Scoop alert: Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Geraldine Viswanathan dish on their roles in Marvel's 'Thunderbolts'

In her over four-decade career in Hollywood, Julia Louis-Dreyfus firmly planted her feet in comedy, be it for a TV series or film. 

That she is at the helm of “Thunderbolts”, the 36th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), is surprising and fascinating at the same time. 

Of course, when I was offered a virtual  interview opportunity  with the veteran actress and newcomer Geraldine Viswanathan, I immediately agreed. 

Seriously, Louis-Dreyfus is a legend, a fact “Seinfeld” fans will agree with. 

As CIA director, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's ambiguous morality will likely surprise viewers, as she operates in the gray area between good and evil. Viswanathan portrays Mel, Valentina's innocent assistant, who grapples with her superior's unethical tactics.

Louis-Dreyfus noted that her popularity in playing characters like Elaine (“Seinfeld”) becomes advantageous when agreeing to new projects. 

“It’s nice to be welcomed, assuming folks are on board, assuming they are willing to take on whatever journey you are proposing, character-wise, story-wise.”

In the movie, directed by Jake Shreier, a group of antiheroes is caught in a deadly trap and forced to work together on a dangerous mission, orchestrated by Valentina in a bid to conceal her involvement in a covert program. Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Chris Bauer, Wendell Pierce and David Harbour, are among the ensemble cast in the movie. 

The veteran actress also sang the praises of the film’s crew. 

“I would say not just the actors, there’s so much expertise across all departments in terms of making a film like this when you consider the production design, the costume design, the stuntwork, the prop design.

"Everybody brings their best game to a situation like this. And, in that sense, it feels very old school Hollywood.”

Leveraging her strength, the writers skillfully incorporated humour into the script.

Louis-Dreyfus explained: “There were comedic bits certainly within the script. Both Geraldine and I have a background in comedy, so to speak, so we would bring a comic sensibility to moments in a scene, but it isn’t the driver for the movie. 

“It’s a pretty dramatic and raw film with moments of levity that we certainly helped contribute to that were very intentional, and we very much relied on the direction by Jake Shreier; he knew the tone that he wanted to nail, and I think he did so successfully.”

It’s safe to say that this role ushers in a new era in Louis-Dreyfus’s career, and she was brimming with excitement over it. 

She admitted, “When I met with Kevin Feige and Joanna Calo a few years back, they said they wanted me to play this part. But they were going to sprinkle her into other films and TV series with the intention for her to be a part of the whole story later on in this particular film, which they had mapped out. 

“So I’m happy that the day has come. And I had more material to sink my teeth into for this particular film, it was very gratifying.”

Expanding on her character, she noted: “In the case of Valentino, we peel back a little on her life to see why she is the way she is and explore the idea of somebody who has this insatiable appetite for power that, for an actor, is a dream. It’s just an intriguing characteristic and fun to play around with.”

Any MCU release generates a fair amount of hype. When asked what sets this film apart from others, Louis-Dreyfus maintained, “To a certain extent, it is a callback to old school Marvel in the sense that the majority of the stuntwork is practical. It is not CGI in the film.

"There was not a ton of green screen, and everyone is an antihero, so there’s a grittiness to all these folks that feels very human. 

“And the story itself is based on character, so audiences are drawn in, following the arc of all of these characters.”

Louis-Dreyfus and Viswanathan were consummate professionals during our 15-minute chat, and their feedback also highlighted that inclusivity has become a cornerstone in Hollywood. 

Viswanathan had this to say…

Famed for her role in “Bad Education”, the 29-year-old Aussie actress was a bit more reserved during the interview. 

But she did weigh in on a few things during the press junket. 

“I’m grateful that I entered the world in this way, and with Mel. M is also stepping into a new reality, so it felt very organic for me. 

“This movie tackles a lot of darker themes. It explores existential dread and trauma, and I think that that feels pretty new in the Marvel Universe. There is a nuance and emotional depth, while having all the action and comedy that you are used to. Just an extra dimension.”

She even recalled a precious behind-the-scenes memory from the project. 

“Florence hosted a beautiful pool party and made incredible food. She’s such a good chef. She’s a foodie and a wonderful hostess.”