‘Captain America’ Recap: Things To Know Before Brave New World Movie

Following last year’s slump, MCU is geared up to resume its schedule of releasing multiple ventures once again, and in 2025 alone a total of nine projects are scheduled to release. The first MCU movie to hit the screen this year is Captain America: Brave New World, a continuation of the legacy of the First Avenger, where Sam Wilson will be seen holding the mantle of Captain America, passed down to him by his friend Steve Rogers while facing threats in and outside the country.

Following multiple key appearances in several MCU movies and crossover events, Sam Wilson, formerly known as the superhero Falcon, received his own miniseries in the form of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. The series followed Sam growing into the shoes of Captain America while getting over his self-doubt with the help of his pal, super-soldier Bucky Barnes, aka Winter Soldier, and questioning the existing institutionalized racism. The fourth installment of the Captain America franchise, Brave New World, is teased to be gritty, political, and grounded in tone, in the vein of the much-beloved Captain America: Winter Soldier, but at the same time, it will also explore supernatural elements with the inclusion of President Thunderbolt Ross’ alter ego, Red Hulk, and the inclusion of mutants in the MCU’s future. Let us have a thorough discussion regarding how Sam Wilson’s role in the MCU has shaped up through the years and what can be expected from the movie itself—to get into the groove with ease when Brave New World releases later this week.

Spoilers Ahead

Sam Wilson as Falcon

The second hero to be known as Captain America, Sam Wilson, wasn’t introduced in the MCU until Captain America: Winter Soldier. As a former pararescue operative trained to infiltrate extreme hostile environments, Sam was equipped with an experimental wingsuit and given the moniker of ‘Falcon.’ However, Sam left the army following the death of his fellow airman, Riley, and worked as a counselor to help veterans suffering from PTSD. Sam befriended Captain America Steve Rogers, who took his help in destabilizing HYDRA’s control over SHIELD by taking down Alexander Pierce. At the same time, Sam and Steve encounter a brainwashed Bucky Barnes, aka Winter Soldier, and after being recruited as an Avenger in later years, they manage to track him down during the events of Captain America: Civil War. During Civil War, Falcon fought alongside the Captain to defend Bucky while opposing the Sokovia Accords introduced by Thunderbolt Ross, which demanded governmental control over the actions of superheroes. Keep this in mind as during the timeline of Brave New World, Thunderbolt Ross has become the President of the United States and assumed the identity of Red Hulk by becoming a gamma monster himself, and the plotline will follow him having a conflict with Sam Wilson, Captain America. 

The Avengers officially disbanded following the fallout of Civil War, and along with members of Team Cap, Sam Wilson went into hiding—until all of them returned to square off with the Black Order to stop Thanos from wiping out half of all life in the universe in Avengers: Infinity War. As Thanos’ plan succeeded, Sam Wilson was affected by ‘the Snap’ and removed from existence along with a number of other heroes. In Avengers: Endgame, the fallen heroes returned after Bruce Banner was able to undo the effect of ‘the Snap,’ and Falcon was once again by Cap’s side as the Avengers engaged in a final showdown against Thanos’ forces. While returning the Infinity Stones to their original timeline, Steve Rogers lived a lifetime in the past with his beloved Peggy Carter, and after returning to the present, the Captain handed over his shield to Sam, with Bucky’s approval, honoring Sam with the mantle of the next Captain America. 

Sam Wilson as Captain America

Even though Steve Rogers entrusted Sam with his iconic shield and considered him worthy to be the next Captain America, a portion of the rest of the world didn’t share the same belief. Apparently, according to their questionable ideology, Bucky Barnes, a former assassin and fugitive, brainwashed or not, was a better fit to take on the mantle than a person of color who stuck with Steve through thick and thin, putting his life on the line. The acclaimed MCU miniseries The Falcon and The Winter Soldier shows precisely why Sam Wilson is the Captain America the world needs in times when extreme bigoted prejudice is prevalent, preservation of cultural identity has given way to hyper-nationalism and ultraviolence, which is countered by radical liberalism, which has its own woes to deal with.

The series showcases Sam’s internal conflict and self-doubt, which prompts him to refuse to take up the legacy of Steve Rogers, much to the dismay of Bucky, who feels Sam is betraying the trust of the Captain by doing so. The deplorable, racist administration takes no time to appoint John Walker, aka U.S. Agent, as the successor to Captain America, a white man with a disturbing moral makeup, who gets embroiled in violent conflict with the terrorist group known as the Flag Smashers, who want to form a borderless world in the aftermath of ‘the Blip.’ Captain America’s legacy gets tainted when, after losing his restraint following super soldier serum intake, Walker violently murders one of the members of the Flag Smashers in public, which influences Sam to once again take up the shield. Training with Bucky, with whom Sam had formed a strong bond of friendship at this point, it became more obvious why someone like Sam, who refuses to hold the power, is the only one who can be trusted to wield it. Furthermore, Sam met with Isaiah Bradley, the second super soldier after Captain America, who remained an unsung hero all through his life and was even imprisoned, as his African American ethnicity made him a so-called ‘unfit’ candidate to be a public hero in the eyes of the racist, bigoted administration calling the shots. 

