Captain America: Brave New World

• Core Identity: In his first solo feature film as the Sentinel of Liberty, Sam Wilson must confront a sinister global threat orchestrated by emerging political powers, forcing him to redefine the legacy of the shield in a world that questions his right to wield it.
• Key Takeaways:
  • Role in the Universe: This film serves as a direct sequel to the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, cementing Sam Wilson's transition into the role of captain_america and exploring the political and social ramifications of this new era. It is a cornerstone of Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
  • Primary Impact: Captain America: Brave New World is poised to re-establish the grounded, political-thriller tone of The Winter Soldier while introducing major new power players to the MCU, including Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross as the President of the United States and the long-awaited cinematic debut of the super-intelligent villain, The Leader.
  • Key Incarnations: The film adapts numerous concepts from the Earth-616 comics but synthesizes them into a unique MCU narrative. Key changes include the specific circumstances of Sam Wilson taking the mantle, the political ascent of Thaddeus Ross, and the cinematic origin of villains like The Leader, whose story directly follows up on events from The Incredible Hulk (2008).

The journey of Captain America: Brave New World to the screen began almost immediately after the conclusion of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier in April 2021. The series finale, which saw Sam Wilson officially embrace the Captain America identity, was met with critical acclaim, prompting Marvel Studios to swiftly announce that a fourth Captain America film was in development, with series head writer Malcolm Spellman and staff writer Dalan Musson hired to pen the script. In July 2022, Nigerian-American director Julius Onah (known for The Cloverfield Paradox and Luce) was confirmed to be helming the project. At San Diego Comic-Con later that month, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige officially announced the film's title as Captain America: New World Order and confirmed a release date of May 3, 2024, as part of the MCU's Phase Five. Casting news solidified the film's direction. Alongside Anthony Mackie reprising his role as Sam Wilson, the D23 Expo in September 2022 revealed that Tim Blake Nelson would return as Dr. Samuel Sterns, last seen partially transforming into The Leader in 2008's The Incredible Hulk. Danny Ramirez and Carl Lumbly were also confirmed to return as Joaquin Torres and Isaiah Bradley, respectively. A significant casting development was the announcement that Israeli actress Shira Haas would portray the superheroine Sabra. In October 2022, it was announced that Harrison Ford would be taking over the role of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, following the passing of the original actor, William Hurt. This casting fueled immense speculation about the character's long-rumored transformation into the Red Hulk. Principal photography began in March 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia, under the working title “Rochelle, Rochelle.” In early June 2023, the film's title was officially changed from New World Order to Brave New World. The change was revealed via a behind-the-scenes photo of Mackie and Ford on set. The new title was perceived as less controversial and more thematically aligned with the literary allusions of a “brave new world” where established orders are challenged. Due to the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, production was halted, and the film's release date was subsequently pushed to July 26, 2024, and later to February 14, 2025, to accommodate significant reshoots scheduled for mid-2024. The reshoots reportedly aim to refine the film's action sequences and adjust certain plot points.

While the full plot remains under wraps, official synopses, trailers, and cast interviews have painted a clear picture of the film's central conflict. The story picks up with Sam Wilson established as the new Captain America, working with the U.S. government. However, his mission is complicated by the rise of Thaddeus Ross to the presidency. President Ross, aiming to rebuild the Avengers under his direct control, extends an invitation to Sam, but their ideologies clash. The central conflict is triggered by an attack on the White House by a group of super-soldiers, seemingly led by Isaiah Bradley, who activate a mysterious frequency that turns military personnel into sleeper agents. This event frames Isaiah and throws Sam into a conspiracy that forces him to go on the run. He must assemble his own team, including Joaquin Torres as the new Falcon, to uncover the true mastermind behind the plot. This mastermind is revealed to be Dr. Samuel Sterns, The Leader, who has been manipulating events from the shadows for years. The film draws inspiration from several key comic book storylines:

