Director Reveals Original Plans for Serpent Society in Captain America: Brave New World

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In the movie, “Captain America: Brave New World,” the opening action scene introduces a secret criminal group known as the Serpent Society, with Giancarlo Esposito portraying their leader, Sidewinder. Throughout the film, Captain America, played by Anthony Mackie, confronts this villainous organization led by Sidewinder in the Marvel sequel. Originally, the Serpent Society was intended to have a unique appearance, but reshoots gave them a look indistinguishable from any typical criminal syndicate. Unfortunately, WWE star Seth Rollins, who was slated to be a significant member of the Serpent Society, did not make it into the final cut of “Brave New World.

In an interview with the Phase Hero podcast (through ThatHashtagShow), Brave New World director Julius Onah discussed the obvious topic concerning the Serpent Society. The director admits they adjusted the group to fit the film’s tone, which resulted in Esposito being cast as Sidewinder, serving as the only recognizable member of the Serpent Society. Although he mentions that Rollins has a part in Brave New World, Onah clarifies it is not the role of Copperhead.

He wasn’t the man at the church. It’s clear that we’re considering which version of the Serpent Society best fits the movie’s atmosphere and aesthetic. With Giancarlo, Sidewinder seemed perfect as the leader of the Society, especially for their debut, but he wasn’t Copperhead.

I must admit, though Onah confirmed that Rollins wasn’t intended to be Copperhead in the Serpent Society, there’s an undeniable similarity between him and King Cobra that I can’t ignore. When production on Brave New World started, it didn’t take long for images from the set to surface online, showcasing a more comic-accurate design for the villain group compared to what we saw in Captain America. Rollins was among those sporting serpent-styled attire, but it seems the tone of the film required something less flamboyant given its aim to mirror the realistic feel of The Winter Soldier. Here’s hoping the WWE star gets another chance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, perhaps not as a snake-themed antagonist this time.

‘Captain America 4’s Serpent Society Nearly Featured This ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ Star

In Julius Onah’s statement, there was no mention of another significant character left out of Captain America: Brave New World— actress Rosa Salazar. Originally cast as Rachel Leighton, also known as Diamondback, Salazar had filmed scenes before the film underwent reshoots which drastically changed the Serpent Society, with Giancarlo Esposito now leading the group as Sidewinder. Despite set images hinting at her involvement, the filmmakers decided to rework the villainous group more deeply into the overall conspiracy plot, but unfortunately, this decision came after spending millions of dollars and precious time on production.

The intriguing aspect of Salazar’s absence is that despite reshoots, many still expected her to be part of the final cut. Contrary to expectations, Seth Rollins wasn’t involved during additional photography. However, Salazar reprised her role as Diamondback during those reshoots last summer. This time around, she sported a comic-accurate punk hairstyle and a new costume. In fact, the removal of Diamondback was so late that McDonald’s had already produced toys featuring Diamondback in a highly accurate super-suit and with superpowers. The inclusion of the Serpent Society in Captain America: Brave New World, despite the series’ commitment to realism, raises questions as to why they were added in the first place.

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2025-02-18 20:01