Phew, Captain America: Brave New World’s Real Villain Is Avoiding A Major Phase 5 Mistake

The real villain of Captain America: Brave New World may be fixing an error that was made in Phase 5 of the franchise. As evident in Captain America 4‘s trailer, the film is chock-full of Marvel villains for Sam Wilson to face off against. From Harrison Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross/Red Hulk to Giancarlo Esposito’s mysterious gunman, Captain America 4‘s cast of characters has no shortage of antagonists.

Interestingly, there is one villain from Captain America: Brave New World who was not shown in detail in the trailer. Although this villain was confirmed earlier in the film’s production when Captain America 4 was first announced, he has yet to be shown in all his glory. That said, a brief glimpse at the villain for the upcoming Marvel movie can be spotted in the trailer, proving Captain America: Brave New World to have avoided a Phase 5 Marvel mistake.

Captain America: Brave New World’s The Leader Design Avoids A Major Phase 5 Villain Mistake

The Leader Seems To Be More Toned Down Than A Phase 5 Villain Was

The villain in question is The Leader, with Tim Blake Nelson returning from The Incredible Hulk to play the suped-up version of Samuel Sterns. The Leader can be seen briefly in Captain America: Brave New World‘s trailer, standing with his back to the camera on a cell phone. Based on what is visible in this scene, The Leader does not look to be as drastic in his appearance as he is in Marvel Comics; he does not seem to have a giant misshapen head, nor very green as depicted in the source material.

This somewhat rectifies the mistake made in Phase 5 with a specific Marvel villain. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania included the antagonist MODOK, with his design drawing a great deal of criticism from fans and critics alike. The overly silly, though admittedly comic-accurate, design simply did not work for the film, with a factor in this being the movie’s underbaked CGI. Arguably, even perfect CGI would not overcome the uncanny valley of a giant head in a robot suit, with the same potentially being said for The Leader had Captain America 4 implemented his more outlandish look.

Why A More Toned-Down Design For The Leader Works Best For Captain America: Brave New World

The Leader’s Muted Design Fits Captain America 4’s Promised Story

Overall, a more minimalist design for The Leader works for Captain America: Brave New World. While many likely wish to see the character depicted as he is in Marvel Comics, the tone for Captain America 4 seems to be much more grounded in reality. Rather than delve into the otherworldly, comic-book aspects of the MCU like Eternals, Shang-Chi, or Thor 4 have of late, Brave New World seems to be reverting to the more Winter Soldier-esque, spy-thriller tone prevalent in the second and third Captain America movies.

As such, a less over-the-top design for The Leader fits this tone much better. As he appears in the trailer, The Leader suits the almost political vibe Captain America 4 is going for. Furthermore, The Leader being toned down allows Red Hulk to provide the purely comic book villain of the film. Not only will the tone and story of Captain America: Brave New World benefit from The Leader’s visual appearance, but his ally in Red Hulk will too.

Captain America: Brave New World

Captain America: Brave New World (formerly titled New World Order) marks Sam Wilson’s first MCU big-screen appearance as Steve Rogers’ successor after receiving the suit and shield in Phase 4’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Anthony Mackie returns as the titular Avenger alongside Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Carl Lumby as Isaiah Bradley, and Tim Blake Nelson as The Incredible Hulk’s former ally Samuel Sterns. Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.

Director

Julius Onah

Release Date

February 14, 2025

Writers

Dalan Musson , Malcolm Spellman