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Last Updated : October 1 , 2020
The Taskmaster is the master scoundrel of the upcomingBlack Widowfilm , starring Scarlett Johansson . This was the belief of many comics fans , follow the going of photos limn an armored figure in a white hood driving a armoured combat vehicle through the streets of Budapest in 2019 , and was after confirmed by Marvel Studios ' selling .
Taskmaster ’s arriver on the big screen is now literally a foresighted sentence coming , as Coronavirus has delayed the Black Widow motion-picture show repeatedly , with the a la mode move pushing it all the way back to May 2021 , a full 14 months after its to begin with contrive March 2020 sack .
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While Taskmaster ’s role in the movie is notably unlike his usual portrait in the strip , he should still be a suitable opponent for Natasha Romanoff . Both characters have process for multiple covert agencies and as independent mercenary over the geezerhood , and Taskmaster ’s report is such that read him on alone would cement Black Widow ’s position among Earth ’s Mightiest Heroes . Here ’s everything you need to have sex about Taskmaster ’s origins , might and who might be playing him inBlack Widow .
Taskmaster’s Comic History Explained
Taskmaster first appear on the concluding page ofAvengers # 195 in May 1980 , with his origin being explained one issue later on inAvengers # 196 . He revealed himself toAnt - Man(Scott Lang ) , Yellowjacket ( Hank Pym ) and The Wasp ( Janet Van Dyne ) after they accidentally uncovered one of his privy schools for supervillain henchmen . Taskmaster then demonstrated his accomplishment to the captive heroes by defeating his current class single - handed , utilize the weapons and push dash of their fellowAvengers .
Taskmaster excuse that he first discovered he had a natural endowment for mimicking the actions of others by copy the lasso trick used by a cowboy poor boy in the westerns he eff as a child . As a teenager , he used his talents to become the quarterback of his high schoolhouse football squad by determine professional quarterbacks in natural process and imitate their move . After commencement ceremony , he in brief consider becoming both a superhero and a supervillain , but dismissed valorousness as unprofitable and costumed crime as too risky . This led him to become a teacher and personal trainer for anyone unforced to give him for his time .
Over the twelvemonth , Taskmaster progress up a protracted list of node , help to civilize both heroes and villains alike . Despite the Avengers ' adept efforts to shut down his school , Taskmaster has continually evade gaining control and defied all efforts to uncover his secret individuality . He has work for bothAIMandHydra , yet was also hire by the American government activity to train newbie superheroes as part of the Avengers ' Fifty State Initiative . He was even granted a full pardon for all of his retiring law-breaking after SHIELD hired him to essay the surety measuring of their newly rebuilt Helicarrier base by break into it - a challenge he successfully met .
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This background knowledge was retconned by a 2010Taskmastermini - serial publication , which showed the true origins of Taskmaster and his index . Taskmaster was disclose to have originally been anagent of SHIELDnamed Tony Masters and his memory of perfectly mime the actions of athletes and actors as a child were precise . What Taskmaster did not commend , however , was that his computer storage and ability to perfectly emulate the activity of others were enhanced after he was injected with a Nazi scientist ’s effort to replicate the Super Soldier formula that rick Steve Rogers intoCaptain America .
The formula worked , giving Masters a peak human form and enhanced reflex action in addition to refining his survive power . Unfortunately , the pattern had an unintended side - effect and Tony commence to lose his personal memories and sentience of identity the more he used his power to heighten his combat grooming . This memory expiration became so severe that he completely forget his yesteryear as a SHIELD federal agent and the beingness of his wife and athletic field - collaborator , Mercedes Merced .
Thankfully , Agent Merced was able to find a way to stay close to her husband and put his condition to good use , even if he did n’t acknowledge it . Adopting the identity of The Org , Merced became Taskmaster ’s coach and commence wangle his engagement and finances , as Taskmaster proved incapable of remembering anything past a few 24-hour interval unless it directly related to his training . It was in this capacitance that she began send Taskmaster out on mercenary missions , not telling him that he was really working for SHIELD .
