Small Details You Missed In Captain America: Brave New World

Contains spoilers for “Captain America: Brave New World”

After “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” concluded, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) took on the role of Captain America. Throughout his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he demonstrated his worthiness, even going up against his fellow Avengers and Thanos’ troops. However, a soldier’s responsibilities are never-ending.

Captain America: New World Order” starts by introducing Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford, as he assumes the presidency. Previously, Ross was seen clashing with the Hulk (Edward Norton) in 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk,” and orchestrating the Sokovia Accords in “Captain America: Civil War.” In his first 100 days, he intends to sign a pact allowing various nations access to the unbreakable metal called adamantium found on Celestial Island, specifically the celestial being Tiamut that was preserved by the Eternals from destroying Earth. However, an attempt on Ross’s life disrupts these negotiations, compelling Captain America and Falcon, alias Joaquin Torres (played by Danny Ramirez), to uncover the hidden puppet masters behind the scenes.

The film contains numerous subtle connections to previous Marvel productions. In essence, it could be considered not only “Captain America 4,” but also potentially “The Incredible Hulk 2” and a prequel to “Eternals” titled “Eternals 1.5.” Given the abundance of references, here are some intricate details you might have overlooked.

Harrison Ford gets his mustache

In the comics, Thaddeus Ross is recognized for two main traits: he transforms into Red Hulk and sports a large, bushy mustache. Initially, William Hurt sported a mustache while portraying Ross in “The Incredible Hulk” and “Captain America: Civil War”, but he passed away in 2022. In contrast, Harrison Ford decided to part ways with his mustache for the role, a decision he references in the movie by mentioning that he was given the choice between losing the mustache or losing the election.

It seems that Ford didn’t choose to shave off his mustache; instead, it was a decision made for him, as he revealed during the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con (as reported by PopVerse): “I would have grown a mustache if asked.” Nevertheless, fans will get to enjoy a mustached Ford in the movie “Captain America: Brave New World,” since an old photo of Ross with a mustache is displayed during a news broadcast early in the film.

The image is amusing and serves as a significant reference to Ross’ past. Furthermore, it’s possible that the reason Ford doesn’t have a mustache in real life is due to historical politics, as most modern American presidents since Harry Truman in the 1940s haven’t worn facial hair. If you’re interested in seeing a more rugged version of Ford, you should watch “The Fugitive,” where he sports a full beard.

Sam Wilson still holds a grudge against Ant-Man

In a simpler and more conversational manner, the character Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) is often considered the Avenger who’s easiest to beat up, but given that he managed to conquer Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), there should be some level of respect accorded to him. However, it appears that old grudges linger, as he’s frequently mentioned in “Captain America: Brave New World,” which doesn’t sit well with Sam.

1. After Captain America and Falcon recover a stolen canister filled with adamantium in Mexico, Joaquin asks Sam if he’ll introduce him to Ant-Man. In response, Sam firmly says, “No way!”

2. During the movie’s climax, when Joaquin is discussing his favorite hero, Sam playfully remarks, “Don’t even mention Ant-Man.” It’s worth noting that in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), there’s a backstory between Sam and Ant-Man that fans are familiar with.

1. After Captain America and Falcon recover a canister of adamantium in Mexico, Joaquin asks Sam if he’ll introduce him to Ant-Man. Sam quickly says, “Nope!”

2. Towards the end of the film, when Joaquin talks about his favorite hero, Sam jokes, “Don’t bring up Ant-Man.” It’s important to know that in the Marvel movies, there’s a past connection between Sam and Ant-Man.

In the 2015 film “Ant-Man,” Sam was previously Falcon and had a skirmish with the tiny superhero when Ant-Man infiltrated the Avengers base to pilfer the signal decoy. It was Ant-Man who emerged victorious from that altercation, and later, Sam invited him to join Steve Rogers’ (Chris Evans) team in “Civil War.” Although Sam now sees Ant-Man as a hero, it might still sting a bit for him to remember that he lost to him all this time since.

Serpent Society is now just Serpent

In the beginning of “Captain America: Brave New World,” the group that stole the canister is known as “The Serpent,” led by Seth Voelker, also called Sidewinder, portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito. This is a tribute to the Serpent Society from Marvel comics, a gang of villains with snake motifs. Throughout their history, they’ve been referred to as various names like Serpent Squad and Serpent Solutions, but in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), they are simply “The Serpent,” having discarded their snake-themed attire and powers. In the MCU, Sidewinder is essentially just an individual wielding guns and knives.

It appears that removing “Society” and snake costumes from the story may have been an effort to make the narrative feel more realistic (or as realistic as a movie about a colossal red rage monster can be). However, this wasn’t always the plan. Interestingly, WWE’s Seth Rollins was part of the “Brave New World” cast and was seen on set wearing a fashionable green outfit that strongly resembles snakeskin. Prior to the film’s release, Rollins shared that he wouldn’t be in the final version because of multiple script revisions and reshoots, some of which focused on altering the character known as Serpent.

