Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers forCaptain America: Brave New World.
Captain America: Brave New Worldfaced a tumultuous production, marked by extensive reshoots that significantly altered its narrative and structure, with some scenes easily discernible in retrospect. While reshoots are a common practice in Hollywood, especially within theMarvel Cinematic Universe, the scale and impact of those forBrave New Worldwere particularly noteworthy. Insider reports and behind-the-scenes leaks have shed light on specific scenes that were either added or reworked during these reshoots, offering insight into the film’s evolving storyline.
The production ofCaptain America: Brave New Worldwas marred by challenges, including unenthusiastic test screenings and significant reshoots, which collectively delayed the movie’s release. Originally slated for a mid-2024 debut, the film was pushed to 2025 to accommodate these extensive changes. Reports suggest that the reshoots aimed to address various issues, from enhancing action sequences to integrating new characters intothe MCU timeline. These alterations inflated the production budget and reshaped key plot elements, leading to a film that diverged notably from its initial conception.
11Sidewinder And The Serpent Society Steal Japan’s Adamantium
Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder Is Introduced
One of the most pivotal additions during theCaptain America: Brave New Worldreshoots was the introduction ofGiancarlo Esposito as Sidewinder, the leader of the Serpent Society. Esposito’s character was entirely incorporated during these reshoots. Thisnecessitated the creation of new scenesto establish his role within the narrative.
A prime example is the film’s opening sequence, where Captain America confronts the Serpent Society in Mexico to recover adamantium stolen from Japan. This action-packed scene not only sets the stage for the film’s central conflict but alsoserves to introduce Sidewinder as a formidable antagonist. The decision to incorporate this subplot during reshoots underscores the filmmakers' intent to elevate the stakes and enrichBrave New World’s storyline with fresh antagonistic forces.
10The Assassination Attempt On President Ross
Isaiah Bradley And Others Attempt To Shoot Ross In The White House
Anothercritical scene reworkedduring theCaptain America: Brave New Worldreshoots involves an assassination attempt on President Thaddeus Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford. In this sequence, President Ross, while addressing the nation about the discovery ofadamantium within the remains of the Celestial Tiamut, becomes the target of a coordinated attack by several brainwashed individuals, including Isaiah Bradley.
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This scene is pivotal to the narrative inCaptain America: Brave New World, as it propels the narrative forward byhighlighting the political tensions surrounding the newfound resource. Notably, President Ross references Captain America’s recent mission in Mexico during his speech, a detail that aligns this scene with the newly added opening sequence, suggesting its inclusion during the reshoots to ensure narrative cohesion.
9Sidewinder Attacks Captain America
Sidewinder Takes Out Sam Wilson’s Car
TheCaptain America: Brave New Worldreshoots also introduced a high-intensity confrontation between Captain America and Sidewinder. Following a strategic discussion between Sam Wilson and his ally Joaquin Torres (the new Falcon), Sidewinder ambushes Captain America, leading to a destructive battle. In this encounter, Sidewinder unleashes an arsenal in an attempt to kill Cap, decimating Sam’s vehicle with a barrage of gunfire and explosives.
Despite the onslaught, Captain America manages to subdue Sidewinder in a display of resilience and combat prowess. Given that Esposito’s involvement as Sidewinder was a product of the reshoots, it’s evident that this intense action sequence was conceived and executed during the additional filming to amplify the film’s dramatic tension. As one of the movie’s strongest, it wascertainly the right decisionto add the scene.
8Captain America Discusses The Assassination With Ross
Sam Wilson Visits Ross In His Bunker
In the aftermath of the assassination attempt inCaptain America: Brave New World, a crucial dialogue-driven scene unfolds between Captain America and President Ross. Sam Wilson visits the President to deliberate on the recent events,particularly focusing on Isaiah Bradley’s manipulated involvementin the attack. This exchange is laden with tension, especially when President Ross remarks,“You’re not Steve Rogers."
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Interestingly, this linediffers from the version showcased in the film’s trailer, suggesting that the scene underwent revisions during the reshoots. The conversation’s content, which references the assassination attempt and subsequent events, further suggests that this scene was restructured to align with the film’s revised narrative trajectory. Though perhaps not in its entirely, parts of this scene would have needed to be reconfigured.
