Captain America: Brave New World Launches Avengers 2.0

It has been nearly six years since the Avengers disbanded following the defeat of Thanos and the tragic loss of Tony Stark. The world, however, is once again in dire need of its mightiest heroes. With new Avengers films slated for 2026 and 2027, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is poised to reassemble its iconic team swiftly. The journey to recruit the next generation of Avengers kicks off in "Captain America: Brave New World."

"We know people miss the Avengers and we miss the Avengers," says Nate Moore, a seasoned producer at Marvel Studios and a key figure behind the fourth Captain America film. "But we knew if we jumped right back into the Avengers after Endgame, we wouldn't give people a chance to miss it."

Moore emphasizes that the most iconic Avengers teams in Marvel comics have always had Captain America at their core. After Steve Rogers passed the shield to Sam Wilson in "Avengers: Endgame," the MCU dedicated time to developing Wilson into the leader he needed to become. This process was not straightforward, as Wilson grappled with his new role as Captain America, a struggle explored in the six-part Disney+ series, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier." By the time of "Brave New World," Wilson confidently dons the red, white, and blue. Yet, as he masters his role as Captain America, he faces an even greater challenge: leading the new Avengers team.

In a pre-release marketing clip, "Brave New World" opens with President Ross (portrayed by Harrison Ford, succeeding the late William Hurt) requesting Wilson to revive the Avengers initiative. This might puzzle long-time fans, given that Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross was the architect of the Sokovia Accords, which fractured the Avengers. So, why would he now advocate for their reunion?

"He was a guy who had this real legacy that could maybe be defined by his anger," explains Julius Onah, director of "Brave New World." "But the man we're meeting now is an elder statesman, a diplomat turning a new leaf, who sees and understands the errors of his past and wants to do better. [He wants to initiate] the Avengers because they could be a benefit to the world."

Ross, a former general, recognizes the strategic advantage of having a superhero team. However, he does not intend to simply recreate the original Avengers. Following "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," Captain America is now a formal role within the U.S. government, and in "Brave New World," Wilson works directly under the President. This suggests that a Captain America-led Avengers team would function as an extension of the U.S. defense department.

"Ross is the man who passed the Sokovia Accords," Moore notes. "He certainly realized that the Avengers left unchecked may not be the best idea for anyone. And so I certainly think he understands that power is more beneficial to him if it's under his command, and he figures why not do it first before somebody beats me to the punch."

Sam Wilson must now embrace Captain America's ultimate duty: leading the Avengers. | Image credit: Disney / Marvel Studios

President Ross's interest in reassembling the Avengers likely stems from the discovery of a world-altering substance. The Celestial, turned to stone at the end of "Eternals," has been revealed at San Diego Comic Con 2024 to be a source of Adamantium, Marvel's renowned super metal and a valuable alternative to Wakanda's closely guarded Vibranium. With this miracle metal up for grabs in the ocean, an Adamantium arms race looms, making it strategic to have superheroes on your side.

"I think certainly any nation that has a group of Avengers has a leg up over anyone else," Moore states. "And Ross is a general, so certainly he understands what a tactical advantage is!"

How Sam Wilson/Falcon Became Captain America in the Comics

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Given the potential ulterior motives behind this new Avengers team, the dynamic between President Ross and Sam Wilson's Captain America is unlikely to be smooth. Steve Rogers staunchly opposed government control, and Wilson has dedicated his superhero career to upholding those values.

"I really focused on the emotional journey that Sam was taking," Onah remarks. "It was really cool to then put him opposite somebody who had divided the Avengers in the past. Because of that history, Sam was put into prison. The Sokovia Accords, all the stuff that Ross pushed forward as Secretary of State [came into play]. These are things that when these two men walk into a room, that tension between them is palpable."

It's possible that Sam Wilson isn't the ideal candidate for President Ross's vision of the Avengers. The answer might lie in the 2025 MCU project, "Thunderbolts," which follows shortly after "Brave New World." "Thunderbolts" features a team of anti-heroes, including John Walker, who briefly assumed the Captain America mantle in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" but tarnished Steve Rogers's legacy. Perhaps Walker and his ethically ambiguous allies will become Ross's Avengers, fittingly given Ross's nickname, Thunderbolt.

If that scenario unfolds, Wilson could form his own independent superhero team, perfectly timed for the arrival of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in "Avengers: Doomsday" in 2026. Regardless of the specifics, "Brave New World" marks the next step in Wilson's journey, which began when he first took up the shield, towards becoming the leader of the Avengers. Recognizing this as the first film to focus on assembling the next Avengers team, Onah was eager to prepare Wilson for the challenges ahead.

Onah highlights Wilson's empathy as his true superpower, enabling him to understand both allies and enemies and effectively wield the shield's values. "I think that's what makes him a Captain America of this moment," Onah states.

"I don't think Sam would be prepared to lead the Avengers until he truly believed that he was Captain America," Moore adds. "And our goal as filmmakers was to take him on a journey of questioning whether or not he made the right decision. Hopefully by the end, [we’ll have] him and the audience go 'There certainly could be no one else'. He is Captain America, and hopefully he takes the tools from this movie to be able to lead the Avengers."

Time is of the essence for Wilson. Following "Brave New World," only two films stand between us and "Avengers: Doomsday." It's likely that Captain America will appear in both "Thunderbolts" and "Fantastic Four: First Steps" as he recruits his team for the 2026 blockbuster. While this path is shorter than the five films leading to 2012's "The Avengers," characters like Spider-Man, Thor, and Bruce Banner might already be ready for the call. Regardless, the assembly of Avengers 2.0 begins here.