Posting to his Instagram, Mackie attempted some damage control prior to the release of Captain America: Brave New World, which is due to hit theaters on Valentine’s Day. He clarified that he is “a proud American” and that he has the “utmost respect for those who serve and have served our country.” Anthony finished his paragraph by saying that “CAP has universal characteristics that people all over the world can relate to.” Knowing the specific crowd that he has upset, it’s doubtful whether this will be enough to quell their anger, especially considering it’s not an outright apology.

The comments underneath most of his recent Instagram posts are still filled with angry fans calling him “woke” and predicting that the movie would bomb thanks to him. In reality, Brave New World probably is going to bomb, but not because of Mackie; Marvel just seems to have forgotten how to make good movies and the billion re-shoots this movie went through certainly won’t have helped. It’s extremely doubtful that his comments would really make or break the movie, but it will be a convenient scapegoat for all those fans who blame “wokeness” for Marvel’s recent downfall.

Mackie’s initial statement really did rock the boat, though, and so close to the release of the movie, too. It’s no wonder he’s on damage control. Over on X, people called for boycotts of the movie and others wrote that they wanted to see Bucky as the new Captain America, but amidst this entire controversy, it’s becoming more and more obvious that Mackie’s words really weren’t that far from the truth.

Anthony’s statement proves that this was all blown out of proportion 6w272b

Was what he said really that bad? Mackie’s Instagram story simply reiterates a point that seems to have been lost during the original Q&A. It seems what he was trying to say was that Captain America stands for something more than his country: he’s a character that people from all over the world can look up to.

Those calling out Mackie online right now don’t seem to understand that Captain America isn’t some tool, mindlessly waving the American flag and blindly ing the U.S. regardless of whether it’s right or wrong; however, that’s all these people complaining about the situation online seem to think he is. Sure, Mackie’s phrasing was a little clunky, but he has a point, and so it’s unlikely he’s going to bow down to the angry mob and apologize. I don’t think he should anyway.

The identity of the next leader of the Avengers has been one of the biggest questions MCU fans have had since Avengers: Endgame removed both Iron Man and Steve Rogers from the board. Honestly, it’s been slightly less pressing since we found out Robert Downey Jr. (and maybe Chris Evans, too) was coming back in Doomsday — even though he might be the villain, that’s the movie’s star power sorted right there — but regardless, it’s still been a puzzle.

The final piece of the puzzle, however, now appears to have fallen into place. We weren’t expecting to find out such major news this way, but a Marvel Studios producer has now given the game away about the future of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes while previewing Captain America: Brave New World. To be fair, Anthony Mackie’s first solo superhero movie is right around the corner — premiering in theaters on Valentine’s Day — but this news is still something of a surprise. Oh well, consider this your early Christmas present, Marvel lovers.

Captain America 4 producer teases the Avengers’ next leader — so, everyone, pretend to be shocked 492x15

Producer Nate Moore had some intriguing things to say about both what’s next for the Avengers and what’s to come in this February’s Brave New World while teasing Marvel’s next movie off the production line to Empire. Moore promised that director Julius Onah’s film will find Sam Wilson “jumping out of the frying pan and into the proverbial fire.”

And, by the law of the MCU, whenever the stakes are raised, so is the movie’s budget as other A-list superheroes start to assemble. Sure enough, it sounds as if the new Avengers team will come together as soon as this next offering. Moore indicated that Sam will have to grapple with becoming the leader of the group himself, although he heavily hinted at which way this plotline will fall.

“I think that Avengers teams are best when they are led by a Captain America,” the producer had to say. “And this movie gives us a little bit of space to talk about, ‘Where are the Avengers? What does it mean to have Avengers? And is Sam the right guy to lead them?’”

Unless this is a huge bait and switch, it sure sounds like Sam will definitely be the leader of the Avengers from now on. So expect him to lead the charge against Downey’s Doctor Doom in 2026’s Doomsday. This makes the most sense, as — like Moore reminds us — Captain America typically acts as the team’s field leader, whether that be Steve or Sam. Many had suspected Tom Holland’s Spider-Man would be given the major promotion, due to his popularity. Or maybe even Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel or Chris Hemsworth’s Thor on of their sheer power levels.

