Captain America: Brave New Worldwill usher in so many new concepts to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with high expectations on delivering a multitude of fresh ideas.The upcomingCaptain America: Brave New Worldwill be the first Captain America solo film to center on Sam Wilson’s new take on the character, officially passing the torch to the hero formerly known as Falcon. There’s a lot to get excited for, from new characters to the return of old favorites and long-awaited follow-ups on past MCU plotlines.
The story will see Sam Wilson navigate the fallout of a dangerous attempt on the new president, former General “Thunderbolt” Ross' life, leading to a complex web of political deceit. Taking on villains like the Red Hulk, the Leader, and Sidewinder, Sam Wilson will have his hands full on his first true test as Captain America. Half traditional superhero movie and half political thriller,Captain America: Brave New Worldis shaping up to be a strong start tothe MCU’s slate of 2025 releases.
10The Introduction Of Adamantium
Vibranium is no longer the only game in town
It seems thatCaptain America: Brave New Worldwill finally get around to checking in on some long-dormant MCU plotlines, using one of them to introduce Adamantium to the franchise at long last. Theend ofEternalssaw the partial emergence of the failed Celestial Tiamut, whose massive corpse was last seen partially sticking out of the Indian Ocean. While many Marvel projects came and went while somehow not addressing this seemingly world-changing phenomenon,Captain America: Brave New Worldwill use it as a springboard to introduce a valuable new substance.
Originally hailing from the X-Men comics, Adamantium is a fictional metallic element with a tremendous level of durability, even stronger than Vibranium according toCaptain America: Brave New Worldtrailers. The metal’s most famous use was being welded to the skeleton of the mutant Wolverine, increasing his efficiency as a living weapon. It seems as though the Marvel Cinematic Universe will introduce Adamantium with a race to mine the dead Celestial’s bones of it, igniting a new rush for a valuable resource.
9The Return of Betty Ross
Will finally reference The Incredible Hulk directly
2008’sThe Incredible Hulksits at an odd intersection of Marvel canon. Despite being one of the first MCU movies ever filmed, the re-casting of Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner and the subsequent lack of solo Hulk movies distanced the events of the film pretty drastically. Now, Harrison Ford’s re-casting as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross has alienated the MCU from the film even more, althoughShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawbrought Emile Blonsky’s Abomination back into the fold.
That being said,Captain America: Brave New Worldwill see the long-awaited return of Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, General Ross' daughter and Bruce Banner’s original love interest. The last time audiences saw Betty, she was tearfully washing her hands of Bruce Banner and The Hulk once and for all, with Dr. Banner returning her a lost necklace as a final goodbye gift. It’ll be interesting to see how exactly she figures into the plot ofCaptain America: Brave New Worldas a Gamma-radiation researcher and the now-president’s daughter.
8The Return Of The Leader
One of the most long-awaited teases in MCU history
In many cases, theMCU has issues not paying off teases, taking years to get back around to paying off certain cliffhangers if they get to them at all. Dr. Samuel Sterns' transformation into the leader is one of the most long-awaited developments for the franchise that lay dormant for an absurdly long time, withThe Incredible Hulksuggesting that the scientist was turned into Bruce Banner’s big-brained supervillain. Now, withCaptain America: Brave New World, audiences can looking forward to seeing Tim Blake Nelson return as Sterns after over 15 years.
It remains unclear exactly what capacity The Leader will appear in throughout the story. As an expert on Gamma radiation, it makes sense that Dr. Sterns would be the one behind President Ross' transformation into the Red Hulk in the first place, perhaps using the world leader as a pawn in his own insidious game. In his brief trailer appearances, Sterns' head looks concerningly normal-sized, and it remains to be seen if he has even morphed into the iconic antagonist at all after all this time.
7President Ross As The Red Hulk
Will be one of the film’s primary selling points
One of the most heavily-advertised aspects ofCaptain America: Brave New Worldwill be the introduction of President Ross as The Red Hulk. One of the more recent major Hulk villains to come out of the Marvel comics, the Red Hulk is created when Ross recruits the talents of A.I.M. and Intelligencia to give him his own Gamma-powered mutate form, allowing him to personally battle his old enemy. In the comics, General Ross' iconic mustache somehow sheds and grows back with each transformation, making his identity difficult to ascertain at first.
Captain America: Brave New Worldwon’t be focusing on the mystery as much, with the identity of the Red Hulk being made clear from the trailers. Ross' mustache will simply be shorn from the beginning, apparently owing to a more presentable campaign presence, but also serving as a tongue-in-cheek way to justify the Harrison Ford recast of William Hurt’s character. The MCU’s President Ross seems to not be in control of his transformations of actions as Red Hulk, suggesting a very different dynamic at play.