Although there are still a few members of the Serpent gang, they have primarily become known as Sidewinder, and Esposito often steals the spotlight with his dramatic performances. Despite his talent, it’s disappointing to see the Serpent group weakened in this way.

Betty Ross doesn’t attend a funeral

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it’s not just Seth Rollins in Serpent Society attire that a set photo of “Captain America 4” suggested but didn’t deliver. Fans have been eager to see Liv Tyler reprise her role as Betty Ross since her last appearance in 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk”. In the recent film “Brave New World”, Thaddeus Ross, played by William Hurt, frequently mentions his estrangement from Betty and expresses a desire to change her perception of him. Towards the end of the movie, Betty unexpectedly visits Thaddeus at the Raft, where he’s imprisoned alongside superpowered villains – but this appearance is a smaller role than anticipated based on earlier set photos.

It was common knowledge that Betty’s part in “Captain America 4” would be minor, given Tyler’s suggestion that she filmed merely a couple of scenes at sea. The brief scene most likely involves her phone conversation with her father following the event in the Indian Sea. However, photos from the set suggest that Betty was also seen at a cemetery wearing all black attire, which leads us to speculate that Thaddeus might have been killed earlier in the film’s original script, and Betty would only appear in person during his funeral.

As a gamer, I can’t help but ponder that the diverse paths “Captain America 4” could have taken may forever stay hidden from us. Even though Marvel has a series titled “What If…?” showcasing alternate realities, this film might just be the ultimate unanswered question in the realm of cinematic storytelling.

A needle drop teases the Red Hulk

From early on, fans had a strong feeling that Ross would eventually become the Red Hulk. The movie subtly withholds this information, as Ross doesn’t transform until the end. Interestingly, there’s a clever musical cue in the film earlier on that subtly suggests the arrival of the Red Hulk.

Following their Mexico assignment, Sam and Joaquin head to a gym to meet Isaiah Bradley, who is played once more by Carl Lumbly from “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” A brief training sequence takes place, accompanied by Tame Impala’s “Elephant,” a track first released in 2012. The tune’s connection might seem a bit strange at first, but upon closer listening to its lyrics, it becomes clearer. In an interview with NME, Tame Impala’s lead singer Kevin Parker stated that the song is about a bully or someone who thinks they are superior due to their physical strength, which is represented in phrases like “He feels like an elephant / Shaking his big grey trunk for fun.”

In “Brave New World,” if anyone is expected to exhibit the strength and disruption of an elephant waving its trunk, it would be Ross transforming into Red Hulk and demolishing the White House. Throughout the movie, Ross portrays himself as a bully, particularly after we discover he’s held Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) captive since the occurrences of “The Incredible Hulk,” exploiting his immense intellect and ability to foresee every possibility for his personal gain. The song’s catchy tune seems fitting given the ensuing events.

Adamantium comes to the MCU

Previously noted, the inscrutable Tiamut houses an unbreakable metal known as adamantium. Given its versatile potential, it’s not surprising that numerous nations are vying for control of it. Ross is advocating for the U.S., Japan, India, and France to ratify a treaty, ensuring that they all can tap into the advantages adamantium offers.

Generally speaking, when comic book enthusiasts come across the term “adamantium,” their minds often conjure up images of Wolverine from the X-Men. Before joining the Weapon X program, Wolverine had bone claws protruding from his knuckles, but following this experimental process, his bones were covered in adamantium, a metal he’s now famously known for. However, it’s worth noting that Wolverine isn’t the sole Marvel character to be imbued with adamantium.

Japan plays a significant role in the treaty, where the Marvel character Silver Samurai hails from. In the comics, he’s a mutant whose sword can be strengthened to slice through most substances, except for Wolverine’s adamantium. In the 2013 film “The Wolverine,” the characters Haruhiko Yamanouchi and Ken Yamamura portrayed Silver Samurai, with his armor made from this metal. Whether or not the MCU revisits this aspect of Silver Samurai, the presence of adamantium paves the way for potential introductions of characters such as X-23 and Lady Deathstrike into the MCU.

Camp Echo One gets a redesign

Sam and Joaquin find out that the individual who was expected to purchase adamantium from Serpent is hiding within Camp Echo One. This secretive military installation operates off the grid and shouldn’t be functioning at all, leading them to suspect something unusual and prompting them to investigate. In their exploration, they run into Samuel Sterns, who has turned this clandestine base into his headquarters following his imprisonment by Ross.

Camp Echo One made its debut in “Champions” Volume 2, Issue 10, penned by Mark Waid and illustrated by Humberto Ramos. Initially constructed as a tranquilization center for the Hulk, it later served as an internment camp for Inhumans, resulting in Ms. Marvel’s detention. This predicament prompted the Champions to launch a rescue mission.

In “Brave New World”, Camp Echo One essentially transforms into a detention center. This is evident as Sam observes that while it has cells, they are empty except for Sterns and the guards, who are under Sterns’ control. As Sterns ends up on the Raft by the finale of “Captain America: Brave New World”, it appears there may not be much purpose left for Camp Echo One within the franchise unless a future president decides to unjustly imprison another individual there.