Now that that mystery’s settled, the next big question needing answering is: who exactly will be on Sam’s Avengers roster? Do we have some big cameos coming in Brave New World? If this is where Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch is resurrected, a certain subset of the Marvel fandom will lose their minds. All will be revealed come Feb. 14, 2025.

The current phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has given us mixed feelings. But as the curtain falls in 2025, with the release of Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World, it’s clear the best may be yet to come.

At the heart of the excitement is Brave New World’s charismatic lead, Anthony Mackie. As the new face of Captain America, Mackie has taken on a monumental role, and let’s be real, the stakes couldn’t be higher this time. But it looks like Sam Wilson’s in good hands, as a promising crossover with the brilliant minds of Wakanda have quite a bit to do with his new suit.

Wakanda to the rescue: The suit’s Vibranium secrets 354c3l

Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, the Twisted Metal star gave fans a peek into his journey as Captain America, teased what’s coming with Red Hulk, and most importantly, revealed the story behind his jaw-dropping new suit. When asked about the new Captain America suit, Mackie couldn’t help but smile as he spilled the beans. 

It’s a high-tech suit. I went to Wakanda, met with everybody there, and we had dinner. It was a great time. They threw me a welcome party. It was dope. But when I was leaving, they gave me a suit, right?

Classic Mackie charm aside, the Wakandan involvement in the suit’s creation makes perfect sense. Wakanda has been a powerhouse of innovation in the MCU, crafting everything from Bucky Barnes’ vibranium arm to Shuri’s mind-bending suit. Their signature blend of vibranium and engineering brilliance has set a gold standard for superhero gear, and the new Captain America suit would be no exception to this formality. With vibranium enhancements woven into its design, the suit provides Sam with the durability, agility, and functionality needed to go head-to-head with the MCU’s toughest foes. 

Unlike Steve Rogers’ suit, which simply represented a classic superhero outfit with so much emphasis on his raw strength to get work done, Sam’s outfit is all about adaptability. The wings? Possibly reinforced with vibranium for maximum flight efficiency. The shield harness? Seamlessly integrated into the suit for quick access and tactical use. And while it retains the classic star-and-stripes aesthetic, its darker, more modern design reflects Sam’s unique journey as a hero.

From counselor to Cap, Sam Wilson holds his own 486l1z

With Chris Evans leaving behind some big boots (and a hefty shield) to fill, Mackie’s Sam Wilson has already proved he’s not just up to the task but ready to make it his own. Mackie has always had a knack for teasing just enough to keep fans on their toes, and his appearance at the Disney APAC Content Showcase was no different. With his signature wit and charm, Mackie shed light on how Sam Wilson’s approach to being Captain America differs from his predecessor, Steve Rogers.

Sam isn’t a super-soldier. With him being a counselor, he uses more of his brains than brawn. He uses more of his wit than his fist. He’s more of a friend to everyone.

This unique perspective could make Sam’s Captain America stand out. He’s not trying to replicate Steve Rogers’ tenacity but is carving out a space for a hero who relies on intelligence, empathy, and sheer determination. And let’s not forget, he’ll need every ounce of those qualities when he comes face-to-face with Red Hulk, a raging beast of an opponent. Played by none other than Harrison Ford, Red Hulk is set to push Sam to his limits, challenging not just his physical capabilities but his mental resolve. So, how does someone without super-soldier serum take on a hulking, rage-fueled monster? The answer lies in the suit and the brilliant minds of Wakanda.

Warning: Potential spoilers ahead from Captain America: Brave New World.

The release of Captain America: Brave New World is only three months away. The fourth installment in the Captain America movie series, the penultimate movie of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Five, and the 35th film in the MCU as a whole hits theaters worldwide on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2025.