• Sam Wilson: Captain America: The comic series by Nick Spencer and Daniel Acuña is the primary inspiration. It explored the immense public and political pressure Sam faced as a Black man taking on the mantle of Captain America. The series tackled complex social issues, public protests against Sam, and his struggle to represent an America that didn't always represent him, themes that are central to the film's narrative.
• Red, White & Black: This groundbreaking 2003 miniseries by Robert Morales and Kyle Baker is the foundational text for the character of Isaiah Bradley. It revealed the secret history of a U.S. government program that experimented on African-American soldiers in an attempt to recreate the Super-Soldier Serum during World War II. Isaiah was the sole survivor. The MCU adapted this story for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Brave New World continues to explore its fallout and the legacy of a forgotten Captain America.
• The Red Hulk Saga: Thaddeus Ross's comic book transformation into the Red Hulk, beginning in Hulk (Vol. 2) #1 (2008), is a major, though officially unconfirmed, inspiration. In the comics, Ross made a deal with the villainous group, the Intelligencia (which included The Leader), to gain Hulk-like powers to combat his nemesis. The MCU's placement of President Ross and The Leader in the same film strongly suggests an adaptation of this arc is imminent, potentially setting up the Thunderbolts.

This film brings together veterans of the MCU and introduces long-awaited figures from the comics.

• MCU History: Introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson was an Air Force pararescueman who utilized the EXO-7 Falcon flight suit. He became Steve Rogers' most trusted friend and a core member of the Avengers. After being “blipped” by Thanos, he fought in the final battle of Avengers: Endgame, where an elderly Steve Rogers passed Captain America's shield to him. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam wrestled with the weight of this legacy, the systemic racism embodied by Isaiah Bradley's story, and his own doubts. Ultimately, he embraced the role, commissioning a new vibranium-weave suit from the Wakandans and proving himself as the new Captain America.
• Earth-616 Counterpart: In the comics, Sam Wilson has been the Falcon since Captain America #117 (1969). He gained a telepathic link with birds, particularly his companion Redwing, due to the Cosmic Cube. When an elderly Steve Rogers lost the Super-Soldier Serum, he hand-picked Sam to become the next Captain America in 2014. Sam's tenure was marked by intense political and social conflict, where he often found himself at odds with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the U.S. government, cementing his status as a hero of the people rather than an agent of the state.

• MCU History: First Lieutenant Joaquin Torres was introduced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as Sam Wilson's intelligence officer and friend. He investigated the Flag Smashers and, after a battle, was left with Sam's damaged EXO-7 Falcon wings. The series ended with the clear implication that he would repair them and take on the Falcon mantle himself.
• Earth-616 Counterpart: Joaquin Torres was introduced in Sam Wilson: Captain America #1 (2015). He was a Mexican-American teenager from Arizona who was captured and experimented on by Karl Malus. The experiments spliced his DNA with that of Sam's bird, Redwing, turning him into a true human-falcon hybrid with a healing factor and large, feathered wings. He became Sam's official sidekick as the new Falcon.

• MCU History: A Korean War veteran, Isaiah Bradley was one of several African-American soldiers subjected to brutal Super-Soldier Serum experiments by the U.S. government. As the only survivor, he became a covert black-ops agent. After defying orders to save his fellow soldiers from a POW camp, he was court-martialed and imprisoned for 30 years, during which time his existence was erased from history and his blood was experimented on. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, a bitter and reclusive Isaiah shares his story with Sam, profoundly influencing Sam's decision to become Captain America. The series ends with Sam ensuring Isaiah's story is added to the Smithsonian's Captain America exhibit.
• Earth-616 Counterpart: The character's comic book origin in Truth: Red, White & Black is largely similar to the MCU version. He was the “Black Captain America” of World War II. After his single, successful mission, he was imprisoned. He eventually became an underground legend among the Black superhero community. His legacy is carried on by his grandson, Elijah Bradley, who becomes the hero Patriot and a founding member of the Young Avengers.

