CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Concept Art Reveals Terrifying And Comic-Accurate Takes On The Leader

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Concept Art Reveals Terrifying And Comic-Accurate Takes On The Leader

Newly revealed Captain America: Brave New World concept art reveals just how different Tim Blake Nelson's Leader almost looked. Some are more in line with the comics, while others are downright gross...

By JoshWilding - Jul 01, 2025 08:07 AM EST
Source: The Artbook Collector

Captain America: Brave New World underwent significant changes during reshoots, with the Serpent Society left on the cutting room floor and The Leader's appearance completely overhauled after all of Tim Blake Nelson's scenes were reshot. 

The idea was to make Samuel Sterns less of a mastermind and more of a sympathetic figure. However, in doing so, his comic-accurate head was replaced with a zombified, brain-shaped...something (which most fans agreed was a total misfire). 

Thanks to The Artbook Collector, we have a first look at the many alternate designs considered by Marvel Studios for Captain America: Brave New World. These were first revealed in the newly released "Art of" book for the movie.

Almost all of the designs are better than what ended up in the movie, with The Leader given a comic-inspired costume to go with his enlarged head. Some versions are really out there, though, including one that sees the villain's head break apart to unleash a maw not dissimilar to a Xenomorph's inner mouth.

The site also shared some comments from concept artist Ian Joyner, explaining what the thinking was behind that take:

"My favorite stuff is creature work. One of my favorite movies is The Thing. So whenever I get to play in that world, I have a lot of fun. We don’t necessarily want to lean into the full-on body horror, but I was delighted with the more recent comic-book interpretation of the Leader in the Immortal Hulk run – where he literally absorbs people’s brains, intelligence, and souls and everything. My idea was, like, could we actually just do something that crazy? I was considering that The Leader might be able to control minds with his brain and even sucking the brains out of other people."

Captain America: Brave New World clearly could and should have been so much better, and it's a great shame that the 15-year wait for Sterns' return was such a let-down following his introduction in The Incredible Hulk

You can see more crazy alternate designs for The Leader by visiting The Artbook Collector website.

image host
image host
image host
image host
image host

In Captain America: Brave New World, after meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, played by Harrison Ford in his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, Sam Wilson finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

The movie stars Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, with Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford. The movie is directed by Julius Onah and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore. Louis D’Esposito and Charles Newirth serve as executive producers.

"Flawed but functional, Captain America: Brave New World's many problems are largely forgotten any time Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford electrify the screen," we said in our review"And when Red Hulk shows up, the movie reaches new heights of awesome."

Captain America: Brave New World is now streaming on Disney+.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Director On Why It Wasn't Possible To Keep Red Hulk Out Of Movie's Trailers
Related:

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Director On Why It Wasn't Possible To Keep Red Hulk Out Of Movie's Trailers

DEADPOOL/BATMAN #1 New Look Reveals Daredevil's Team-Up With Green Arrow, Deadpool vs. Batman, And More
Recommended For You:

DEADPOOL/BATMAN #1 New Look Reveals Daredevil's Team-Up With Green Arrow, Deadpool vs. Batman, And More

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2
Matador
Matador - 7/1/2025, 8:26 AM
User Comment Image
WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 7/1/2025, 8:29 AM
The script was the problem. Also a movie called Captain America that didn't have Chris Evans in it.
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 7/1/2025, 10:52 AM
@WEAPONXOXOXO - but it did have Captain America in it like the title said or else they would’ve named it Chris Evans the movie
Fogs
Fogs - 7/1/2025, 11:51 AM
@WEAPONXOXOXO - I didnt hate it to be honest. Was a very OK film. Falcon II was unnecessary, but I was kinda OK with the rest. And Betty should've been the one to calm Ross down.
FrankenDad
FrankenDad - 7/1/2025, 8:30 AM
All of those are better.
Corruptor
Corruptor - 7/1/2025, 8:32 AM
If they just copied the comic they would not need to employ "concept artists".

Win-win.
Fogs
Fogs - 7/1/2025, 11:54 AM
@Corruptor - Hear me out. The time when we're having full-length AI-assisted, well-made comic-based fan films is coming.

Very fast.

It will be a legal shitshow and I'm all for it.
FinnishDude
FinnishDude - 7/1/2025, 12:11 PM
@Fogs - "AI-assisted, well-made" is a serious oxymoron
Fogs
Fogs - 7/1/2025, 2:02 PM
@FinnishDude - for now, my friend.
IAmAHoot
IAmAHoot - 7/1/2025, 8:49 AM
All these people hating on the movie acting like these designs wouldn't have looked stupid on-screen...
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/1/2025, 9:51 AM
@IAmAHoot - Sure it would have. And so would Galactus. And Superman. And pretty much everything from a superhero comic.
IAmAHoot
IAmAHoot - 7/1/2025, 9:55 AM
@ObserverIO - The design isn't the problem...
mountainman
mountainman - 7/1/2025, 10:31 AM
@IAmAHoot - Couldn’t have looked worse than the bubble head that we got.
TheLobster
TheLobster - 7/1/2025, 11:29 AM
@IAmAHoot - what we got looked even worse
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 7/1/2025, 8:50 AM
I'm glad they saw sense and ditched that looking goofy comic accurate shit and went with the Broccoli head.
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 7/1/2025, 8:54 AM
Dr. Vegapunk?
SteviesRightFoo
SteviesRightFoo - 7/1/2025, 8:54 AM
Glad I haven't seen this. Dont plan on ever watching either
Matchesz
Matchesz - 7/1/2025, 8:55 AM
How do they keep getting away with this
abd00bie
abd00bie - 7/1/2025, 11:22 AM
@Matchesz - Lol when I was in school for graphic design, I would already have an idea done but we'd have to show "concept" or process work, which I made up afterwards lol I can see Disney/Marvel doing this to sell books
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/1/2025, 8:57 AM
I do like a lot of those designs honestly (the brain opening up is…interesting lol though not sure if I like that).