It will be Anthony Mackie’s first solo movie as the eponymous super soldier, following Chris Evans’ departure as the character in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Mackie’s Cap will be pitted against several villains in the film, including Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk, aka Thaddeus Ross, and Giancarlo Esposito’s Seth Voelker, aka Sidewinder.

However, the movie’s overarching antagonist appears to be another villain — one we’ve met before in the MCU and who will be the mastermind behind Captain America: Brave New World’s events — and the latest trailer gives us our first glimpse of the mastermind in the film.

Who is Captain America: Brave New World’s main villain? 56345i

Released on Saturday, Nov. 9, the 157-second trailer gives MCU fans a better look at Red Hulk, sequences with the likes of Captain America and Sidewinder in action, a look at the Celestial protruding from the ocean following the events of 2021’s Eternals, and a man lurking in the shadows speaking on a cellphone. The man says, “Captain America, you ever ask yourself ‘who’s playing who">the Leader is responsible for creating the Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World — the packaging of Harrison Ford’s character’s Marvel Legends figure describes him as “a monster of Samuel Sterns’ making” — but it remains to be seen what else the conniving character will be responsible for in the film.

With the current crop of MCU movies leading to 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars, the culmination of the franchise’s Multiverse Saga, it’ll be interesting to see if the Leader survives to play a part in the biggest Marvel movie event ever. We don’t have a long wait to find out.

To quote the Distinguished Competition, you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. In the unique case of Robert Downey Jr., however, he’s managed to do both. After the sacrificial death of Iron Man in Endgame, the Tony Stark legend is back for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars as Victor Von Doom himself.

In a twist none could have predicted, Downey is once again at the center of a two-part Avengers event, only this time on the side of evil. Last time it took Iron Man himself to take down Thanos, so which of Earth-616’s remaining heroes is mighty enough to beat the only man to both save and potentially destroy the Marvel universe? Honestly, it’s possible even the studio hasn’t worked this out yet, as Downey is the only formal casting announcement we have for these two movies.

For the moment, it’s up to the fandom to name their own choices for who could face up to the Downey Doom — and three contenders have risen to the top of the pack. There are now literally dozens of Avengers running around the cosmos, but clearly the world is in need of a new Big Three — like Tony, Steve Rogers, and Thor were in the Infinity Saga — to lead the charge against Victor. Enter these guys.

As pitched by @mcuspideydaily in a viral tweet, the Multiverse Saga’s Big Three could be Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Sam Wilson’s Captain America (Anthony Mackie), and Captain Marvel (Brie Larson). “THIS is the trio I want from the next Avengers film,” they argued. “I know they would have such a good dynamic.”

These are three smart choices to build Doomsday and Secret Wars around, for sure, each for a different reason. For starters, as soon as Downey’s Doom casting was announced, everyone went “Oh, Peter’s gonna be heartbroken.” The idea of Spidey fighting a man with the face of his beloved mentor could easily be the emotional lynchpin of the entire film. Similarly, having a character like Sam, who is still grappling with upholding the legacy of the founding Avengers, battle a variant of the original Avenger is dripping with thematic resonance. Meanwhile, Carol Danvers remains the Avengers’ biggest gun, and giving her a prominent role in Doomsday would be a massive vote of confidence in Larson after the unfair reception of The Marvels.

Having said all that, expanding the trio to a quartet and adding Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange into the mix wouldn’t be so bad either.

Counter-point: Shuri’s Black Panther, anyone?

Of those not mentioned, other heroes deserving of a hefty chunk of screentime in Avengers 5 and 6 include Shang-Chi (one of Phase Four’s most popular additions, bizarrely not seen since his introduction), Scarlet Witch (due a redemption after her Doctor Strange 2 character assassination), and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, for, if nothing else, the fanboy thrill of having Jackman battle arguably the only Marvel star who matches up to him in longevity and legendary status.

There may be some assembly required before Avengers: Doomsday is ready to take over the world, but all the pieces are coming together to make May 2026 the most exciting Marvel month since Endgame‘s release seven years prior.

Since the culmination of Marvel’s hard work in Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has gone a bit stale. The heavy influx of limited series on Disney Plus and the lack of fan-favorite characters have not helped this new era of superhero fatigue.