• MCU History: General Thaddeus Ross first appeared in The Incredible Hulk as the military leader obsessed with capturing Bruce Banner and weaponizing the Hulk. He resurfaced in Captain America: Civil War as the Secretary of State, pushing for the Sokovia Accords to bring the Avengers under government control. He appeared in Infinity War and Endgame and had a cameo in Black Widow. In Brave New World, he has ascended to the presidency, a position of ultimate power from which to enact his vision of control.
• Earth-616 Counterpart: Ross has a nearly identical military history in the comics. His defining moment came when he became the Red Hulk, a cunning and brutally powerful version of the Hulk who retained his tactical intelligence. As Red Hulk, he was both an antagonist and a reluctant anti-hero, eventually even joining the Avengers. It is widely speculated Harrison Ford will portray this transformation in the MCU, possibly in this film or the subsequent Thunderbolts* movie.

• MCU History: Dr. Samuel Sterns was a cellular biologist from Harlem who communicated with Bruce Banner under the alias “Mr. Blue.” In The Incredible Hulk, he attempted to help Banner find a cure but became fascinated with the gamma-radiated blood. During the Abomination's rampage, some of Banner's blood dripped into an open wound on Sterns' forehead, causing his cranium to rapidly mutate and expand as he smiled maniacally. His fate was left unresolved for over 15 years.
• Earth-616 Counterpart: Samuel Sterns was a janitor at a chemical research facility who was accidentally exposed to gamma radiation, which mutated him into a green-skinned, super-intelligent being with an oversized cranium. As The Leader, he is one of the Hulk's primary arch-nemeses, constantly scheming to take over the world using his intellect rather than brute force. He is a master strategist and a founder of the villainous think-tank, the Intelligencia.

• MCU Status: While their exact role is unconfirmed, members of the Serpent Society have been identified in set photos and casting calls, suggesting they are a group of villains Sam will confront. This may be a red herring, similar to how the group was used in the marketing for Captain America: Civil War.
• Earth-616 Counterpart: The Serpent Society is a notorious collective of snake-themed mercenaries and criminals. Originally founded by Sidewinder, they operate as a sort of trade union for supervillains, providing stable employment, benefits, and support. Their membership has been extensive and has included villains like Diamondback, Cobra, and Bushmaster. They are classic Captain America foes, known more for their professional criminal enterprise than for world-ending threats.

The central theme of Brave New World appears to be the soul of Captain America itself. Sam Wilson's journey in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was about accepting the mantle on his own terms. This film will test that conviction. President Ross represents the institutional, government-controlled version of heroism he has always championed. He wants a Captain America who follows orders and serves the state's agenda, as defined by the Sokovia Accords. Sam, having witnessed the government's betrayal of Isaiah Bradley and its failure to address systemic issues, represents a different ideal. His Captain America is not a symbol of a government, but a symbol of the nation's potential—a hero who stands with the people, especially the disenfranchised. This fundamental ideological clash between Wilson and Ross will likely be the movie's dramatic core. Who does Captain America answer to? This question, first posed in Civil War, is being re-litigated with far more complex racial and political undertones.

The film continues the vital conversation started in its predecessor series about the legacy of the shield. Isaiah Bradley's story is not just backstory; it is a living wound that informs Sam's every action. The plot, which reportedly involves framing Isaiah, will force Sam to confront the darkest parts of American history and how they are weaponized in the present. By placing a Black man as Captain America in a direct confrontation with the President of the United States, the film is poised to be one of the MCU's most politically charged entries. It will explore what it means for Sam Wilson to represent a country that has historically oppressed people who look like him. His very existence as Captain America is a political statement, and the film will not shy away from the “brave new world” of challenges that come with it.

Brave New World is not a standalone story; it is deeply woven into the fabric of the MCU's past and future.

• Direct Sequel to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: It picks up nearly every major character and plot thread, including Sam's new role, Joaquin taking up the Falcon mantle, and the continuing story of Isaiah Bradley.
• Follow-up to The Incredible Hulk (2008): By bringing back Samuel Sterns as The Leader, the film is finally resolving a 17-year-old cliffhanger, officially making the 2008 film more integral to the current MCU narrative than ever before.
• Bridge to Thunderbolts*: The film's events, particularly the actions of President Ross and the potential emergence of the Red Hulk, are expected to lead directly into the Thunderbolts* movie. It is highly probable that Ross is assembling the team seen in that film throughout the events of Brave New World.
• Post-Endgame Power Vacuum: The film explores a world still grappling with the aftermath of the Blip and the absence of the original Avengers. Ross's desire to build a new team and The Leader's machinations are a direct result of this global instability.

