The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly expanding with new projects in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Without a doubt the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which will arrive this December. The Doomsday cast was recently shown in an official poster, although a fan pointed out a "funny outcome" related to Chris Evans' return as Steve Rogers.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday has been limited, but fans are hyped to see entire teams united against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. Former Marvel Studios Director of Visual Development Andy Park recently took to Instagram to show off an epic post for the forthcoming blockbuster. Check it out:

I mean how awesome is that? This image is the first real glimpse at what costumes various heroes will be wearing in Doomsday. This includes the new looks for the OG stars of the X-Men movies, although one character is especially turning heads. Namely Chris Evan's Steve Rogers, who is shown wearing a casual pants and t-shirt rather than his signature Captain America suit.

This poster quickly went viral online, and fans started sounding off on social media. One tweet that's gotten at on of attention poked fun at Steve's casual outfit for Doomsday, claiming:

The lack of a costume for Chris Evans' hero is definitely turning heads, although it's unclear if the above claim is accurate. Although Captain America: Brave New World bombed at the box office, so perhaps that's what this user is referencing about The Russos "not trusting" Sam Wilson's version of Cap to lead the upcoming Avengers movie.

There were plenty of response to the above Tweet, many of which were fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order and aren't pleased about Steve's casual outfit. Check it out below:

• Chris Evans is playing the hero Shirtpants. You can tell it's him because he is wearing a shirt and pants.
• Secret Wars is not a captain america movie at all, its more Doom/Fantastic Four story (with other marvel heroes invovled)
• I don't mind Steve not having the mantle BUT AT LEAST GIVE HIM SOME DAMN BATTLE SUIT HOW WILL HE FIGHT USING A PLAIN BLACK SHIRT COME ON
• Watch it become a twist where this is not our Steve rogers but Captain Hydra hence no actual suit

The latter post is particularly intriguing, as there were rumors we'd see a villainous variant of Captain America in the blockbuster. But Marvel's tight security has been keeping the movie's contents under wraps, so there's no telling what's actually coming.

Despite Steve Rogers getting his happy ever after during Avengers: Endgame, a teaser for Doomsday confirmed that Chris Evans would be reprising his signature role once again. Check it out below:

While Chris Evans cameos as the Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine, the next Avengers movie marks the first time he'll play Steve Rogers since Endgame changed the shared universe forever. The pressure is on, and it should be fascinating to see how the character changed since we last saw him.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we get a full trailer sooner rather than later.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe consistently puts out new content for fans, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But arguably the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, resulting in countless theories and rumors about what The Russo Brothers' blockbuster will include. And a new rumor claims that Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom is "obsessed" with one hero, and it ain't Reed Richards. Let's break it all down.

Because what we know about Avengers: Doomsday is so limited, fans have been filling in the blanks online. Folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order can't wait to see the Fantastic Four interact with Doctor Doom, but a report from scooper MTTSH claims that the villain will instead be focused on Chris Evans' Steve Rogers. It reads:

Well, I'm interested. If this rumor ends up being legit, it sounds like we'll see lots of scenes between RDJ and Chris Evans in the forthcoming blockbuster. This would likely be thrilling for longtime fans, although some might be surprised if the movie doesn't build to a conflict between Doctor Doom and Reed Richards. After all, he's typically known as a Fantastic Four villain in the comics and other media.

While he wasn't included in the Doomsday cast announcement, the brief but impactful Captain America teaser confirmed Evans was returning to the MCU as his signature character. And if this rumor is to be believed, he'll be Doom's biggest target.

Of course, it's more than possible that the above rumor won't end up being legit. Lots of Marvel fans are throwing everything at the wall, thanks to how little we actually know about Doomsday's contents. But with the movie's December release getting closer, I have to assume that we'll be treated to more content and actual trailer soon. At least that's what I'm hoping.