Both Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. took their final bows — for now — as their respective characters and Marvel has seemingly been scrambling to find a way to inspire confidence in the brand again. With lackluster responses to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, there had not initially been a lot of excitement for the next Captain America film. After Steve (Evans) hangs up his shield, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) eventually accepts the mantle as the new Captain America. But as much as Sam was the best choice for the role, there were concerns about Captain America: Brave New World.

Excessive reshoots plagued the production and many viewers were dismayed to learn that Sebastian Stan would not be reprising his role as Bucky Barnes. Fans have been burned by highly anticipated Marvel movies only to be massively disappointed in the past couple of years. (Some of us still have not recovered from the slight that was Thor: Love and Thunder.) But with the first footage released for the new Captain America film, some fans are daring to hope again.

Fans are excited for Captain America: Brave New World c4mj

Despite the controversial new hero in Captain America: Brave New World, the film is harkening back to days of old when everything was exciting and new. The biggest compliment for any Marvel film is to be compared to the cream of the crop, Captain America: The Winter Solider, and it looks like that’s exactly what we have on our hands.

More an espionage film than straight Marvel fare, The Winter Solider revealed the prospect that Hydra had infiltrated all forms of government and was grooming the world to accept a fascist regime. This high-stakes plot made what is regarded as the best Marvel film to date. After watching the new trailer for Brave New World, fans seem to be getting a similar feeling from the film. Many took to X to express their excitement.

There is a reason that The Winter Soldier has stood the test of time. The 2014 film introduced complex themes not always present in the comic book franchise. Steve once again takes on the path of light when he learns that Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) is arming Helicarriers to presumably protect the world. This of course backfires when Hydra takes control of the entire system. From the onset, Steve understands that Fury’s plan is flawed at best; it is a close step to taking people’s freedoms away, which is exactly what Hydra was counting on. This commences in a political thriller where Steve must become a fugitive of the American government to stop Hydra from spreading its tentacles all over the world.

The plot details for Brave New World are still minimal, but the trailer seems to indicate that similar ideas will be presented. Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, now portrayed by Harrison Ford, has been elected president and wants to make Captain America a military title. This idea compromises the integrity of the position and Steve’s legacy. Sam says as much, noting that he may not toe the party line if he disagrees with the American government.

And that is exactly why Sam was chosen as the new carrier of this massive responsibility. Sam has the best interest of the people at heart and he may be confronted with a conflict between what is right and what the American government wants. Quite topical for the issues of today, in the best way possible, and sparks the potential fire for another great sequel.

Captain America is undergoing significant rebranding for Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World.

He’s got a different face, a different name, and is played by a different actor, so, for those who have not kept up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the last five years, the shift might be a little confusing.

Brave New World will be Anthony Mackie’s first solo headlining film as the all-American hero, replacing Chris Evans, who played the role for eight years. The 45-year-old actor first ed the franchise in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as veteran United States Air Force Pararescueman Sam Wilson, befriending the first Captain America, Steve Rogers, and becoming his faithful sidekick.

Sam Wilson’s road to becoming Captain America 151a2c

Before Sam Wilson became Captain America, he had already ed the Avengers. After following Steve Rogers in his mission to stop Hydra in The Winter Soldier, he decided to help his friend find Bucky Barnes, and, by the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron, had been recruited by the super-hero team.

Sam played a huge role in Steve’s third film, even if that was more of a knock-off Avengers movie than a third Captain America installment. Steve faced off against Tony Stark after the two disagreed on whether the Avengers should be ed and supervised by the United Nations under the Sokovia Accords — a clash which was made worse by the discovery that the man Steve was trying to protect while all of this was going on, Bucky Barnes, was responsible for the murder of Tony’s parents.

After the whole ordeal, including a stint in a maximum security prison for Sam, the pair became runaways, while Bucky hid out in Wakanda. That is until an intergalactic threat against the Avengers and basically the entire universe became so great that Steve, Sam, and the rest of the gang’s infractions were quickly forgiven — enter Thanos, the mad titan set on decimating half of the existing population.

