The upcoming installment in Captain America Brave New World is already on some uneven ground, with a litany of reshoots and delays, many are quick to dismiss the flick as a dud. However, recently released clips from Marvel Studios help rejuvenate optimism and excitement for the new Star Spangled Avenger’s imminent outing, the first of which is the lineup of new and returning characters.
When we last saw Sam Wilson, on the big screen, an aged Steve Rogers passed him the shield and along with the mantle of Captain America. In Falcon and the Winter Soldier, audiences saw what that actually meant for him to embrace that role and fill those shoes. We also got to see what that meant for a rehabilitated Bucky Barnes, as he wrestled with not only atoning for his sins as the Winter Soldier but also seeing the legacy of his best friend rejected - at least initially. While we ultimately did get to see Sam suit up as Captain America in the final episode, it was a little taste of what we could expect from him fully embracing the role.
A recent clip released by Marvel gives us a sneak peak of what to expect from Sam. In it, we see Sam square off against an unnamed thug and we’re swiftly reminded that Sam is just a man. He has no superpowers, no Super Soldier Serum - just a good heart. Secondly, we are reminded that Sam is basically Anthony Mackie to a degree. We see him slammed through a table and taunted by the aforementioned thug to which he replies, “let's get this over with I’ve got sh*t to do today.” Priceless. After all, this charisma was what made Sam a fan favorite since his Winter Soldier debut. You can view the clip below.
Another clip released witnesses Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, now President, ask Sam to rebuild the Avengers. This puts Cap and Ross in a predicament, as Ross had spearheaded efforts to pass the Sokovia Accords which led to the splintering of the Avengers in Civil War. The moment the accords are mentioned, an uneasy tension permeates throughout the scene. If Brave New World delivers on this promise, it will help secure Sam’s new role as Captain America and hopefully send a signal that the MCU is starting to get back on track. You can view this clip below as well.
A key reason to remain optimistic for Brave New World lies in the consistent conversational trend set throughout the Captain America sub-franchise. The First Avenger, while an adventure movie at heart, conveyed that strength of heart will beat out strength of might. The Winter Soldier examines distrust in institutions and what happens when those institutions we were once loyal to are not what we thought they were. And finally Civil War talks about what to do with the distrust in aforementioned institutions. Falcon and the Winter Soldier, while very topical at the time and even still, discusses what does it mean for an African American man to be Captain America. While the series was a little more on the nose, each installment of the franchise effectively leverages what has always been Captain America’s strength, which is that his character is uniquely positioned to be the vehicle to have these challenging discussions without telling us what to think - read that again!
Despite the prospect of a new unpowered Captain America, returning characters, and themes and tones that proved successful for the franchise, there is justified cause for concern. The film faced a bevy of delays, reshoots, and other pre-production speed bumps. Additionally, each cinematic installment since Spider-Man: No Way Home has been met with a deluge of criticism from fans and critics alike. On the streaming front, it seems that each success the studio produces, namely Wanda-Vision and Loki, there is an equal or worse misfire in Secret Invasion, the latter two seasons of What If, Echo, and more. This pendulum of quality control has led the studio to lose a number of their “automatic buyers,” where fans now need to be won over and not be consumers strictly because something is the latest Marvel project.
That being said, the Captain America trilogy has historically been regarded as one of the best sub-franchises in the MCU, if not the best overall. While this is the first big screen outing for the Star Spangled Avenger without Steve Rogers wielding the shield, it is by extension his legacy nonetheless. That in and of itself adds an additional layer of intrigue.
Captain America Brave New World releases in theaters 14 February 2025. Are you excited to see Sam suit up as Captain America, or would you rather have seen Bucky wield the shield? Let us know your thoughts on Brave New World in the comments below and as always, let me know if there’s something you’d like to see from the Spaceport!