Considering the film has yet to start principal photography, Marvel is in a much better position to recast Yeun than say, the whole Jonathan Majors/Kang situation. “Thunderbolts” is being directed by Jake Schreier (“Robot & Frank,” “Paper Towns,” “Beef”), who is also slated to direct episodes of the upcoming “Star Wars” series for Disney+, “Skeleton Crew.” The script comes from Eric Pearson (“Thor: Ragnarok,” “Black Widow,” “Godzilla vs. Kong”) and “Beef” showrunner Lee Sung Jin, which makes Yeun’s exit triply depressing. The combination of Schreier, Sung Jin, and Yeun delivered brilliance with “Beef,” and the kind of creative uniqueness the MCU desperately needs.
Fortunately, Yeun is still keeping very busy. He’s not only one of the voiceover stars of the Prime Video superhero series “Invincible,” but later this year he can be seen in Bong Joon-ho’s “Mickey 17” and the upcoming feature “Love Me” alongside Kristen Stewart. He’s also considered the frontrunner for the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Emmy for “Beef,” with winners announced on January 15, 2024.
“Thunderbolts” is currently slated for theatrical release on July 25, 2025.