Unless you lived under a rock in 2018 and 2019, you probably know how that whole situation played out. Initially separated and spread out across different galaxies, the Avengers were no match for the purple giant and did not manage to stop him from collecting every infinity stone and seeing his plan through. After most of them, including Sam, were “blipped” — an MCU term for being turned into dust for five years — the team was down to the six original Avengers who staged a time heist to collect the same stones from different moments in the past, in order to undo Thanos’ damage. Now united, the Earth and fellow planets’ mightiest heroes finally managed to stop the enemy, unfortunately sacrificing Tony Stark in the process.

Steve Rogers was then in charge of traveling back in time again and replacing the stolen infinity stones in the specific moments they had previously been taken from, so as not to disturb the Sacred Timeline and create new branched-out parallel universes (for more on that, you’ll have to check out Loki). However, the First Avenger, who you will recall was frozen for 70 years, had different plans and took the opportunity to reunite with the love of his life, Peggy Carter, in 1949.

Back in the present timeline, Sam and Bucky spot Steve, aged 112, on a nearby park bench. He tells Sam he decided to live the life that was taken from him when he crashed into the snow in the ’40s and then gives him his shield, with it ing on the Captain America mantle. Sam accepts it, promising him he will do his best.

During Sam and Bucky’s Disney Plus The Falcon and The Winter Soldier spin-off series, we see Sam struggle with the responsibility that comes with the shield, handing it over to the U.S. government to be displayed in a museum, except they give it to an unhinged U.S. Army Captain named John Walker who takes no time soiling the name and reputation of Captain America. Thankfully, Sam soon realizes that Steve was right and that he’s the only man for the job, even if his version of The Star-Spangled Man will be different, adjusted to his personal morals and principles.

That’s where we stand ahead of Captain America: A Brave New World, which will see the newly elected president of the United States Thaddeus Ross (played by Harrison Ford, stepping in for the late William Hurt) call on Sam to make Captain America an official military position. Judging by the trailer, Sam isn’t too fond of the idea.

Captain America: A Brave New World will premiere in theatres globally Feb. 14, 2025, as part of Phase Five of the MCU.

After months of waiting, reshoots, and rescheduling its theatrical release, Captain America: Brave New World has finally received its first trailer. However, it seems like it wants you to ignore one of its new heroes.

The movie will introduce a few characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Sabra, an Israeli superhero played by Shira Haas in the flick. She’s not shown much in the trailer, though, besides two scenes, and it may be because Disney is trying to dodge the proverbial controversial bullet.

Sabra will be the first Israeli superhero to appear in the MCU. In the comics, she is a member of the Mossad, a national intelligence agency of Israel. She also has mutant powers, including superhuman speed, agility, endurance, stamina, and strength.

With what’s going on at the Israeli-Palestinian borders in the real world, it’s possible Marvel is trying to hide Sabra to a certain extent to avoid sparking pointed conversations about her inclusion in the film.

Shira Haas was cast in the role in September 2022, though it quickly started to gain some criticism. After her casting, some feared the role of Sabra would have negative results and make Marvel seem insensitive to Palestinians. The casting was announced on Sept. 10, a week before the anniversary of the real-life 1982 massacre at the Sabra and Shatila Refugee Camps in Lebanon. The name of the character and the event aren’t co-related, since the former was created two years earlier.

“It’s not just in the timing or the name but also in the fact that the massacre itself was led by a Mossad-linked [militia] in territory under Israeli military control. Given all of this, it is hard not to conclude that the people at Marvel are either abjectly ignorant about the region, its history and the Palestinian experience, or that they deliberately aimed to kick a people living under apartheid while they were down,” said Yousef Munayyer, a Palestinian-American writer told CNN in 2022.

While Disney may be trying to save themselves from eventual backlash, it seems like it’s already too late. “She’s an IDF soldier AND the character killed Palestinians, so we will be boycotting!” one of the tweets under Cosmic Marvel thread says. “Not watching because of her,” another one added. There are numerous similar tweets on the platform.

