Anthony Mackie, known for his role as Sam Wilson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is stepping into a new chapter with Captain America: Brave New World. This film will be the first to feature Mackie’s character as the titular hero, following his evolution from Falcon to Captain America. The transformation began in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where Sam Wilson takes up the shield left by Steve Rogers.
Thanks to details and photos released by Entertainment Weekly, we have an exclusive first-look of Captain America: Brave New World, which is set to premiere on February 14, 2025. Directed by Julius Onah, the film promises to carve its own path distinct from its predecessors.
During CinemaCon, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige showcased the first footage of the film. The clip revealed Harrison Ford stepping into the Marvel Universe as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, a role previously played by the late William Hurt. Ross, now the President of the United States, greets Captain America in the White House and tasks him with assembling a new team of Avengers, hinting at significant political and superhero dynamics.
Harrison Ford and Anthony Mackie in ‘Captain America: Brave New World’. ELI ADé/MARVEL STUDIOS
The footage also introduced a dramatic scenario where Ross’s presentation at a White House event is disrupted by sleeper super-soldiers, including Isaiah Bradley, reprised by Carl Lumbly from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Mackie emphasizes that Brave New World will differ from typical Marvel fare by focusing more on grounded espionage and action rather than otherworldly threats. “It made more sense for it to be more of a grounded espionage action movie as opposed to aliens and airplanes coming through portals,” Mackie told EW.
Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson returns in ‘Captain America: Brave New World’. MARVEL STUDIOS
The film will explore new dynamics as Sam Wilson partners with Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres, a fellow military man and another version of Falcon from the comics. This partnership is rooted more in camaraderie than the fraught relationships seen in previous MCU films.
Brave New World also marks the return of several characters from The Incredible Hulk. Liv Tyler returns as Betty Ross, and Tim Blake Nelson reprises his role as Samuel Sterns, a.k.a. the Leader. Mackie assures fans that they do not need to revisit The Incredible Hulk to understand the new film, describing it as a fresh start for the MCU.
Mackie likens Brave New World to a new beginning for Marvel, much like Captain America: The Winter Soldier was. He suggests the film’s title reflects a shift in the narrative, focusing on new threats and challenges in the post-Endgame world. “The title implies that there’s a new, bigger enemy now; there’s a new frontier that we have to conquer,” Mackie explains.
As the MCU heads into this new era, fans can expect a movie that redefines what it means to be a hero in a constantly evolving universe.