6Sam Wilson’s First Movie As Captain America
Captain America: Brave New World will make history
Perhaps the single most significant thing aboutCaptain America: Brave New Worldwill be the introduction of Anthonie Mackie’s Sam Wilson as the titular all-American hero, officially passing on the mantle from Steve Rogers. Formerly the superhero known as Falcon, Sam Wilson was famously gifted the iconic Captain America shield by an elderly Steve Rogers at the end ofAvengers: Endgame, marking him as the successor for the role.Captain America: Brave New Worldwill mark the true start of Wilson’s superhero career under the name.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldiertechnically was the debut of Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, with the entirety of the show focusing on Wilson struggling with accepting the honor due to the implications of a Black man draping himself in American symbolism.Anthony Mackie’s recent words on playing Captain Americahave also weighed in on this topic, making him a great fit for such a delicate role to handle. Considering how well he worked as a supporting character, it’s about time Sam Wilson got his own movie.
5Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder
Another villainous role for the fan-favorite actor
Captain America: Brave New Worldwon’t stop at re-introducing and re-imagining existing characters, bringing some entirely new faces into the fold as well. The most alarming of these is Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder, who seems to have a hand in the political game of chess being played throughout the film, also seen wielding a hefty revolver in the trailer. In the comics, Sidewinder is the leader of the Serpent Society, a cabal of snake-themed villains for hire, though it’s safe to say the movie version will shake out quite differently.
Giancarlo Esposito was once known for playing goofy background characters in films likeMaximum OverdriveandDo The Right Thing. But ever since his success as the mastermind drug kingpin Gus Fring inBreaking BadandBetter Call Saul,Esposito has been somewhat typecast in villainous roles, playing similar antagonists inThe Mandalorian, Far Cry 6,andThe Boys.Sidewinder will be the latest in a long line of cinematic villains to benefit from his cold demeanor.
4Isaiah Bradley’s Assassination Attempt
Will tear Sam Wilson’s alliegances in two
The Incredible Hulkwon’t be the only MCU projectCaptain America: Brave New Worldwill be pulling returning faces from. Isaiah Bradley will also get an appearance, returning fromThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier.Bradley was revealed to be one of theMCU’s many attempts to re-create super soldier serum, unfairly experimented on and wrongfully imprisoned to keep him quiet. Bradley ends up faking his own death to escape to a quiet life, but is introduced by Sam by way of Bucky Barnes.
As a friend and mentor, Sam works to get Bradley’s story in the Captain America museum, casing light on the tragically realistic story of an exploited African American man forgotten by the U.S. government. Obviously having no love for the latter, Isiah seems to be behind an attempt on President Ross' life, but it’s obvious that there’s more to the story than meets the eye. It seems as though Isaiah Bradley’s premise will tear Captain America’s loyalty in two across a complicated narrative.
3The Weapon X Program May Be Teased
The introduction of Adamantium is as good a time as any
The question of how the Marvel Cinematic Universe will introduce the X-Men remains to be answered after the events ofDeadpool & Wolverine, with a solo X-Men film supposedly in development. The presence of Adamantium will be the first strictly X-Men-related concept in a mainline series other thanDeadpool & Wolverine, opening the door for many tantalizing developments. Specifically,Captain America: Brave New Worldcould lead to the creation of a Weapon X program.
2Captain America’s Refusal May Create The Thunderbolts
President Ross' signature team could manifest earlier than previously thought
The establishment of Weapon X might be a bit of a stretch for the government of the MCU to go for should Sam Wilson fail to be their new superhero puppet, but another group of less-heroic characters is far more likely.Thunderbolts*will be the next MCU superhero movie released by the MCU afterCaptain America: Brave New World,officially establishing the titular team. Essentially Marvel’s answer to DC’s Suicide Squad, The Thunderbolts are made up of former villains and shadier characters bound together and forced into action by the government.
It’s easy to see howCaptain America: Brave New Worldcould easily lean in tothe upcomingThunderbolts*movie. Just like with Weapon X, The Thunderbolts would be the logical next step for the U.S. government should Sam Wilson and the other heroes fail to comply. Not only that, but in the comics, The Thunderbolts are actually named after General “Thunderbolt” Ross, who forms the first iteration of the group. Ross' renewed importance will be an opportune moment for the MCU to set up their next movie.
1Captain America Will Be Joined By A New Falcon
The old identity won’t be going to waste
One element ofCaptain America: Brave New Worldthat isn’t being discussed enough is the presence of Joaquín Torres as the new Falcon. Just because Sam Wilson is moving on to become Captain America doesn’t mean that the identity of the Falcon has to retire forever, and a similar passing of the torch was done in the comics. Joaquín Torres first appeared in the MCU as an Air Force lieutenant who helps Sam Wilson gather info on the Flag Smashers inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Granted, the Joaquín Torres of the MCU has already proven to be quite different from the comic version, who is a literal human/bird hybrid resulting from insidious experimentation. But it never made sense that Sam was the only one to successfully pilot the experimental flight suit, putting it to good use in multiple Avengers movies. It’ll be nice to see Wilson soaring side by side with a brand-new hero inCaptain America: Brave New World.
