Who Is The Main Villain Of Captain America: Brave New World? Every Possibility

Captain America: Brave New World has finally released its very first trailer, giving audiences their best look yet at the fourth entry in the long-running Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie, set to hit theaters on February 14, 2025, will follow Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as he undertakes one of his first missions since taking over the mantle of Captain America from Steve Rogers. Things seem to go well at first, with even the President of the United States, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford), endorsing him. However, things quickly take a turn for the worse, as various villains arise to challenge the new Captain America.

Several villains have already been confirmed to appear in Captain America: Brave New World, from Harrison Ford’s two-faced President Ross to the long-awaited return of Dr. Samuel Sterns, a.k.a. the Leader (Tim Blake Nelson). There are even several antagonistic characters in the film whose identities have yet to be confirmed, including Giancarlo Esposito’s mysterious new character and several other villain actors whom audiences believe could comprise the long-awaited Serpent Society. Despite the abundance of villainous characters set to appear in the film, there is one major detail left out entirely: who the main villain of Brave New World will be.

Giancarlo Esposito’s Mystery Character May Be More Significant Than We Thought

Giancarlo Esposito plays a mystery villain in the upcoming MCU movie, making his epic debut in the film’s first trailer. Interestingly, Marvel Studios has been especially tight-lipped concerning Esposito’s involvement in Brave New World, with his casting announced only weeks before the film’s first trailer. Esposito seems to play a terrorist leader of some sort, who attacks Washington D.C. at some point in the film. Very little is revealed of the character in the first looks for the movie, but all indications point to his playing a major role in the future of the MCU.

Currently, fans are still left to debate as to which character Esposito might play in Brave New World. Before pictures of the character first emerged, some theories maintained that he would play a prominent mutant, perhaps Professor X or Magneto. Now, these theories seem less likely, as Esposito seems to be a street-level villain of some kind. A leading theory suggests that Esposito will play George Washington Bridge, a fallen SHIELD agent turned terrorist. Bridge could end up as the main villain of Brave New World, leading whatever organization arises to challenge Sam Wilson therein. This would align with Esposito’s comments that his character will return in future MCU titles. However, with so many other heavy-hitters in the film, it seems more likely that Marvel will focus on one of them as the main villain for Captain America: Brave New World.

The Leader’s Long-Awaited Return Is A Big Deal

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The Leader returns in Captain America: Brave New World, marking a significant moment in the history of the MCU. Tim Blake Nelson first played Dr. Samuel Sterns in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, the second film in the long-running cinematic universe. In the film, Sterns is exposed to gamma-radiated blood, hinting that he is about to transform into his supervillain personality from Marvel Comics, the nefarious Leader. Despite this exciting tease, Sterns has been entirely absent from the MCU for the last sixteen years. Now, Marvel is finally prepared to follow up on this storyline, bringing the Leader back as a major villain in the fourth Captain America film.

It is unclear precisely how the Leader will factor into Brave New World, but he may be somehow connected to the rumored Serpent Society. The comic book version of the character is notorious for his strategy and being able to mastermind complicated plots to stump various heroes, particularly his archnemesis, the Hulk. This would make him the perfect villain to be behind a dastardly organization like the Serpent Society, or even the Intelligencia, an organization introduced in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law that was founded by the Leader in the comics. Fans have waited a long time for the Leader’s return, making it all the more important that Marvel follow through on their promises with the character. To do so, the Leader would have to be a major villain in Brave New World, perhaps even setting him up for future confrontations with other heroes, including the Hulk or She-Hulk.

The Red Hulk Is Brave New World’s Most Highly Anticipated Character

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Thaddeus Ross returns in Captain America: Brave New World, this time with Harrison Ford taking on the role after William Hurt died in 2022. Since audiences last saw Thunderbolt Ross (which was chronologically in his cameo at the end of Avengers: Endgame), he was the Secretary of State but has now been elected President of the United States. While one might expect Captain America and the U.S. President to be allies, it seems very unlikely that this will be the case with Sam Wilson and Thunderbolt Ross. In Marvel Comics, Ross is transformed into the supervillain known as Red Hulk, who makes his live-action debut at the end of the first trailer for Brave New World. Ross’s villainous role in the film has been confirmed, though it remains uncertain if he will be the main villain or not.

As exciting as the Red Hulk’s debut might be, making him the main villain of the film might be a mistake. The main villain of Brave New World is likely to be defeated or killed by the end of the movie, limiting what the MCU can do with the character afterward. Doing so could stop Thaddeus Ross from appearing in the upcoming Thunderbolts* film, which has been theorized for some time. Thunderbolt Ross and the Red Hulk have the potential to be major recurring antagonists in the future of the MCU, not only in Brave New World. It might be better for the franchise to make another villain like the Leader the main antagonist of the film.

Captain America: Brave New World has no shortage of villains to challenge Sam Wilson’s claim to the mantle of Captain America. From George Washington Bridge and the Serpent Society to the Leader and even the President of the United States, Sam will have to face plenty of challenges if he wants to prove himself as Steve Rogers’s rightful successor.

Captain America: Brave New World

The upcoming fourth movie in the Captain America franchise.

Director

Julius Onah

Release Date

February 14, 2025

Cast

Harrison Ford , Sebastian Stan , Rosa Salazar , Liv Tyler , Anthony Mackie , Tim Blake Nelson , Danny Ramirez

Writers

Dalan Musson , Matthew Orton , Malcolm Spellman

Main Genre

Superhero

Studio(s)

Marvel Studios

Distributor(s)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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