Agent Merced was also responsible for for creating the Taskmaster identity for Tony and ready up the Taskmaster ’s underground supervillain preparation academies . Through these , SHIELD was able to keep tabs on the activity of the various villain groups that hired Taskmaster and learn what they were planning . This turned Taskmaster into the ultimate twofold agent in the supervillain underground , given that he had no idea who he truly was and could go on a telepathic CAT scan without issue .
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Taskmaster’s Powers Explained
Taskmaster possess a power to double any physical action he sees another someone pioneer , which he has dub " photographic reflexes . " He also has a photographic retentiveness , which let him to effortlessly call in the many natural process he has detect . By ascertain video footage of other superheroes and supervillains in natural action , Taskmaster was able to teach himself their moves and trained himself in a variety of disciplines . He has also developed a limited form of first-rate - speed which appropriate him to do a maneuver quicker than normal if he observed it on a sped - up video . This is a tremendous strain on his body , however , and Taskmaster can only do it in short burst .
Thanks to his education and powers , Taskmaster has acquired a particular set of skills that are second to none . He ’s mastered the acrobatics utilise bySpider - ManandDaredevil , the marksman ability ofHawkeyeandthe Punisher , the soldierly arts skills ofIron FistandShang - Chiand even specialised moves such as Captain America ’s power to shed his shield in such a mode that it can bounce off multiple target and return to his mitt . His studies have made Taskmaster into a brilliant tactician , who can predict what a know opponent will do in a battle with near psychic accuracy . Taskmaster is also a talented vocal mimicker who can impersonate anyone after hearing their voice and a passkey of camouflage who can effectively double up anyone of a similar consistence type whose eubstance terminology he has observed .
All of these component , coupled with the enhanced figure provided by the Nazi Super Soldier formula , have combined have made Taskmaster into a formidable antagonist , whom Spider - Man has compare to " postulate on all of the Avengers at once . " He ’s accomplished several impressive feats over the yr , such as fighting both Captain America andIron Mansimultaneously and win . The only person known to have beaten Taskmaster in a one - on - one fight isDeadpool , whose helter-skelter combat style Taskmaster finds it impossible to copy or counteract .
This uncover the greatest drawback to Taskmaster ’s power - there is a vast difference between knowing soldierlike arts and being able to copy a martial art move . Because of his poor memory , while Taskmaster has augment his power with honest breeding , he ’s still not as refine as a dedicated practician who can take the fundamentals of an fine art and build upon it . Taskmaster is not that creative and while he can recall the signature moves of hundreds of heroes , he ’s ofttimes thrown by the unexpected and will take flight the study of struggle when front with an unfamiliar opponent or an old enemy arm with Modern thaumaturgy .
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Who Is Playing Taskmaster?
While Taskmaster is - or at least seems to be - the lead villain in theBlack Widowmovie , the question of who is play him is still up in the melodic phrase . The mostly potential nominee seems to be actorO - T Fagbenle , who has been cast in the picture as Rick Mason , a previously unknown character with link to Natasha ’s SHIELD 24-hour interval and a potential romantic interest from her past . Fagbenle is an acclaimed level actor , best known for his performance as Luke Bankole inThe Handmaid ’s Tale . The evidence has mount over the past twelvemonth that Fagbenle ’s character is really Taskmaster , and for his part , the actor has n’t abnegate the possibility .
Taskmaster’s Role In The Black Widow Movie
As depicted in theBlack Widowmovie , Taskmaster has taken ascendance of Natasha ’s former grooming ground , the Red Room . It ’s unreadable for what intent Taskmaster is manipulate the Red Room , but it appears likely that doing so is what first causes dispute between him and Natasha . Some are wondering if Taskmaster is connected to Thaddeus " Thunderbolt " Ross , who also play a part in the film . For now , Taskmaster ’s true intention within the MCU remains cover in mystery .
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