Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson takes up the iconic shield once again as Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters on February 14, with some early fan screenings taking place on the evening of February 13.
Not only is this Sam Wilson’s big screen debut as Cap, but we’ve got a new POTUS in the MCU — Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, now played by Harrison Ford, picking up the mantle from the late William Hurt. Of course, Sam and Ross have clashed in the past, but now Ross seemingly wants Sam on his side as he attempts to re-assemble the Avengers for a new era. At least until he turns into the Red Hulk — my colleague Nick Friar wrote more about the background of the Red Hulk here. But before we look ahead, let’s take a look back at how we got here.
Sam Wilson’s MCU journey to becoming Captain America
Sam was introduced into the MCU in Captain America: Winter Soldier as a former pararescueman who used specially designed wings and who now works with vets as a counselor. He is brought into Steve Rogers’ circle as Steve uncovers some shocking truths about S.H.I.E.L.D. amid a dangerous conspiracy. Sam helps Steve save the day in Winter Soldier and remains a steadfast ally to the First Avenger in Captain America: Civil War, siding with Rogers and — especially relevant for the upcoming Brave New World — against Ross and Iron Man by rejecting the Sokovia Accords. Wilson was imprisoned in the Raft with the rest of Rogers’ allies until Cap broke them all out at the end of Civil War, splitting the Avengers in the lead-up to Infinity War.
In Infinity War, Wilson is snapped away along with half of existence at the end of the film, returning during the climactic battle at the end of Endgame. Following the final defeat of Thanos in Endgame, an aged Rogers bestows Wilson with his iconic shield, handing off the mantle of Captain America, with Wilson promising to do his best, which Rogers says is why the shield is now his.
However, at the start of the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Wilson seemingly rejects the mantle of Captain America and instead gives the shield up, with the government handing it over to John Walker. Over the course of the limited series, Sam and Bucky Barnes come to terms with Steve’s decision to give the shield to Sam and the repercussions that neither Steve nor Bucky could forsee. Sam ends the series embracing his new title and becoming Captain America through his efforts to stop the Flagsmashers.
Bucky won’t be back as the Winter Soldier in Captain America: Brave New World, but we will see Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres slide in as the new Falcon, not to mention Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns appear on screen for the first time since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Also returning from that film will be Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, Thaddeus Ross’ daughter and Bruce Banner’s love interest. Does this mean we could get a cameo from the Hulk? It can’t be ruled out, especially with so many threads intertwining from his story (even if the 2008 film starred Edward Norton as the big green guy and not Mark Ruffalo).
It should be noted that a lot of the action in the film appears to be driven by the discovery of Adamantium as a result of the ending of 2021’s Eternals and its dead body of a Celestial, tying that movie into the fourth Captain America installment as well. And obviously, the potential return of the Avengers will play into the plans for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which are expected in 2026 and 2027, respectively. So, Brave New World has a lot of history at its back and is a crucial jumping-off point for the MCU’s future.
