Julia Louis-Dreyfus Faces Congressional Inquiry in Upcoming MCU Film

LOS ANGELES, CA — Julia Louis-Dreyfus is back as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film, *Thunderbolts,* set to hit theaters on May 2, 2025. In this latest installment, her character faces a crisis amid a congressional investigation over her questionable practices while heading a covert government agency.

Desperate to eliminate evidence of her connections with a group of mercenaries, Valentina places contracts on Yelena Belova, John Walker, Ghost, and Taskmaster, setting off a chain of events that leads these anti-heroes to band together against her greater threat.

“I can’t give anything away, but she doesn’t always do what I expect her to do. So I call that crappy assistant work, if you don’t mind my saying,” Louis-Dreyfus joked about her character’s assistant, Mel, in an interview with *The Hollywood Reporter.* Mel is portrayed by Geraldine Viswanathan, who expresses admiration for the complex dynamic between assistants in the film industry.

Viswanathan revealed that her character is influenced by the various assistants she has encountered, particularly observing the assistant relationship of film director Jake Schreier and his staff. “There are flavors of assistants across the board,” she said, highlighting her desire to portray Mel as a capable yet quirky character.

Louis-Dreyfus also reflected on her career post-*Seinfeld,* addressing the so-called “Seinfeld curse” that surrounded her transition to other roles. “It was ridiculous then, and fortunately, it’s really been dropped. It was a media invention that made no sense,” she stated, dismissing old criticisms of her succeeding roles after the iconic sitcom.

As *Thunderbolts* approaches its premiere, the cast is eager to engage with audiences and hint at potential future appearances within the MCU. “We love being a part of the Marvel universe. We’re delighted to have made this one and are happy to make more,” said Louis-Dreyfus.

With excitement building for the May release, fans hope to see how Valentina’s story unfolds alongside her team of misfit heroes as they face challenges that will test their loyalty and abilities.