There are spoilers ahead! Don’t read this post until after you’ve seen The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 5!
Seriously though, if you haven’t watched the new episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, then you really shouldn’t be here at all. We’re protecting the spoiler as much as we can, but this is news and we do have to cover it. Regardless, this is your last chance to turn back and remain unspoiled.
Unlike many of Marvel’s previous castings, this one largely remained a secret. But during the episode, Julia Louis-Dreyfus made her MCU debut as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. For non-comic book fans, that name won’t mean much…yet. And Dreyfus is only the second actress to play the Contessa in live-action after Lisa Rinna in David Hasselhoff’s Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV movie from 1998.
So who is she? In the comics, the Contessa was one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s top operatives and Nick Fury’s former lover. She was also revealed to be sleeper agent loyal to Leviathan before she became Madame Hydra.
RELATED: Ed Brubaker Explains His Feud With Marvel Over Winter Soldier Royalties
Vanity Fair is reporting that Louis-Dreyfus wasn’t actually supposed to make her Marvel debut here. Instead, she was initially slated to appear first in Black Widow.
“According to sources close to the production, Louis-Dreyfus was slated to first appear in the Black Widow film which, in a pre-Covid world, was scheduled to debut in theaters May 1, 2020. But Marvel, reportedly, has even bigger ambitions for Louis-Dreyfus’s villainous figure.”
Louis-Dreyfus is a multiple Emmy-winning actress for her roles on Seinfeld, Veep, and The New Adventures of Old Christine. She’s a surprising choice to play the Contessa, but as the report indicates, she may have a much bigger part in the MCU going forward.
How do you feel about Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ new Marvel role? Share your reactions in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Captain America Vol. 1: Winter Soldier Ultimate Collection
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