BLACK WIDOW Actor O-T Fagbenle Confirms He Was Originally Up For Taskmaster Role

BLACK WIDOW Actor O-T Fagbenle Confirms He Was Originally Up For Taskmaster Role

O-T Fagbenle, who played Natasha Romanoff's fix-it man Mason in Black Widow, has confirmed that he was originally up for the role of Taskmaster...

By MarkCassidy - May 08, 2025 06:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Black Widow
Source: The Direct

In the build-up to Black Widow's release, fans were convinced that The Handmaid's Tale actor O-T Fagbenle would be unveiled as the man behind Taskmaster's mask, but it turned out that his character, Rick Mason, really was just the guy who sorted out Natasha Romanoff's (Scarlet Johansson) weapons and travel arrangements.

Towards the end of the movie, we learned that Taskmaster was actually Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko), who reprised the role for Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*.

This new take on the villain wasn't exactly embraced by fans, who were hoping to see the original comic book incarnation of the character, Anthony "Tony" Masters. Now, Fagbenle has confirmed that Marvel was originally planning to introduce a male take on Taskmaster, and he auditioned for the role.

"Basically, I first auditioned for Taskmaster, and it was this, it was a really incredible speech, actually. It was an audition I was very proud of. I've still got it in the back someplace. And, he was this — I made him with an African accent, and he was this kind of maniacal-like character."

Though Fagbenle isn't sure why, plans clearly changed along the way and Marvel decided to go in a different direction with the super-skilled assassin.

"And somewhere along the journey of writing and things above my pay grade — So, I basically got [told] that [the role] was down to like, 'Is it me or is it someone else.' That kind of thing for that version of Taskmaster. And in the various iterations of the movie, that version of Taskmaster went away, and then they just came to me and was like, 'Hey, there is this character called Mason, do you want to play Mason?'... So I was like, 'Hell yeah,' I'd love to play Mason!' And so, the Taskmaster that I was going to be didn't exist in that iteration of Black Widow."

Fagbenle did return as Mason for a brief appearance in Secret Invasion, but he's not sure if we'll be seeing his character again.

"Listen, this what I said to Eric [Pearson], I said, 'Why are you leaving me out of 'Thunderbolts,' man? I did come back. I did some 'Secret Invasion,' Mason appeared there. And so, yeah, I mean, like a true superhero, when they give me the call [I'm ready to go]."

Thunderbolts* spoilers follow.

Dreykov doesn't last very long in Thunderbolts*, and is unceremoniously killed off by Ghost (Hannah John Kamen) via a bullet to the head. This does leave the door open for Masters to make his debut as Taskmaster down the line, but it doesn't seem likely.

In Thunderbolts*, Marvel Studios assembles an unconventional team of antiheroes — Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and John Walker. After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late?

Returning to their Marvel Cinematic Universe roles are Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Hannah John-Kamen and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The cast also includes newcomers to the MCU—Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer and Wendell Edward Pierce.

Jake Schreier directs Thunderbolts* with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek and Jason Tamez serve as executive producers.

THUNDERBOLTS* Writer Reveals Deleted Scene Tying Up A Big Loose End From HAWKEYE TV Series
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THUNDERBOLTS* Writer Reveals Deleted Scene Tying Up A Big Loose End From HAWKEYE TV Series

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harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 5/8/2025, 6:58 AM
nah, no thanks, I think who they had playing him was great.
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Batmangina
Batmangina - 5/8/2025, 7:03 AM
I'm glad they kept it COMIC ACCURATE
comicfan100
comicfan100 - 5/8/2025, 8:36 AM
@Batmangina - Glad to know you guys are racist first and sexist second.
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 5/8/2025, 7:10 AM
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Taskmaster was just another victim of DEI.
Hopefully in the reboot they'll do Tony Masters justice.
JFerguson
JFerguson - 5/8/2025, 7:12 AM
So Phases 4-6 has just been filled with bad decisions and inconsistencies. Wow.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/8/2025, 7:16 AM
Interesting , it’s crazy to think things can change during the audition process for actors but I guess it’s not that surprising since Marvel tends to work on their scripts well into production & beyond.

