There’s a certain poetry in legacy — not the kind woven into bloodlines by default, but the kind that’s earned through experience, evolution, and expression. For Lewis Pullman, the rising star of Marvel’s Thunderbolts*, that legacy is embodied in one name: Bill Pullman. And while Lewis is busy forging his own path through the MCU as the enigmatic villain Bob, his journey is inseparably tied to the lessons, love, and lineage of his father — a man whose reputation in Hollywood speaks volumes, even if his name isn’t always shouted from the rooftops like a Stark or a Wayne.
How Bill Pullman’s Career Quietly Shapes a New Generation of Actors
Lewis Pullman didn’t always see himself in front of the camera. In fact, he admits to being “very naive” about what his dad did until high school. Yet, like many sons of iconic actors, the draw of storytelling was inevitable. What’s striking, however, is how Lewis approached this draw — not with swagger, but with patience. “For a long time, I was like, I’m gonna do this on my own,” he says. And that stubborn independence makes his eventual collaboration with his father — not on screen, but in counsel — all the more meaningful.
Bill Pullman may not be part of the Marvel spectacle (at least not yet), but his influence is palpable. According to Lewis, it’s not just about the big moments or the iconic lines. It’s about craft. “He always goes story first and writing first and character first,” Lewis explains. It’s a mantra that’s helped him navigate the often chaotic and hyper-visual world of Marvel filmmaking, grounding him in what truly matters: the substance beneath the spectacle.
Breaking Free From the Shadow: Lewis Pullman’s Journey to Find His Own Voice
One of the most compelling threads in Lewis’s story is his conscious effort to differentiate himself from Bill. Early in his career, he felt the weight of expectation — not just from others, but from himself. “I felt a lot of pressure to fill his shoes,” he confesses. But then came the breakthrough realization: those shoes were never meant to be filled. They were meant to be respected.
“I’m very different from him in a lot of ways,” Lewis says. “I don’t have the same strengths that he has.” And that difference, rather than being a hurdle, became his liberation. It gave him permission to be different. To find his own strengths. To carve out a space in the industry that is uniquely his. It’s a dynamic that echoes through many legacy actors’ careers, but rarely with such clarity and honesty.
Bob in Thunderbolts*: A Role That Channels Every Lesson Learned
Lewis Pullman’s Marvel debut in Thunderbolts* is more than just a career milestone — it’s a culmination of years of learning, trial, and growth. His character, Bob, is shrouded in mystery, but Lewis’s approach to the role was anything but. Diving deep into the comics, working closely with director Jake Schreier, and training with an intensity born from both excitement and anxiety, Lewis sculpted a performance that he describes as a “messy soup” of personalities.
“There are so many clues,” he says about preparing for Bob. “It’s such a gift. Rarely do you get to do a role where there are all these road maps and blueprints right there for you if you’re hungry enough.” And Marvel gave him that playground. Even if he once thought it was an “untouchable universe.” Now, not only is he part of it, but he’s also headed to Avengers: Doomsday — a development so surreal that he learned about it through a flood of texts from co-star Danny Ramirez.
What Bill Pullman’s Advice Reveals About the Actor Behind the Legacy
When Lewis waited to send the Thunderbolts* script to his father, it wasn’t for validation — it was for conversation. And when Bill Pullman finally read it, his reaction was quintessentially grounded: “There’s a lot to do here. Yeah. I think there’s a lot to be done.” It’s the kind of pragmatic enthusiasm that likely mirrors many actors’ first honest takes on a script. But more importantly, it shows that Bill Pullman trusts story, character, and writing above all else.
That mindset — the one that prioritizes foundation over flash — is perhaps Bill’s greatest contribution to Lewis’s career. Not just as a father, but as an artist. It’s the advice that helps Lewis navigate a universe where one wrong step can create a narrative black hole, and where the pressure to dazzle can sometimes drown out the call to connect.
One Day, Watching Marvel With His Family Will Make It All Click
Marvel fans often talk about the “moment” they first felt part of the community. For Lewis Pullman, that moment is still on the horizon. He admits that he didn’t grow up watching Marvel films — his family’s movie diet skewed older, classic, different. But he’s determined to change that. “I’m getting my entire family to sit down and watch this movie. So it'll be monumental,” he says. And when that day comes, one can imagine it will be more than just a family movie night. It will be a celebration of legacy, love, and leaping into new worlds — together.
Bill Pullman may not wear a cape or wield cosmic power, but through his son, his impact is now embedded in the mythology of modern pop culture. And that, perhaps, is the most heroic evolution of all.