It has been nearly six years since the Avengers disbanded after defeating Thanos and losing Tony Stark. However, the world 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 set to reassemble its iconic team, and the journey begins with "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 in the development of 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 successful Avengers teams in Marvel comics have always had Captain America at their core. After Steve Rogers passed his shield to Sam Wilson in "Avengers: Endgame," the MCU needed time to develop Wilson into the leader the team required. This transition was not easy for Wilson, as 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 the role of Captain America, he faces a new challenge: leading the next Avengers team.
As revealed in a pre-release marketing clip, the opening of "Brave New World" features President Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford, who steps into the role previously held by the late William Hurt, asking Wilson to revive the Avengers project. This might confuse long-term fans, given that Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross was behind the Sokovia Accords, which led to the Avengers' division. So, why would he now want to bring them back together?
"He was a guy who had this real legacy that could maybe be defined by his anger," explains Julius Onah, the director of "Brave New World." "But the man that 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."
As a general, Ross understands the tactical advantage of having the Avengers. However, he doesn't intend to recreate the team as it once was. With Captain America now an official role within the U.S. government, as seen in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," Wilson works directly with the President. This means a Captain America-led Avengers team would essentially be a branch 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."
Sam Wilson must now embrace Captain America's ultimate responsibility: leading the Avengers. | Image credit: Disney / Marvel Studios
President Ross's renewed interest in the Avengers likely stems from the discovery of a world-changing substance. The Celestial that 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 Vibranium. With this metal now accessible in the ocean, 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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If there is an ulterior motive behind this new Avengers team, it suggests that the working relationship between President Ross and Sam Wilson's Captain America may be fraught with tension. Steve Rogers was staunchly against government control, and Wilson has strived to uphold his predecessor's values throughout his superhero career.
"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 dynamics, it's possible that Sam Wilson may not be the leader President Ross envisions. The answer might lie in 2025's "Thunderbolts," featuring a team of anti-heroes including John Walker, who briefly took up the Captain America mantle in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" but tarnished Steve Rogers' legacy. Perhaps Walker and his morally ambiguous allies will become the President's Avengers, fittingly given Ross's nickname, Thunderbolt.
If this scenario unfolds, Wilson could form his own independent team of superheroes, just in time for Robert Downey Jr.'s return as 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 took up the shield, leading him inevitably to the leadership of the Avengers.
"Historically the Avengers have been led by a Captain America, and Sam Wilson is very much so a worthy one," Onah states. "But part of telling this story is also reinforcing, illustrating, and dramatizing for an audience: why [is he worthy]?"
Wilson's worthiness stems from his empathy, which Onah describes as his superpower. As any MCU fan knows, Wilson is just a man with a shield and mechanical wings, capable of impressive physical feats. However, it's his ability to understand the perspectives of both allies and enemies that enables him to wield the shield effectively, embodying the values it represents.
"I think that's what makes him a Captain America of this moment," Onah says.
"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."
Wilson must act swiftly. After "Brave New World," only two films remain before "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 event. While this is a shorter buildup than the five films leading to 2012's "The Avengers," characters like Spider-Man, Thor, and Bruce Banner may be ready to answer the call. The assembly of Avengers 2.0 begins here.