Bucky’s getting into politics

In the movie titled “Captain America: Brave New World,” Bucky Barnes (played by Sebastian Stan) makes a short appearance. After Sam finds himself injured from a nearby missile explosion during the Indian Sea battle, he visits Joaquin in the hospital. Upon arrival, Bucky enters to offer comfort and emotional support. He helps alleviate Sam’s doubts about his worthiness as Captain America before swiftly departing for an event. A moment later, Ruth (played by Shira Haas) mentions that Bucky has aspirations of becoming a future congressman, creating intrigue surrounding his role in the upcoming film “Thunderbolts,” set to be released on May 2.

As a huge fan, I must admit it wasn’t entirely unexpected seeing Bucky at a congressional hearing in the “Thunderbolts*” Super Bowl trailer. It seems he might be dabbling in politics somehow, which has me pondering how he’ll mesh with this team. I can only speculate that there will be bureaucratic hurdles for him to navigate before he can get down and dirty on the field, but given Bucky’s character, I’m guessing those formalities won’t faze him one bit.

Sam’s putting the team back together

Initially, Ross assigns Sam the mission of reforming the Avengers into a recognized government agency, a task that Sam initially resists. However, by the end of the movie, while conversing with Joaquin in the hospital, Sam suggests he should prepare himself. This seems to indicate that Sam may be planning to reassemble the Avengers outside of government control, a development that aligns with the speculated plotline for “Thunderbolts” so far.

*Note: “Thunderbolts” is a fictional superhero team in the Marvel Universe.

The trailer for the Super Bowl’s “Thunderbolts” movie seems to hint at events from “Brave New World.” In this scene, character Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, indicates that the Avengers won’t be making an appearance. This implies that a new team called the Thunderbolts should emerge instead. The implication is that Sam may struggle to establish his proposed team, even though he appears open to the idea at the end of his movie. Since “Thunderbolts” takes place in the future, it could be that Sam hasn’t managed to get the Avengers back together yet, and Valentina is preparing a contingency plan.

Perhaps Valentina, who has a somewhat deceptive character, might be cognizant that a fresh Avengers squad is being assembled and is endeavoring to establish her team prior to the Earth’s Superheroes reuniting. Regardless of the reasons, we can expect a new team to be in position by the time “Avengers: Doomsday” hits theaters on May 1, 2026.

Why is Octavia Spencer thanked in the credits?

In long Marvel movie credits, it can be hard not to get distracted or lose focus. Yet, if you stick around till the end, you might spot Octavia Spencer in the “Special Thanks” section. It might seem puzzling because her connection to Marvel is limited to a minor role in 2002’s “Spider-Man.” However, there’s a valid explanation for her appearance on that list.

It appears that Spencer played a significant role in securing director Julius Onah the opportunity to direct “Captain America 4.” This was revealed by Anthony Mackie during an interview with Blackfilmandtv.com. Mackie explained, “Octavia called me, and I knew that when Octavia calls, it’s something important. So I asked, ‘What’s up, girl?’ She said, ‘Mackie, you know my friend is in the running for your movie, and you better get him the job or else I’m coming to New Orleans and causing trouble!'” Mackie went on to say that he spoke with Onah and was impressed by his eagerness to delve into the character of Sam Wilson.

Spencer collaborated with Onah in the movie “Luce”, and apparently enjoyed their collaboration so much that he advocated for Onah to be involved in “Captain America 4”. It’s heartening to see her credited for recognizing Onah’s abilities.

Battleworld is coming

In the post-credit scene of “Captain America: Brave New World,” Sam pays a visit to Samuel Sterns, currently imprisoned on the Raft. He gives a mysterious, enigmatic warning. He hints that Sam and other superheroes are preoccupied with safeguarding their world, but they should also be mindful of other worlds. Eventually, he implies, Earth’s heroes will cross paths with “the others,” paving the way for the continuation of the Captain America series within the broader Multiverse Saga.

Over the course of its history, Marvel has experienced both triumphs and setbacks, particularly regarding the impending major menace in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Originally, it seemed Kang and his multiple variations would be the primary antagonist, but that plan appears to have been scrapped. Instead, Marvel has chosen Robert Downey Jr. to portray Doctor Doom, causing a change in the title of 2026’s movie “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” to “Avengers: Doomsday.” This decision seems to be building towards the release of “Avengers: Secret Wars” in 2027. If it follows the comic books, this film will see various heroes transported to Battleworld, a place constructed from remnants of numerous realities that have been destroyed. The characters referred to as “the others” by Sterns likely include other heroes who will join those familiar faces from the MCU’s established timeline on Battleworld.

Instead of battling numerous Kangs, the Avengers could engage with heroes from different dimensions, possibly reintroducing actors as characters who were part of the MCU earlier. It’s also possible that we’ll encounter alternate versions of familiar heroes, such as a report hinting at Chris Evans potentially returning as an antagonist instead of Captain America (however, he has refuted these claims for “Doomsday”). In essence, Sterns’ warning could just be a teaser for the upcoming two “Avengers” movies without necessarily indicating any specific events.

2025-02-14 03:31