From Triple J to Thunderbolts: Viswanathan's Marvel Rise

Geraldine Viswanathan isn’t a superhero but she’s crucial to Thunderbolts

Geraldine Viswanathan’s journey in Hollywood represents a success story that many Australian performers aspire to achieve. Her career progression, now including an impressive list of Geraldine Viswanathan movies and TV shows, showcases her versatility and talent.

In her early career during the mid-2010s, she followed the typical path of many emerging creative talents in Australia: taking on diverse roles wherever they appeared, hoping each opportunity would lead to that career-defining breakthrough moment.

Her early portfolio included a small role in Emo: The Musical, occasional comedy performances at the University of Sydney’s student venue, and a memorable stint with the Sydney-based comedy collective Freudian Nip.

The Hollywood Breakthrough

Viswanathan was just beginning her training as a triple j radio presenter when fate intervened with her breakthrough opportunity – a lead role in the major Hollywood comedy Blockers, featuring John Cena and Leslie Mann.

“It was completely unexpected. I was really excited about the triple j opportunity and the presenter training,” she reveals to ABC Entertainment.

“I remember sending an email to former triple j content director Ollie Wards saying, ‘I’ve got this amazing opportunity to film with John Cena. I’m not sure about my return date but sending my best!'”

Since that pivotal moment, the 29-year-old performer has steadily advanced in Hollywood’s ranks. Her versatile portfolio spans from quirky Sundance festival favorites to sharing the screen with Hugh Jackman in a dramatic piece, and even appearing in an Ethan Cohen-directed crime thriller.

Entering the Marvel Universe

Now she’s taking another significant step forward with a prominent role in the Thunderbolts film, a new Marvel movie that could potentially restore Marvel’s somewhat tarnished recent reputation.

Marvel’s Critical Moment

The Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, despite its multi-billion-dollar status, has faced challenges recently. Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Five (everything following the Black Panther sequel) of the studio’s ambitious expansion plans has produced disappointing critical responses and, more concerning for Marvel Studios, some financial losses.

Thunderbolts marks the conclusion of phase five, serving as a transitional film before audiences prepare for the fourth iteration of the Fantastic Four (this time featuring Pedro Pascal!) that will launch phase six.

The timing is particularly crucial for Marvel: they desperately need a success, and they’re placing their bets on a film where the most recognizable character is Captain America’s former companion.

Pre-release marketing showed signs of anxiety, including a controversial teaser highlighting Marvel’s recruitment of talent from independent studio A24.

However, Marvel’s gamble appears to have paid off. The Thunderbolts film is receiving acclaim as the studio’s finest work in recent years, finally addressing fans’ demands for deeper character development and meaningful superhero storytelling. The film’s commercial success is equally impressive, generating $US162 million in its opening weekend.

Landing the Role of Mel

Viswanathan acknowledges it’s an interesting moment to join the Marvel universe, she notes.

“This film represents such a refreshing departure from recent superhero movies. It masterfully blends traditional Marvel elements with a sophisticated, layered approach reminiscent of A24 productions,” she reflects on the A24 twist in the Thunderbolts film.

“Joining the Marvel universe has always been a dream, but to do so under these circumstances, alongside this exceptional cast and crew, feels surreal. As an Australian, I’m incredibly honored to represent our talent in the Marvel Universe. It’s truly exciting!”

The path to Marvel wasn’t straightforward for Viswanathan, who inherited the role of Mel after her close friend and Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri had to withdraw due to scheduling complications.

“I was actually battling illness in bed when my agent called saying, ‘Jake Schreier wants to speak with you.’ I remember being quite confused,” she recounts, mentioning the Thunderbolts film director.

“We arranged a Zoom call, and there I was, surrounded by used tissues. He outlined the movie and Mel’s character since protocol prevents reading the script before signing.

“When he concluded by asking if I wanted the role, I could barely contain my excitement, thinking ‘Is this really happening? Am I being invited into the Marvel Universe?! Absolutely, yes!'”

The Unexpected Hero’s Assistant

Thunderbolts serves as the unofficial title for an unlikely assembly of second-tier superheroes and antiheroes, brought together by circumstance under the leadership of CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, channeling Selina Meyer’s energy into a supervillain role) during her impeachment crisis. Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Marvel debut as Val adds a new dimension to the complex characters in the film.

Mel emerges as Val’s devoted assistant, perpetually armed with an iPad, ready to execute any command – whether it’s procuring the perfect coffee or eliminating inconvenient “evidence” (actual people). This boss-assistant relationship forms a crucial part of the narrative.

“[Louis-Dreyfus] brings incredible dedication to perfecting every scene. Her attention to detail and command of language is remarkable,” Viswanathan observes.

“Despite her legendary status, she never phones it in. She gives everything to her performance.”

As Val’s power-hungry schemes escalate, Mel starts to grapple with the morality of her allegiance, facing a significant moral decision.

“Mel’s character development is fascinating. It speaks to young, ambitious individuals who want to make positive changes in the world,” Viswanathan explains.

“It’s particularly significant that this film explicitly explores power dynamics between two female characters, and how [Mel] ultimately becomes an unexpected but crucial asset to the Thunderbolts.”

‘It’s all going to be fine’

Viswanathan vividly remembers her first experience stepping onto a Marvel set.

“The scale was absolutely staggering – we had hundreds of extras, a hovering helicopter, and massive trucks all coordinated in this intricate sequence. Everything was meticulously planned before our arrival, and I remember having this overwhelming thought: ‘If I make even one mistake, this entire elaborate setup needs to be reset from scratch,'” she recalls.

“The complexity was incredible, with countless elements moving simultaneously. It felt more like a theatrical production than a film set, which was completely different from my previous experiences, but it presented an exhilarating new challenge.”

Advice to Her Younger Self

When asked what advice she’d give to her younger self, who was working on small-scale productions and performing brief stand-up routines, Viswanathan responds thoughtfully:

“Just keep pushing forward, don’t let anxiety overwhelm you – everything will work out exactly as it should,” she reflects.

“Though I would definitely advise against those unflattering, extremely high-waisted pants I used to wear. Perhaps investing in better wardrobe choices would have been wise.”

Star-Studded Ensemble

The Thunderbolts film brings together a star-studded cast including Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost/Ava Starr, Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster, and Wyatt Russell as John Walker. This ensemble of complex characters and antiheroes promises to deliver a fresh take on the superhero genre, potentially revitalizing Marvel’s reputation.

Under the guidance of Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige and Louis D’Esposito, the Thunderbolts film aims to showcase the depth and complexity of its characters while delivering the action-packed excitement fans expect from a Marvel movie.

Thunderbolts is now showing in cinemas.

Source:

Velvet Winter. Geraldine Viswanathan isn’t a superhero but she’s integral to Thunderbolts*. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-07/thunderbolts-interview-geraldine-viswanathan/105239904

Header Photo: Actress Geraldine Viswanathan at the “Oh, Hi!” Premiere during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival

Photo credit: Arielaortizb, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons