Marvel
Captain America: Brave New World lit up Comic-Con on Saturday, with cast members Anthony Mackie, Tim Blake Nelson, Danny Ramirez and Giancarlo Esposito all showing up at a fan event in San Diego to preview the superhero sequel. But it was the movie’s star Harrison Ford who made the biggest impact when he took to the stage in Hall H to roaring applause. Footage from the film was shown during Marvel’s presentation, confirming that Ford’s character, Thunderbolt Ross, will indeed transform into the Red Hulk in the film. Ford delivered, imitating the Hulk’s powerful roar.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige called Brave New World a return to the gritty action of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, adding a dash of spandex to the paranoid thrillers so common in ’70s movies, while Mackie hinted that Marvel fans will see a more “cerebral” Captain America. Mackie noted that Sam Wilson is “not as much of a muscle guy” as his mentor, the original Captain Steve Rogers.
Esposito also arrived with a bit of news, revealing for the first time that he’ll be playing Sidewinder, king of the Serpent Society.
The new footage from Captain America: Brave New World, shown in Hall H, began with Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross (now the President of the United States) discussing the ending of The Eternals at a meeting with world leaders called the Celestial Island Summit. Adamantium was discovered in the ruins where the dead Celestials emerged in the sea, and it turns out to be the most precious element on Earth today. Ross recruits Sam Wilson/Captain America to create a new Avengers team, but things don’t go as planned. The biggest reveal in the footage was the confirmation that Ford’s President Ross will abandon the Resolute Desk and become the Red Hulk. The previous trailer confirmed that the Red Hulk would appear in the film, but now Marvel fans are sure that Ross will be a muscular man.
“Just when I thought my nerd life couldn’t get any more perfect, I hear Harrison Ford say adamantium,” Feige said at the end of the panel.
The first trailer, released on July 12, depicted the attack on the White House and the attempted assassination of Ross – an eerie coincidence that the actual assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump took place the following day.
Mackie takes over from Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, who appeared in the three previous “Captain America” movies and four “Avengers” films. At the end of 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” Steve says goodbye to his fellow superheroes and travels back in time to a new life with his love, Peggy Carter. He passes his vibranium shield to Sam, who vows to do the right thing for the patriotic hero.
“Captain America: A Brave New World” marks Mackie’s first return to the Marvel Universe. The cast also includes his “Falcon and the Winter Soldier” co-star Danny Ramirez as the new Falcon, Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, Shira Haas as superhero Sabra, Giancarlo Esposito as the mysterious villain, and Ford taking over the role of “Thunderbolt” Ross from the late William Hurt. The film also marks a return to the MCU with Liv Tyler returning as Betty Ross from the 2008 film “The Incredible Hulk,” and Tim Blake Nelson returning as the Leader.
Captain America: Brave New World is directed by Julius Onah and written by Malcolm Spellman, Daran Masson and Matthew Orton. The film is scheduled for release on February 12, 2025.
