamorous lives might not be as ideal as they appear.

Schreier explained that Yelena is the emotional center of the film, noting she begins the story actively avoiding the role of a hero. Before the movie even came out, it was already established that Yelena would be struggling with depression throughout the events of Thunderbolts.

The director also talked about Yelena’s development, explaining how she changes from being alone to not just joining a team, but becoming its leader.

She’s initially resistant to the idea of being a hero, preferring to work solo and wanting to distance herself from her former allies. Her journey involves learning to embrace teamwork and even leadership, overcoming her previous objections and honoring her sister’s memory.

Yelena’s character arc in Thunderbolts strongly suggests she’s becoming a key hero for Marvel, and the post-credits scene hints at her continued development, maintaining her signature look. She’s now the leader of the New Avengers and is anticipated to be a major player in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars events. Before those big storylines, Florence Pugh is likely to appear as Yelena for the fourth time in the MCU in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, though the extent of her involvement in that film is currently unknown.

Yelena & the New Avengers’ Growth

The reason Thunderbolts connected with viewers wasn’t simply the exciting action sequences, but the well-developed characters, as Florence Pugh and director Jake Schreier discussed in the film’s art book.

Senator Bucky Barnes unexpectedly took on a leadership role, acknowledging his past mistakes and embracing his new duties. John Walker, despite a difficult start and public criticism, evolved from a harsh soldier into a genuinely flawed but well-intentioned hero. And Red Guardian, who often used humor to mask his feelings, showed a surprisingly kind side.

Even the character Ghost struggled with doing what was right, and Bob, despite being the villain, had a dramatic and emotionally powerful change into the Sentry. These flawed heroes all surprisingly developed as characters, and recently revealed details about the making of the story have helped fans understand why they loved it so much.

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2025-10-26 06:35