In the Brave New World trailer, Marvel quickly drew the conversation away from Shira Haas’s new character by bringing attention to another cameo. By the end of the nearly two-minute trailer, we can see a glimpse of Red Hulk, which is none other than Thaddeus Ross who finally gets angry. The role will be played by Harrison Ford this time around, who was cast for the part after William Hurt’s death in 2022.

The trailer itself looks…generic for the most part. There’s some kind of geopolitical conflict going on, there are glimpses of Wilson’s new sidekick, Joaquin Torres, villainy Giancarlo Esposito, explosions, fist fights, and a flying new Captain America. Obviously, someone had to remind us it’s not Steve Rogers anymore, and this time around it’s Wilson and Ross in a heated conversation. It doesn’t look bad, but after numerous reshoots and the whole mess around its production, we’d rather not get our hopes up. Even after seeing the Red Hulk on the screen.

Captain America: Brave New World has had a long journey to the big screen, from reshoots and script overhauls, to an ever-changing release date. Now, with a new teaser finally out, fans are as excited as ever to dig into the plot of Sam Wilson’s big-screen debut as Captain America. And with an official release date of Feb. 14, 2025, it’s surely going to be a Valentine’s Day to . Among the excitement surrounding the movie is the curiosity about Giancarlo Esposito, and who he plays in Captain America: Brave New World. 

First look at Giancarlo Esposito in Brave New World 482z61

Fans got their first look at Giancarlo Esposito, as well as the rest of the cast of Brave New World in the newly released teaser. Esposito was seen decked out in all black, with dark shades and a bulletproof vest, brandishing an assault rifle. 

Multiple shots showed him reloading his weapon, firing at people off camera, and stalking down the street menacingly, adding to the air of danger around his character. The movie has been reported to share the political thriller tone of its predecessor, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and the teaser reinforced this rumor. The teaser also showed a glimpse of the Red Hulk, who will be the primary antagonist of the movie. 

Who is Giancarlo Esposito playing? 1v4e3w

When it was announced that Giancarlo Esposito was ing the cast of Brave New World, little information was given on what role the Breaking Bad actor would be playing. His addition to the cast came with the announcement that the film would be undergoing some major re-shoots, during which his character would be added in among some new action scenes. The only confirmed detail was that he would be playing a villain. 

Esposito is no stranger to playing villains, as he has played some iconic ones such as Gus Fring in Breaking Bad, Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian, and his current role as Stan Edgar in The Boys.

Moreover, theories on who Esposito might be playing in Brave New World began to arise after his casting announcement. Still, the most popular theory remains the character of George Washington Bridge. The G.W. Bridge rumor was started by the X (formerly Twitter) , My Time to Shine Hello, which is known to be a fairly reliable source of leaks. 

G.W. Bridge is a S.H.I.E.L.D. Commander and former mercenary. The character is usually associated with the mutant side of Marvel comics and is often seen either partnering with or fighting against Cable. However, it wouldn’t be the first time the MCU has taken a character out of the comics and recontextualized them for the big screen. Although the teaser still didn’t confirm Esposito’s role in the movie, his costuming lends some credit to the G.W. Bridge rumor. 

There are many reasons to be excited for what Marvel has in store for us in 2025. Daredevil: Born Again is at long last hitting Disney Plus, the Fantastic Four are finally arriving in their very own summer blockbuster, Thunderbolts* offers the MCU’s own take on the Suicide Squad… And let’s not forget Captain America: Brave New World.

The Captain America trilogy is one of the most widely acclaimed and beloved subfranchises in Marvel history, and everyone was hyped beyond belief when Sam Wilson inherited Steve Rogers’ shield in Avengers: Endgame. Then The Falcon and the Winter Soldier came out and paved the way for Captain America 4, marking Anthony Mackie’s first time leading a Marvel movie solo.