Sam finally realized that he doesn’t need to fill the shoes of Steve to become the next Cap, instead, it’s his identity which should add to the legacy of the celebrated hero. Finally sure of his instincts and ideals, Sam Wilson emerged as the new Captain America and was able to stop the terrorist plot of the Flag Smashers with Bucky. Sam also received assistance from U.S. Agent whom he was able to convince to fight for the greater good and be a better example of patriotic pride than the administration trying to control him wanted him to be. In a memorable moment from the miniseries, Sam shared a speech in the General Assembly of the UN, delineating the existing prejudice, inequalities, and injustice; the importance of upholding the ideal of compassion and empathy Steve represented instead of showboating the moniker itself; and the promise to honor the legacy. The upcoming movie will follow Sam Wilson fully owning up to his new identity as Captain America and will directly follow the aftermath of the miniseries. In a way, the series acted as a critique of the divisive response of the fandom regarding Sam Wilson’s new title, despite the character having played a significant role as Cap in comics.

Red Hulk and Other Gamma Creatures

A significant aspect of the upcoming movie is going to be the first appearance of Red Hulk, as current President Thunderbolt Ross seems to have been infected with the gamma radiation. In comics, alongside gamma exposure, Thaddeus Ross was given an experimental version of the super soldier serum, which explains why there are certain differences between the red and green rage monsters. During the events of The Incredible Hulk, the then Lieutenant General Ross was trying to replicate the super soldier serum to create yet another Steve Rogers, when scientist Bruce Banner got infected with gamma radiation, became the Hulk and went on a rampage. Ross had created his own monster in the form of Abomination, the transformed version of Emil Blonsky, and faced repercussions for his actions as an unhinged Blonsky nearly killed him and his daughter while causing mayhem. Ultimately, Hulk was able to stop Abomination, and in later years, Ross continued to prove himself a nuisance to Avengers by opposing the free rein accorded to superpowered heroes. By introducing the Sokovia Accords, Ross famously pitted members of the Avengers against each other and has presented himself as a nuisance to Team Cap, of which Sam Wilson was a part. 

It seems Ross has finally gotten hold of the Hulk/She-Hulk’s blood and managed to use it to attain a similar transformation, which might explain his recent monstrous transformation—as he has turned out to have become the very thing he wanted to destroy. Ross’ ascension to the presidency is hinted at in the Secret Invasion series, and the attack on President Ritson by a Skrull terrorist squad might have paved the way to justify the current President Ross being able to defend himself by becoming a gamma monster. Anyway, Ross is not the only gamma-infected individual around, as hinted in the She-Hulk series. The Leader, aka Samuel Sterns, who was infected by Banner’s Hulk blood during the events of The Incredible Hulk, will make an appearance. 

Tiamat and the Conflict for Adamantium

As I have mentioned previously, Brave New World will double down on the presence of mutants in the MCU—and will draw upon the aftermath of The Eternals, where the newborn Celestial Tiamat had risen from the core of the earth. The titular team of extra-terrestrial heroes was able to stop the emergence of Tiamat, whose remains were stuck rising in the middle of the ocean—and like every other MCU fan, I too am surprised no other projects since 2021 have even mentioned it. Anyway, Tiamat is made of the indestructible metal Adamantium, and given how global superpowers in the MCU were desperate to obtain a similarly mystical element, Vibranium, from Wakanda by any means, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what they might be keen to to get their hands on the next big thing. As always, the mention of Adamantium is bound to make fans shift their attention to the savage mutant, Wolverine, and his band of X-Men comrades, and it can be expected that a reference to the mutants will be made in that respect. 

The Serpent Society Will Appear 

Finally, after lots of teases and hints provided throughout the Captain America trilogy, the infamous Serpent Society, one of the original antagonist groups faced by Cap in the comics, will appear in Brave New World. Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad fame has already been revealed playing Sidewinder, the fearsome mercenary leader of the group, and he will be assisted by Diamondback and Copperhead. The suggestive names are enough to indicate which team they belong to. It can be assumed that Serpent Society is out to obtain the Adamantium as well, and in the course of events will square off with Captain America. 

Equipped with a Vibranium wingsuit and a new costume, Sam Wilson’s Captain America is set to appear in Brave New World. It is important to note that Sam’s Cap didn’t take the super serum, which adds a relatability factor to his character, conveying that anyone can become Captain America so long as they embody the ideals he upholds. Also, this allows Sam to retain his sense of identity while engineering newer ways to take on opponents, as rightly mentioned by actor Anthony Mackie. I am stoked to see how Cap uses his ingenuity and skills to take on the Red Hulk of all people along with the Leader and the Serpent Society and pave the way for new generations of heroes for the MCU’s future. Do share your thoughts and expectations in the comments as well.