Honestly given the political/conspiracy thriller vibe of the movie and the tone of the film we got , I think the look that Sterns ultimately had worked the best given the backstory & characterization they gave him after TIH…

I ultimately didn’t really mind the final look and can understand why they made it so given they wanted a bit more of a sympathetic angle for the character and show how horrible Ross used to be.

User Comment Image
dragon316
dragon316 - 7/1/2025, 9:25 AM
Get rid of hair he look good
Nonameforme
Nonameforme - 7/1/2025, 9:28 AM
That movie was terrible.
NOID
NOID - 7/1/2025, 9:29 AM
I’m sorry but this movie was unwatchable… took me 4 sittings to finish.
PC04
PC04 - 7/1/2025, 9:32 AM
The Oblong head thing totally could've worked and these prove it.

This movie had like 2 good moments and everything else was so "WTF". I know its a COMIC BOOK MOVIE and physics, science, powers all get bent to a degree. But when RED HULK was bashing on Cap and Cap was just eating it, THAT right there took me out of the movie. Even with the Wakanda Tech and all that, HULK (almost any HULK) would absolutely destroy a Non-powered Captain America. That was absolute BULLSHIT to the highest degree.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 7/1/2025, 9:33 AM
All better than what we got.
Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 7/1/2025, 9:42 AM
Definitely an improvement but wouldn't have saved the movie. The way The Leader was written is one of my biggest issues with the film
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 7/1/2025, 9:52 AM
@JoshWilding

I know you posted this to keep the info going.

But no one gives a [frick] anymore about this.

Marvel [frick]ed him up.

I dont see why you want to put us or yourself through the misery of what could had [frick]ing been.

For [frick]s sake
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 7/1/2025, 10:00 AM
Tim Blake Nelson's performance was perfect. If only he didn't look like

User Comment Image
MarvelousMarty
MarvelousMarty - 7/1/2025, 10:11 AM
Still haven't seen it. Like some of these designs though.
BackwardGalaxy
BackwardGalaxy - 7/1/2025, 10:32 AM
The design was fine. The movie was also fine.
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 7/1/2025, 11:03 AM
@BackwardGalaxy - glowing endorsement
abd00bie
abd00bie - 7/1/2025, 11:23 AM
@BackwardGalaxy - Compared to what Sony has put out, this was a masterpiece
Luigi
Luigi - 7/1/2025, 10:38 AM
So confusing why they picked to worst possible choice
Matchesz
Matchesz - 7/1/2025, 10:59 AM
@Luigi - they do it a lot its almost purposeful
Spike101
Spike101 - 7/1/2025, 10:48 AM
If in doubt look at the source material, always!
ModernAudience
ModernAudience - 7/1/2025, 11:10 AM
Seems like the MCU has not only regressed when it comes to scripts but, also comic book design translations from page to screen post Endgame. They should embrace the wackiness of it rather than the bland designs they've been shitting out.
TheLobster
TheLobster - 7/1/2025, 11:30 AM
BNW was so forgettable lol
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 7/1/2025, 11:38 AM
So with all these designs they chose something worse for the final product🤦🏾‍♂️
AC1
AC1 - 7/1/2025, 11:59 AM
Finally watched this a couple of days ago. Very mid movie as expected. Liked the political thriller, conspiracy theory angle they went for but it felt like they filmed a half finished script. From a direction point of view, it felt a bit too polished, clean and colourful for the subject matter and genre; could've used a bit more grit and groundedness like the second and third Captain America movies.

Liked Sam as Cap overall. Really felt like he was coming into his own as a leader and I think they kinda justified him not having the super soldier serum by giving him more tech and having him question his decision throughout the movie. But he deserved a better film to sell him as the new Cap to all the doubters.

Found the new Falcon annoying more than anything. Preferred him in FATWS or when he wasn't suited up. As soon as he put the wings on he felt incredibly immature and the attempts at comedy felt forced, which doesn't really fit a character who's meant to be in the military. Hope he's written better in the future. Do kinda wish that last scene where Sam visits him in the hospital had included a reference to Sam visiting Steve in the hospital at the end of CA:TWS, felt like a full circle moment that was left unfulfilled.

Liked the more realistic, creepy take on Sterns we got in the film but think they could've made his brain a little bigger, there were times where it looked more like his head was going to cave in rather than his brain having expanded.

Enjoyed Harrison Ford as Ross, but that's not really a surprise since Harrison Ford is always pretty great. The way they used Red Hulk in the movie made sense but I wish they hadn't included him in the trailers, especially as they gave away pretty much everything.

But yeah, overall pretty mid, lots of missed opportunities, didn't hate it but it's one of those Marvel movies I probably won't bother to watch again.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/1/2025, 12:08 PM
@AC1 - yeah , it was decent & such (though I enjoyed Joaquin even if the humor itself may have been hit or miss for me)

I do hope if we get more Sam Cap films that hopefully they are better moving forward.
1 2

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

View Recorder