Marvel’s new Cap made an appearance at Comic-Con 2024, previewing his arrival in the MCU in Brave New World and also making a big character reveal.
Giancarlo Esposito (The Boys, Better Call Saul) joined the cast of Captain America: Brave New World late on as part of reshoots. Marvel had kept Esposito’s role a closely held secret, but during the comic book giant’s big Hall H panel on Saturday night, it was revealed that Esposito will play Sidewinder, leader of a villainous organization known in the comics as the Serpent Society.
“It’s a dream come true,” he told the assembled fans, “Fan casting is what connected us and got us talking. There are a lot of people speculating about who I really am, but with this cast, especially Anthony Mackie… can I say it? Amazing! I can finally say it. I am the King of the Serpent Society. I am the Sidewinder!”
Giancarlo Esposito plays Sidewinder in Captain America: Brave New World.
Marvel
The introduction of Sidewinder and the Serpent Society has become something of an inside joke among Marvel fans. A few years ago, at a Marvel fan event in Los Angeles, when Chadwick Boseman was announced to play Black Panther and the MCU’s upcoming films, including Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige initially joked that the third Captain America movie would be called Captain America: Serpent Society. At the end of the panel, he finally revealed that the real title was Captain America: Civil War.
Anthony Mackie reprises his role as Sam Wilson, who has taken on the title of Captain America. Mackie was in attendance at Comic-Con along with Esposito, director Julius Onah, and actors Harrison Ford (as President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross), Danny Ramirez (as Joaquin Torres), Esposito (as Sidewinder), and Tim Blake Nelson (reprising his role as Samuel Sterns from The Incredible Hulk).
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In Captain America: Brave New World, Sam meets with President Ross and instructs the new Captain to reassemble the Avengers team. But first there is an international situation that must be dealt with. After Isaiah and other super soldiers arrive at the White House to attack Ross, and someone activates the brainwashing of a long-dormant sleeper agent, Sam realizes that the President’s inner circle is in danger and that a sinister plot that could affect the entire world is afoot.
Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson in “Captain America: Brave New World.”
Marvel
“Sam is surrounded by really great, complex characters that help him move the story forward,” Mackie said at the panel. “He’s the more intelligent, thoughtful character. He continues to give that advice and keeps that direction throughout the film.”
In a clip shown in the Captain America: Brave New World room, adamantium, a fictional metal from the comics that’s famously embedded in Wolverine’s (Hugh Jackman) skeleton, is introduced in the MCU. Ross revealed that the adamantium was on Earth, and thanks to Captain America, it was retrieved and moved to a safe location.
Nelson’s character is destined to transform into the comic book villain known as The Leader, but Nelson wouldn’t give away too much. “No spoilers. I hope he comes back,” he said. “They’ve written a great story for The Leader, and I think audiences are going to be pretty excited about it,” Nelson added.
Ramirez was a bit more forthright, confirming that Joaquin Torres (returning from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) is destined to be the new Falcon. “I feel at home in the air,” Ramirez said, presumably referring to his recent role in Top Gun: Maverick. “It’s cool to be on these wings that have been used so much and have been worn down over the years. I thought they were a little old and had knee pads on them, but it felt good to be up in the air again.”
Ford, who has confirmed that Ross will be playing the character who transforms into the Red Hulk, said of the president, “There’s no reference to current history at all. None of it. This character is based on so much history with Bill, who played the role before.” (The role was originally played by William Hurt, but Ford reprised it after Hart’s death in 2022.) “But now it’s Thaddeus. I’m so happy and so proud to be a part of the Marvel Universe,” Ford continued, after the audience applauded Hart. “I’ve seen so many great actors, including some of the actors here tonight, really enjoying working in the Marvel Universe, and I wanted to be a part of it. I’m so proud to be in this movie.”
Captain America: Brave New World will be the next MCU film to hit theaters, following this weekend’s release of Deadpool & Wolverine, and is scheduled for release on February 14, 2025.
—Reporting by Sidney Bucksbaum