Anyway , his take on Taskmaster could have been interesting but for the film then I think it being Dreykov’s daughter made sense since her “death” was one of the things that haunted Natasha so this gave her a second chance to save her & wipe some red off her ledger after subjecting Antonia to such a cruel fate…

It’s just unfortunate we didn’t get much beyond that with her given she’s dead now but I digress.

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SpideyPuffsMJ
SpideyPuffsMJ - 5/8/2025, 7:21 AM
Well, at least they did something way more interesting and long lasting with the character. Can’t wait to see Thunderbolts this weekend and see my girl Taskmaster again finally!
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 5/8/2025, 7:25 AM
@SpideyPuffsMJ - her character arc is mind blowing!
Skestra
Skestra - 5/8/2025, 7:35 AM
@SpideyPuffsMJ - The way Olga Kurylenko delivered her "I'm not here for you" speech... they should nominate her for Best Supporting Actress next year.
solskulldeath
solskulldeath - 5/8/2025, 7:52 AM
@SpideyPuffsMJ - I swear taskmaster in thunderbolt is masterpiece!!!
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 5/8/2025, 8:27 AM
@SpideyPuffsMJ - you're in for a treat then sir, she really kills it!
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/8/2025, 7:23 AM
Also people really need get over these movies not doing the takes they wanted since comics reinvent characters all the time…

616

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Deadpool Max

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Ultimate

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Vigor
Vigor - 5/8/2025, 7:30 AM
@TheVisionary25 - the take they chose was arguably the worst taskmaster ever
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 5/8/2025, 7:40 AM
@TheVisionary25 - yeah, comics are pretty inconsistent as well. It's kinda why the ''comic accurate'' comment holds no weight for me.

It's not that people want comic accuracy, they want it to be like that one specific comic they have in mind. And to them I say, pick up the comic if you want it to like that comic. Otherwise there'll never be new reinventions to like.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/8/2025, 7:40 AM
@Vigor - in hindsight , probably unfortunately

She was this blank slate mute brainwashed assassin in BW and then dies pretty immediately after she appears in Thunderbolts

I can only hope we revisit the mantle with Tony Masters in the future
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/8/2025, 7:43 AM
@bkmeijer1 - yeah

That one specific comic or take that they saw in an animated series that they didn’t realize was usually a reinvention itself
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 5/8/2025, 9:02 AM
@TheVisionary25 - exactly. Repetition is the dead of creativity.

That's also why I want the comic accurate Batman in the cowlless red suit and a gun
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 5/8/2025, 7:26 AM
Her character arc is mind blowing!
epc1122
epc1122 - 5/8/2025, 7:54 AM
For me, I can understand being disappointed when it’s not a take on the character that i like, but people on here tend to think it’s a personal attack on the fans and the original creators which I find ridiculous. Then when there are times when something is comic accurate they say it looks like cosplay or the reverse where they’ll say cosplay can do it better. There really is no way of winning.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 5/8/2025, 8:26 AM
So what was the reason for THIS gender swap?
PatchesOhulihan
PatchesOhulihan - 5/8/2025, 8:28 AM
@Ryguy88 - User Comment Image
DarthAlgar
DarthAlgar - 5/8/2025, 8:37 AM
WTF is an O-T Fagbenle?
MisterBones
MisterBones - 5/8/2025, 8:38 AM
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Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 5/8/2025, 8:49 AM
@MisterBones - the question is why
Scarilian
Scarilian - 5/8/2025, 8:41 AM
Speaks massively to their motivation when it was either a choice between race swap or sex swap, never considering once to give the fans the most iconic version of the character.

Heck, the stunt guy and body double should have been Taskmaster:

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NickScryer
NickScryer - 5/8/2025, 8:43 AM
Taskmaster being female was the least of this character problems.

They totally barakapooled that character.

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