Speaking of Solo, Harrison Ford is likewise making his MCU debut in the film as a recast Thaddeus Ross (now president) following the death of former Ross actor William Hurt. There are so many Hulk-adjacent characters also in the mix — like Tim Blake Nelson’s Leader — that the film might as well be The Incredible Hulk 2. Plus, whispers abound that it will introduce the much-anticipated New Avengers lineup. In other words, Cap 4 sounds a bit like every dream the fandom’s ever had put into a blender. So why are we hearing that it’s apparently so bad, Marvel is working furiously to fix it?

Captain America 4 is undergoing reshoots, reportedly for a very troubling reason 176r6d

It’s official! Captain America 4, from director Julius Onah, is heading back before cameras as of the end of May. Unfortunately, rumors are swirling that Marvel has been forced to make some significant changes to the movie thanks to continuously poor test screenings. Back in November, we were told that early screenings had not gone well, and it seems that whatever changes the studio has made since then allegedly haven’t improved it any.

According to scooper MyTimeToShine, Brave New World “tested so poorly they’re doing second round of reshoots.” To be fair, though, a period of reshoots from May to August has been on the schedule all year, so it’s not as if Marvel is scrambling to save this one at the last minute. Likewise, if Cap 4 is having problems, perhaps we can cut it some slack, as it did have the misfortune of having its initial production period overlap with the 2023 writers’ strike.

Having said that, the film managed to complete shooting prior to the actors’ strike of last summer, so in theory it should be the one MCU project least affected by the strikes. This does suggest that some problems on a deeper storytelling level could be at fault here. Now it’s just a question of whether Marvel can fix these with whatever it’s got planned over the next two months.

Prior reports have indicated that three major set pieces have been excised from the movie, along with WWE star Seth Rollins’ entire role, so clearly some series restructuring is afoot. Brave New World has a big legacy to measure up to, with the prior three Cap films earning $2.2 billion altogether. Let’s hope fans will fall in love with it when it releases on Valentine’s Day in 2025.

Warning: This article contains full spoilers for the X-Men ’97 finale.

X-Men 97 might not be set in the MCU, but as a sequel to X-Men: The Animated Series it instead takes place in its own fully-realized and populated version of the Marvel universe. As X:TAS shared a continuity with all the Marvel cartoons of the ’90s, that means that characters such as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Ghost Rider, and many, many more are operating just out of sight.

Well, mostly out of sight. The further X-Men ’97 reached into its debut season, the more it gave into the temptation to squeeze in numerous cameos from Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. By our count, there were a dozen Avenger cameos hidden across season 1’s 10 episodes. To quote another iconic ’90s cartoon, gotta catch ’em all! Here’s a handy spotter’s guide.

Captain America yi4b

Captain America’s cameo was X-Men ’97‘s worst-kept secret as his appearance was spoiled in the mid-season trailer. Sure enough, he turned up in episode 7 and controversially refused to help Rogue get revenge on Genosha (#NotMyCaptainAmerica).

Quicksilver (Morph/vision) 4b701g

Morph is a walking cameo as, thanks to their shapeshifting abilities, they can take on the appearance of any Marvel character they wish. In episode 7, they morph into Quicksilver so as to use Pietro’s speed when fighting Bolivar Trask/Prime Sentinel. Quicksilver then reappears in the finale (more on that later).

Spider-Man (and Mary Jane) 2nr42

When Magneto sent an electromagnetic wave across the globe to deactivate Bastion’s Prime Sentinels at the end of episode 8, we get glimpses of several familiar characters around the world to give us a sense of scale — like Japan’s Silver Samurai and Russia’s Omega Red. Most notably, we also see Spider-Man reacting to the EMP wave as he swings through New York! In the finale, meanwhile, Peter Parker and Mary Jane appear, watching the news reporting on Asteroid M’s descent through a store window.

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Morph gets up to their old tricks again in episode 9 when they briefly transform into the Hulk while battling a Sentinel. “Morph smash!” they even declare. Everybody say thank you Morph!