7President Ross Visits Japan
Ross Meets With The Japanese Prime Minister
Later inCaptain America: Brave New World, President Ross embarks on a diplomatic mission to Japan, aiming to renegotiate an agreement concerning the shared utilization of the adamantium extracted from Tiamut’s remains. Set against the serene backdrop of a traditional Japanese garden, Ross engages in a dialogue with the Japanese Prime Minister. During their conversation, the Prime Ministeralludes to the earlier theft of adamantium, an event depicted in the film’s opening sequence.
This reference creates a narrative link between the two scenes. This implies that this diplomatic encounter was added during the reshoots to provide context anddepth to the geopolitical ramifications of the adamantium discovery. The inclusion of this scene serves to underscore the global stakes at play and President Ross’s intricate political maneuvering.
6Captain America Returns to His Base
Sam Wilson And Falcon Retire To A Captain America-Themed Headquarters
One of the more dialogue-heavy scenes inCaptain America: Brave New Worldfeatures Sam Wilson returning to his personal base. There, his ally, Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), is hard at work analyzing intelligence on a computer. This scenefunctions as an exposition dump, laying out the latest developments in the story and setting up the heroes' next moves.
Given the extensive reshoots the film underwent, this sequence was likely adjusted – or entirely reworked – to accommodate the new narrative elements introduced during the additional filming. It also suggests a late addition toensure audiences understood the stakes, which is common in reshoots. If prior test screenings indicated confusion about certain plot points, this scene would have been a prime candidate for revision.
5The Leader Is Revealed
Captain America And Falcon Meet Samuel Sterns
Tim Blake Nelson’s return as Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader, was a long-anticipated event inCaptain America: Brave New World, but reports suggest that most of his scenes were reshot. Notably, behind-the-scenes leaks indicate that hischaracter design went through significant alterations, particularly the size and shape of his mutated, oversized head.
Tim Blake Nelson himself has indicated that the majority of his scenes inBrave New Worldwere reshot, while early merchandise releases depict a slightly different Leader design. This would suggest that the Leader’s initial reveal, where Cap and Falcon infiltrate his base, was reshot. Prior to his big reveal, The Leader waslargely hidden in shadows or disguised, so many shots could have been recycled from earlier designs.
4Captain America Visits An Incarcerated Sidewinder
Sam Wilson Seeks Sidewinder’s Knowledge Of Samuel Sterns
Another key scene that appears to have been a late addition involves Captain America visiting a recently imprisoned Sidewinder. There he triesto learn all he can of Sterns’s plansand motives. This moment is notable because it hints at Sidewinder’s potential escape, setting up a future appearance.
Given that Giancarlo Esposito was reportedly offered another project in the MCU in exchange for taking on this relatively minor villain role, it makes sense that Marvelwould include a post-capture scene to leave the door open for his return. As already established, all of Esposito’s scenes were added in post-production. After previously being subdued by Sam Wilson, this sequence ensures that audiences see him one last time, reinforcing his importance in the larger narrative.
3Captain America Vs. Red Hulk
Sam Wilson’s Climactic Battle Against President Ross
According to leaked set photos, a funeral scene was originally filmed featuring Sam Wilson and Betty Ross, whichstrongly implied that President Thaddeus Ross was supposed to diein an earlier version of the story. However, in the final cut, Ross survives, which means the entire climax involving Red Hulk had to be changed. Rather than killing off Ross, Marvel appears to have opted for a different outcome, likely in response to the common criticism that the MCU wastes compelling villains after only one appearance.
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If the funeral was meant to take place, then the original climax likely ended with Red Hulk being killed or permanently neutralized. Instead, the reshoots altered this to depictRoss surviving his battle with Cap. This means Marvel can keep Red Hulk in play for future stories.
2Captain America Visits Ross On The Raft
Sam Wilson And Betty Ross visit And Incarcerated President Ross
One of the final scenes in the movie sees Captain America visiting an imprisoned Thaddeus Ross in The Raft, a high-security superhuman prison. If the original script had Ross dying, thenthis scene couldn’t have existedin earlier drafts, meaning it was almost certainly added during reshoots. This change allows Ross to remain alive for future stories and enables an emotional moment between him and his daughter, Betty Ross.
The inclusion of this visit provides closure to the film’s events, as Sam Wilson confronts Ross about his actions and what it means for the future of the MCU. It also sets up potential storylines down the road, as Ross’s imprisonment means hecould still play a role in future Marvel films, possibly inThunderboltsor aWorld War Hulkadaptation.
