‘Will They Escape the Trash Can Together? Thunderbolts Director Draws Inspiration from a Beloved Pixar Film

Overview

The director of Thunderbolts* highlights inspiration from a pivotal scene in Toy Story 3.
This film delves into mental health themes, showcasing characters confronting their pasts amid an unconventional team setting.
Comparisons to Toy Story 3 set higher expectations for the Thunderbolts* anti-hero ensemble film.

Jake Schreier, the director of Thunderbolts*, has shared a surprising source of inspiration for his upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film—an emotionally charged scene from Pixar’s Toy Story 3. The powerful dynamic captured in this moment resonates deeply with the interactions between the characters in Thunderbolts*.

This new installment features a team of anti-heroes that includes familiar faces from the MCU, such as Bucky Barnes portrayed by Sebastian Stan, Yelena Belova played by Florence Pugh, and others including Red Guardian, US Agent, Taskmaster, and Ghost. Unlike their past roles as adversaries, these characters must unite to tackle a precarious mission, prompting comparisons to The Suicide Squad. Yet, as Schreier notes, the emotional depth found in Toy Story 3 is also a significant point of reference for the film’s narrative.

Insightful Inspirations: Thunderbolts and Toy Story 3

“The furnace scene resonates so well because it evokes strong emotions regarding the characters’ fates: will they escape the trash together?”remarks Schreier, underlining the stakes felt by both teams.

“THUNDERBOLTS* is inspired by ‘TOY STORY 3’—The characters of ‘Thunderbolts’, like those in ‘Toy Story 3’, are facing obsolescence. Can they get out of the trash can together?” (Source: Link)

Each member of the Thunderbolts* team harbors a history as a villain, which serves as an essential backdrop for their development. Schreier emphasizes that while the film addresses their tumultuous pasts and explores themes related to mental health, it also discusses a significant aspect of human connection.“These characters have engaged in dark deeds and may struggle with self-acceptance. The film suggests that while some personal shadows cannot be entirely erased, they can be alleviated through meaningful relationships, ”he explains.

This comparison to an unexpected film like Toy Story 3 is not unique; previously, Sebastian Stan likened Thunderbolts* to classics such as The Breakfast Club and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. As all these films are highly regarded, adding Toy Story 3 to the mix could elevate the audience’s anticipation. Notably, the scene in question—where the beloved toys face an emotional climax—is one that resonated significantly with viewers, leading to tears over their perceived fate.

Positive feedback has emerged from early test screenings for Thunderbolts*, suggesting that the film might realize the high expectations set by its predecessors like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Toy Story 3. Given the mixed reviews of Captain America: Brave New World, Marvel Studios may be banking on a strong performance from Thunderbolts* to rebound. However, drawing such high-profile comparisons could also lead to escalated expectations that may prove challenging to meet.

Thunderbolts* is scheduled to hit theaters on May 2, 2025.

Source: Empire

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