Iron Man 5we3w

Captain America returns in the season finale, but this time he’s alongside his fellow Avenger, Iron Man. The pair are seen attending a World Security Council meeting with President Robert Kelly. Against Cap’s recommendations (giving Steve a modicum of redemption), Kelly initiates the Magneto Protocols, sending a bomb to blow up Asteroid M — with the X-Men still on it!

Daredevil h3n4o

The cameos-to-establish-the-stakes trick worked so well in episode 8, X-Men ’97 repeats it in the finale — but we ain’t complaining! Many of the heroes of New York are shown battling Bastion’s Prime Sentinels when he restarts their attack. This includes the one and only Daredevil.

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And then there’s Doctor Strange, who is shown in the middle of a medical operation — while dressed in full sorcerer regalia — using his magic to save his patient instead of his injured hands. Stephen seems to be blissfully unaware of the dangers the planet is facing, only briefly perturbed by the flickering of some lights.

Cloak and Dagger ow1h

Long-suffering Cloak and Dagger nation, rise up! Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson make their first TV appearance since the cancellation of Freeform’s Cloak & Dagger in 2019 in the X-Men ’97 finale, when they’re shown fighting Bastion’s Prime Sentinels.

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Wakanda Forever! Black Panther is portrayed preparing to fight the Sentinels who storm the African nation in the finale, as flanked by the Dora Milaje. T’Challa’s father, King T’Chaka, is later depicted strongly advising Kelly not to fire on Asteroid M and against the mutants via video call.

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Morph squeezes in one last cameo in the finale, when they transform themselves into Mr. Fantastic while trying to hold on when the asteroid is plummeting to Earth.

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Last but not least, when Charles Xavier is in Magneto’s mind in an attempt to talk him around, Erik Lensherr sees those he loves adrift in a stormy sea, which represents the ocean of his pain. Rogue is most clearly visible, but as shown in the above screenshots, his three children are also depicted, albeit it cloaked in shadow — that’s Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and Polaris. Scarlet Witch then appears via image on Forge’s board of mutants. Wanda is listed as being “Off World.”

All episodes of X-Men ’97 are available to stream on Disney Plus.

Lloyd Hanson, Johnny Storm, Casey Jones, Buzz Lightyear; these are just a few of the aliases that pop culture juggernaut Chris Evans has picked up over the course of his career. There is but one that towers far above the rest, however.

That honor, of course, goes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s Captain America, a character whose critical, commercial, and fandom-centric acclaim has launched him into the highest echelons of superhero royalty.

The last time we well and truly encountered Cap was in the closing scenes of Avengers: Endgame, when Steve used the Infinity Stones to travel back in time and return them to their rightful time periods, electing to remain in his own rightful time period, the 1940s, so he could live the life with Peggy Carter that he never got to have.

But, if severely unfounded rumors are to be believed, we haven’t seen the last of Evans’ Steve Rogers just yet.

Now, of all the ways that Chris Evans could be brought back into the MCU fold, a limited series following Captain America returning the Infinity Stones is probably the least insulting. It would keep him firmly in the Infinity Saga era and therefore wouldn’t toy too much with his sturdy character arc, and also probably wouldn’t delve too much into vapid, flashy comic book shenanigans as a result of what sounds like a low-stakes adventure.

Considering all of that, the hypothetical series would have a lot of room to play with storytelling beats that aren’t all that beholden to the Marvel machine, and if this rumor does turn out to have weight to it, it would be no great surprise if Evans himself served as a producer of sorts.

After all, Evans has said in the past that the only way he would happily return to that red, white, and blue uniform is if the right project came along; a project that didn’t spoil the dignity of the character just for the sake of fan service. As far as such possibilities go, this one has the most respectable foundation, and could genuinely be molded into something truly great if Evans were directly involved in the storytelling process.

Nevertheless, it would still, at the end of the day, be a case of messing with something that doesn’t need messing with, with a massive margin for failure to boot. Thankfully, a rumor is a rumor is a rumor, and there’s a good to fair chance that Cap’s Shield will continue to hang safely in Marvel’s treasure room, away from the hands of Chris Evans, as he no doubt probably prefers at this point.