Beyond the general character arcs, several specific comic book storylines may be heavily influencing the film's plot beats.

A pervasive and detailed “plot leak” has circulated online, claiming to outline the film's entire story. While unverified, its details align with much of the official marketing. This rumored plot involves a group called “The Extremists” who seek to trigger a new world war. In this version, President Ross is manipulated by The Leader, who orchestrates the White House attack to gain access to Tiamut, the Celestial that emerged from the Earth in Eternals, and the adamantium deposits on its body. This would tie the grounded political thriller to the MCU's more cosmic elements. ¹⁾

This 2010 comic storyline was the culmination of the Red Hulk saga. It revealed that the Intelligencia, led by The Leader and M.O.D.O.K., had orchestrated Red Hulk's creation and planned to create an army of Hulked-out heroes. They used a “Cathexis Ray” to absorb and transfer gamma radiation, turning heroes like Captain America, Thor, and Spider-Man into Hulks. While a direct adaptation is unlikely, the core concept of The Leader using gamma technology to create an army of super-soldiers, or even to empower President Ross, is a very strong possibility for the film's third act.

While the film will not adapt the controversial storyline where Steve Rogers was revealed to be a Hydra agent, it may borrow the central concept of Captain America being forced to fight against a United States whose government has been co-opted by a sinister force. In Secret Empire, Sam Wilson led the underground resistance against Hydra's America. In Brave New World, he may find himself leading a similar resistance against a government manipulated by The Leader and controlled by the iron will of President Ross.

Marketing for Captain America: Brave New World has been carefully managed, focusing on establishing Sam Wilson's new status and teasing the film's high-stakes political thriller tone.

The change from New World Order to Brave New World was a significant marketing moment. “New World Order” is a term heavily associated with conspiracy theories, which may have been deemed too controversial or politically sensitive. “Brave New World,” a direct reference to Aldous Huxley's dystopian novel, suggests a more nuanced theme: a society on the brink of a dangerous, technologically controlled future, where individuality and freedom are threatened. This aligns with The Leader's intellectual threat and Ross's desire for governmental control.

Exclusive footage was shown at CinemaCon in April 2024. Descriptions from attendees revealed the opening scene:

President Ross addresses Sam Wilson at a tense White House event, praising him as the new Captain America and asking him to help reform the Avengers. Their discussion is interrupted by an attack. A trigger phrase, possibly from an old song, activates sleeper agents among the Secret Service and other military personnel, including Isaiah Bradley, who seems to attack Ross. Sam Wilson springs into action to protect the President, showcasing his combat skills as Captain America. The footage emphasized a grounded, hand-to-hand fighting style reminiscent of The Winter Soldier.

This footage confirmed the film's core premise and the central role of President Ross, while also introducing the mystery of Isaiah Bradley's apparent involvement.

The pre-release period has been dominated by several key areas of fan speculation:

• The Red Hulk: The number one question is not if, but when Harrison Ford will transform into the Red Hulk. Will it be the film's climax? A post-credits scene? Or will they save the reveal for Thunderbolts*?
• The Leader's Plan: How has Samuel Sterns been operating for over a decade? What is his ultimate goal? Theories range from world domination to a twisted form of “saving” humanity through intellectual superiority.
• Bucky Barnes' Absence: The notable absence of Bucky Barnes / The Winter Soldier from the main cast has been a major point of discussion. As Sam's partner from the series, his exclusion suggests a deliberate choice to let Sam stand on his own as Captain America. It is possible he may have a small cameo.
• Wolverine/Adamantium Connection: Rumors fueled by set photos suggest the plot involves a race to acquire adamantium. With the X-Men and Wolverine set to be integrated into the MCU, many believe this film will be the first to formally introduce the indestructible metal into the main timeline, potentially linking it to the dead Celestial Tiamut.

• Sam Wilson (Captain America)
• Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (Red Hulk)
• The Leader (Samuel Sterns)
• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV Series)
• Thunderbolts (Team)

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