UhVyn

*Spoilers Ahead!* 

I have really been missing these sorts of Marvel Cinematic Universe films. The MCU community has categorized this type of movie as a “street-level” superhero flick. A street-level Marvel film typically focuses on politics and/or espionage and explores themes that are more grounded and gritty. The superheroes don’t go to space, practice magic, or traverse the multiverse. Good examples of these street-level films include Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).

This film is a classic, old-fashioned political thriller with a central mystery—who is pulling the strings? In this article, I will break down key characters and plot points from the film, analyzing their details while sharing my opinion on how this movie fits into the larger MCU.

Sam Wilson as Captain America (played by Anthony Mackie)

The last time we saw Captain America was in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021). This film expands on the themes and setup from that show and truly defines who Sam Wilson is as Captain America. The show explored Sam’s struggle with taking up the monumental mantle of Captain America and trying to follow in Steve Rogers’ footsteps. If you haven’t seen the series, I highly recommend it—it’s regarded as one of the stronger MCU entries and introduces key players who appear in this film and will play major roles in the MCU moving forward.

By the time we reach this film, Sam has embraced his role as Captain America, but as President Ross puts it, Sam is “no Steve Rogers.” Sam is a military man with a background in counseling veterans. He doesn’t have super serum coursing through his veins and relies solely on his shield and vibranium suit. He’s not strong enough to take on Thanos—or even Red Hulk—without some assistance. Sam acknowledges this multiple times, but Bucky reminds him that Steve didn’t choose him for his physical strength. This realization shifts Sam’s mindset heading into the final act and his battle with Red Hulk. By the end of the film, we truly see Sam’s compassion at work as he manages to talk down a Hulk from its enraged state—an ability we last saw Black Widow use on Bruce Banner in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). Since reasoning with Red Hulk was Sam’s only real option, the outcome felt predictable. However, I appreciate how fully Sam has grown into his role. He’s flawed but settling into the new path laid before him.

Joaquin Torres as Falcon (played by Danny Ramirez)

Like much of Sam Wilson’s character arc, Joaquin Torres was introduced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021). As Sam took on the mantle of Captain America, he passed the Falcon title to Joaquin. While we only saw glimpses of Joaquin in the Disney+ series, this film serves as his proper introduction as the new Falcon.

Danny Ramirez does an excellent job portraying Joaquin as a rookie superhero. He’s no stranger to action as a military man, but after taking that missile blast over the Indian Ocean, he feels like he failed Sam. However, his hospital bed conversation with Sam reinforces the heavy responsibility of being a superhero. By the end of the film, Joaquin fully embraces his role as Captain America’s sidekick and partner, making him a much more relatable and well-established character. I look forward to seeing him in future MCU projects.

President Thaddeus Ross / Red Hulk (played by Harrison Ford)

Now, we come to the recasting of Thaddeus Ross. Harrison Ford takes over the role following William Hurt’s passing in 2022. While Ford delivers a solid performance, it’s difficult to see him replace Hurt, who embodied the character for years. Ford’s acting style is quite different, making it hard to envision him as the same Ross.

Ross played a crucial role in Captain America: Civil War (2016) by introducing the Sokovia Accords, which contributed to the Avengers’ breakup. His change of heart in this film—tasking Sam with assembling a new Avengers team—adds an interesting layer to his character. Ross truly shines when he transforms into Red Hulk for the first time. The moment is well-executed and reminiscent of Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk reveal in The Avengers (2012). Watching Red Hulk perform signature moves like the thunderclap and massive leaps (akin to The Incredible Hulk (2008)) was incredibly exciting.

By the film’s end, Ross is incarcerated at The Raft—the very prison where he once held Team Cap after Civil War. This poetic justice felt fitting. Sam connecting with Ross as a counselor to a fellow veteran was a special moment. We also see Ross reunite with his daughter, Betty Ross, for the first time since The Incredible Hulk (2008). Despite the necessary recasting, Marvel did something special with this character, and I look forward to potentially seeing more of Red Hulk in future projects.

Samuel Sterns / The Leader (played by Tim Blake Nelson)

The true villain of this film—and possibly the mastermind behind many of Earth’s recent crises—The Leader may have been pulling the strings all along. It’s revealed that Samuel Sterns has manipulated Ross since The Incredible Hulk (2008). The film even hints that he may have influenced the Sokovia Accords, potentially weakening the planet by dismantling the Avengers.

Introducing a gamma-powered brain that can calculate probabilities makes for a formidable villain, but it also raises retroactive questions—how many past MCU events did The Leader secretly influence? Sterns’ villain arc was initially teased in The Incredible Hulk, making his return long overdue. The explanation that Ross kept him hidden as his private think tank makes sense, but I wish more had been done with his character. Thankfully, he survives the film, leaving room for further development.

Minor Characters

Several minor characters stood out:

• Isaiah Bradley (played by Carl Lumbly) – A wartime super soldier test subject and mentor to Sam, Isaiah delivers emotional moments that serve as key motivations in the story.

• Sidewinder (played by Giancarlo Esposito) – A welcome addition to the MCU. Esposito excels in every role he takes on, and this was no exception. Hopefully, we’ll see more of him in future projects.

• Ruth Bat-Seraph (played by Shira Haas) – Her character feels unnecessary. As Ross’s head of security and an ex-Black Widow, she’s interesting, but the plot could have functioned without her. However, her presence does provide closure on the fate of the freed Black Widows from Black Widow (2021).

Key Plot Points

• Celestial Island and Adamantium – Finally! The impact of the petrified Celestial from Eternals (2021) is addressed. Adamantium is now officially part of the MCU’s sacred timeline. While Wolverine was introduced in Deadpool 3, that version came from another timeline. Now, multiple nations are set to mine adamantium from Celestial Island, which could have major ramifications—especially for Wakanda.

• The New Avengers – Early in the film, Ross tasks Sam with forming a new Avengers team, but the plan is scrapped after an assassination attempt. However, Sam later tells Joaquin he still wants to move forward with the idea. Since Avengers: Endgame (2019), there’s been a noticeable void where the Avengers once stood. Small team-ups like The Marvels (2023) have occurred, but nothing on the grand scale of past Avengers films. The MCU has felt lackluster to some, and reintroducing a solid team dynamic could reignite interest ahead of Avengers: Doomsday (2026).

• That Post-Credits Scene – Why did they have to bring in the multiverse? This was the only moment in the film that referenced the larger MCU, and it felt out of place. The Leader warning Sam about a coming multiversal war seems like a stretch. While I appreciate keeping The Leader alive for future storytelling, I wish this tease had been handled differently.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Captain America: Brave New World is a sequel to The Incredible Hulk (2008), tying together characters and storylines from that film while using Sam Wilson as its central figure. The film stays true to the political themes of past Captain America movies, and while some choices didn’t work, I enjoyed the experience overall. Critics may be harsh, but I’d recommend watching it for yourself.

My Score: