Bucky Barnes actor Sebastian Stan underscores the importance of practical effects inThunderboltsand explains whyMarvelprioritized them in the Phase 5 movie.The MCU’s upcomingThunderboltsteam-up movieintroduces a new MCU team made up of deadly assassins and super soldiers. Although not as physically powerful as comic-book Thunderbolts members like Atlas and Moonstone,the MCU’s Thunderbolts teamis a dangerous black ops squad made even more volatile by its leader, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.
Thunderboltsis an action-packed movie, as expected, but unlike some other MCU installments that overindulge in VFX and CGI,Thunderboltsmakes good use of practical effects, as Bucky Barnes star Sebastian Stan shares toDeadline. Stan reveals,“there were many things in the movie that were actually done practically"and argues that the difference between practical effects and fully-digital ones is clear, highlighting the importance of adding practical effects"because people are just smart. I think audiences just, they know.“Read Stan’s full comments:
“I don’t feel you can compare it to any previous Marvel movie, and that’s because of the group of characters in this film and these actors. I couldn’t have had a better time than I did with David Harbour, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. I mean, every single one of these people are funny, they’re generous, and so I think a lot of that chemistry did make it into the movie, and I’m excited for people to see that. It’s a little bit likeThe Breakfast Club. It has its own vibe, and it’s funny, and it’s real, andwe did actual real stunts, like when you’re watching a truck blow up, it’s a truck blown up. It’s not CGI. Marvel really wanted this to have its own- there were many things in the movie that were actually done practically, and I think that does go a long way, because people are just smart. I think audiences just, theyknow.”
What Sebastian Stan’s CGI Comments Mean For Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts* May Stick To Marvel Studios' Original Effects Formula
Sebastian Stan’s comments onThunderbolts*' practical effects are a good sign that Marvel is taking its time in the post-production stage. CGI offers the advantage of flexibility, as fully digital effects can be added and manipulated in countless ways when there isn’t a physical object restraining them. However,CGI still hasn’t reached the same level of realism as practical effects— not due to a lack of detail, but due to the many subtle imperfections in texture, movement, and weight of tangible resources employed on set. The differences are minuscule, but they register in the audiences' minds.
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Practical effects are also of huge help to the design of CGI-heavy sequences, as they provide a reference that’s completely faithful to the footage captured on-set. The differences in quality betweenTony Stark’s Mark I, Mark II, and Mark III armors fromIron Manand the Hulkbuster and Iron Man Mk 50 armors fromAvengers: Infinity Warare evident. The former used a real-life practical costume enhanced by CGI, and the latter were created from scratch in post-production.
Our Take On Sebastian Stan’s CGI Comments Regarding Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts*' Action May Be Different From All Other MCU Movies
MCU movies likeAvengers: EndgameandSpider-Man: No Way Homeare just as action-packed as they’re CGI-heavy.Thunderboltsdoesn’t feature a Gamma monster, an Asgardian god, a witch, or a sorcerer, which could mean that the movie’s action scenes won’t be as visually striking. However,Thunderbolts' reliance on practical effects might replace the MCU’s traditional fantastical elements with a good dose of realism. A realistic, well-choreographed battle between Super Soldiers could be even more impressive than an extravagant clash of magical superpowers. And to fulfill the usual sci-fi quota,Thunderbolts*could also deliver exciting CGI-heavy action sequences starring Lewis Pullman’s Sentry.
