Florence Pugh said she had to urge Marvel to let her jump off skyscraper for ‘Thunderbolts*’ stunt

CNN - Apr 15th, 2025

Florence Pugh has successfully convinced Marvel producers to let her perform a daring stunt for the upcoming film 'Thunderbolts*.' Pugh, portraying Yelena Belova, Black Widow's character, insisted on jumping off Merdeka 118, the second-tallest building in the world, located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Initially, producers considered cutting the scene due to insurance concerns, but Pugh's persistence, including direct appeals to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, led to the stunt being included in the film. Pugh approached the daunting task with determination and described the mental control needed as akin to a superpower.

The film 'Thunderbolts*,' featuring a star-studded cast including David Harbour, Lewis Pullman, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, and Sebastian Stan, is set to premiere on May 2. The story follows a group of antiheroes on a perilous mission within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Pugh's character has previously appeared in the 2021 'Black Widow' film and the Disney+ series 'Hawkeye.' The stunt and Pugh's participation are expected to generate significant media attention and anticipation for the film, highlighting her dedication to her role and the immersive experiences of the MCU. This stunt not only adds excitement to the movie but also underscores Pugh's commitment to authenticity in her performances.

Florence Pugh Black Widow Film Production Marvel Studios Thunderbolts* Kevin Feige Merdeka 118 Yelena Belova Movie Stunts

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides an engaging narrative about Florence Pugh's determination to perform a daring stunt for the upcoming Marvel film "Thunderbolts." It effectively captures the excitement and challenges associated with the stunt, offering direct quotes from Pugh to enhance authenticity. The story is timely and appeals to public interest, particularly among fans of the Marvel franchise and action films. However, it could benefit from a more balanced perspective by including viewpoints from other stakeholders involved in the decision-making process. Additionally, the article would be strengthened by greater transparency regarding its sources and methodology. Overall, it is a well-written piece that successfully communicates the key points of the story, with room for improvement in terms of source quality and balance.

Accuracy

The story presents a largely accurate account of Florence Pugh's stunt for the upcoming Marvel film "Thunderbolts." The claim that Pugh performed a stunt by jumping off the Merdeka 118, the second-tallest building in the world, is consistent with available sources [1][3][4]. The narrative about producers' initial hesitation due to insurance concerns and Pugh's persuasion efforts is also supported by external reports [1][4][5]. However, the article would benefit from confirming whether any Guinness World Records were indeed pursued or achieved as a result of the stunt. Additionally, while the release date for "Thunderbolts" is stated as May 2, 2025, further confirmation from official Marvel sources would enhance the article's credibility.

Balance

The article mainly focuses on Florence Pugh's perspective, highlighting her determination and enthusiasm for performing the stunt. While this provides an engaging narrative, it lacks viewpoints from other stakeholders, such as the producers or safety coordinators involved in the decision-making process. The inclusion of these perspectives would provide a more balanced view of the situation, particularly regarding the safety and insurance considerations that were initially a point of contention.

Clarity

The article is written in a clear and engaging manner, with a logical flow that makes it easy for readers to follow the narrative. The use of direct quotes from Florence Pugh adds authenticity and helps convey her enthusiasm and determination. However, the article could improve clarity by providing more context about the significance of the stunt within the film's plot and the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe, which would help readers unfamiliar with the franchise understand the relevance of the story.

Source quality

The article references an interview with Florence Pugh, which is a credible source given her direct involvement in the events described. However, it does not cite additional sources or provide direct quotes from Marvel Studios or producers to corroborate the claims about the stunt's approval process and insurance challenges. Including such sources would strengthen the article's reliability by providing a more comprehensive view of the situation.

Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of sourcing and methodology. It does not specify how the information was obtained beyond the mention of Pugh's interview. There is no disclosure of any conflicts of interest or potential biases that might affect the narrative. Greater transparency regarding the sources of information and any affiliations of the author would enhance the article's credibility and allow readers to better assess the impartiality of the content.