Captain America: Brave New World Is the Start of 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. However, the world's need for its mightiest heroes has resurfaced, and with new Avengers movies slated for 2026 and 2027, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is poised to bring the team back together. The journey to reassemble the Avengers kicks off in "Captain America: Brave New World."

"We know people miss the Avengers, and we miss the Avengers," says Nate Moore, a veteran 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 his shield to Sam Wilson at the end of "Avengers: Endgame," the MCU has taken time to develop Wilson into the leader he needs to be. This journey has not been easy for Wilson, as depicted in the six-part Disney+ series, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," which explored his initial struggles with the role. By the time of "Brave New World," Wilson confidently wears the red, white, and blue, ready to take on his next challenge: leading a new Avengers team.

A pre-release marketing clip for "Brave New World" reveals that President Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford following the passing of William Hurt, asks Wilson to revive the Avengers project. This may confuse long-term fans, given Ross's history with the Sokovia Accords, which led to the Avengers' split. However, Julius Onah, the director of "Brave New World," explains that Ross has evolved into an elder statesman seeking to rectify past mistakes and sees the Avengers as a global benefit.

"He was a guy who had this real legacy that could maybe be defined by his anger," Onah states. "But the man that we're meeting now is a man who is an elder statesman, who's a diplomat, who's 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."

As a general, Ross understands the strategic advantage of having a superhero team. However, his vision for the new Avengers differs from the original. Following "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," Captain America is now an official government position, and Wilson works directly with the President. This suggests that a Captain America-led Avengers team would be part of the U.S. defense department.

"Ross is the man who passed the Sokovia Accords," says Moore. "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."

Ross's renewed interest in the Avengers likely stems from the discovery of Adamantium, a super metal unveiled at San Diego Comic Con 2024, found in the remains of the Celestial from "Eternals." With this valuable resource accessible to all nations, an Adamantium arms race looms, making a superhero team a strategic necessity.

"I think certainly any nation that has a group of Avengers has a leg up over anyone else," says Moore. "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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The dynamic between President Ross and Sam Wilson's Captain America is poised to be fraught with tension. Steve Rogers was staunchly against government control, and Wilson has strived to uphold those values. "I really focused on the emotional journey that Sam was taking," says Onah. "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."

Given these complexities, it's possible that Wilson may not be the leader Ross envisions for the new Avengers. This scenario might lead to the "Thunderbolts," a 2025 MCU project featuring anti-heroes like John Walker, who briefly took up the Captain America mantle in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," potentially becoming the President's team. With Ross's nickname being Thunderbolt, this seems fitting.

If Wilson does not lead the government-backed Avengers, he could form his own independent team, setting the stage for the arrival of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in "Avengers: Doomsday" in 2026. Regardless of the specifics, "Brave New World" marks a significant step in Wilson's journey toward leading the Avengers, a path he embarked upon when he first took up the shield.

"Historically the Avengers have been led by a Captain America, and Sam Wilson is very much so a worthy one," Onah asserts. "But part of telling this story is also reinforcing, illustrating, and dramatizing for an audience: why [is he worthy]?"

Onah highlights Wilson's empathy as his superpower, enabling him to understand the perspectives of both allies and enemies. This empathy, combined with his skills, allows him to effectively wield the shield and embody the values it represents. "I think that's what makes him a Captain America of this moment," Onah remarks.

"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."

With only two movies remaining before "Avengers: Doomsday," Wilson's path to leadership is accelerating. It's likely he'll appear in both "Thunderbolts" and "Fantastic Four: First Steps" to recruit his team. While this is a shorter build-up than the five films leading to the 2012 "The Avengers," characters like Spider-Man, Thor, and Bruce Banner might already be ready to join. The reassembly of Avengers 2.0 begins with "Captain America: Brave New World."