This latest claim about the next Avengers movie stands in juxtaposition to earlier chatter that Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards would be the main character of the blockbuster. Although given the scale of Doomsday, it would make sense if The Russo Brothers were actually putting the focus on long-running characters like Steve Rogers. We'll just have to wait until this coming December to see which rumors about the movie actually end up coming true.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday finally hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. With so many rumors surrounding the project it feels like just about anything could happen when it finally hits the big screen. Fingers crossed we get some concrete information sooner rather than later.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to be a wildly popular franchise, with new releases hitting theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen a ton of heroes introduced, starting off with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark in Iron Man. While Jon Favreau's 2008 movie was a huge gamble, the Oscar-winning actor recently shouted out two of his Avengers co-stars for playing two heroes that were especially difficult to pull off.

Moviegoers can't wait to see RDJ as Doctor Doom in the next Avengers movie, but the 61-year-old actor is also looking back on what came before. During an interview with CBR, Downey spoke to the two actors he thinks had the hardest job when bringing their heroes to life on the big screen. In his words:

Honestly, I get his perspective. On paper, both Captain America and Doctor Strange are two Marvel heroes who might be challenging to play, and could potentially end up coming off pretty goofy. Luckily, the studio had stellar actors like Chris Evans and Benedict Cumberbatch playing those roles, respectively. And Robert Downey Jr. is (rightfully) giving flowers to his co-stars for making Cap and Strange into beloved figures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I can definitely see RDJ's point, especially when it comes to Benedict Cumberbatch in particular. When Doctor Strange arrived in theaters 2016, it was the first time the MCU brought magic into the shared universe (aside from Loki's abilities). The Sherlock actor had an uphill battle in pulling this off, as well as making Stephen Strange feel like a real person. He balanced humor and heart in the movie, while casting spells and bringing trippy visuals into the universe. Fans really responded to it, and he's become an important presence in the MCU as a whole. As for Chris Evans, he succeeded in making Steve Rogers the heart of the entire franchise.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but both Chris Evans and Benedict Cumberbatch are expected to reprise their roles in the mysterious blockbuster. Fans are eager to see how the mysterious story will go down, and how the Avengers will react when meeting Doctor Doom... especially since he'll be having the same face as their dead friend Tony Stark.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. And with the press tour coming up, hopefully Robert Downey Jr. will grace us with more of his Marvel hot takes.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always keeping fans on their toes, thanks to the steady release of content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which will be a multiversal crossover event. The Russo Brothers are back behind the camera, and they recently offered a cryptic comment about Chris Evans' return to the MCU. And while it didn't reveal anything about the movie itself, they explained him returning as Steve Rogers for the first time since Endgame's ending.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, leading to plenty of rumors and fan theories arriving online. Following the Doomsday cast announcement, a teaser featuring Chris Evans' Steve Rogers confirmed his return in the blockbuster. In a conversation with Empire Magazine (via Twitter), The Russo Brothers explained their choice to bring the beloved hero back. In their words:

While being careful to guard the movie's secrets, it sounds like the story being told in Avengers: Doomsday is what warranted Chris Evans' return as his signature character. This might be a relief for skeptics, who were worried that the Russos were tarnishing Steve Roger's happy ending with Peggy. Of course, we'll have to wait and see how this all shakes out when the title hits theaters this coming December.

While we haven't gotten a full trailer for the next Avengers movie, fans were treated to a number of brief Doomsday teasers, revealing some crossovers and the return of the stars of the X-Men movies. And it sounds like not only will Evans be back, but Steve Rogers is essential to the project's story.

While the next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, fans are definitely invested in what's coming down the line with Avengers: Doomsday. Folks are eager for The Russo Brothers' movie to get a full trailer, and hopefully reveal more about what the actual story will entail. That includes exactly how Chris Evans' Captain America will join the narrative and presumably help in the fight against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

With both RDJ and Chris Evans back for the next Avengers movie, there's plenty of reasons why longtime fans of the MCU might show up to theaters. I have to assume this is purposeful, especially after projects like The Marvels bombed at the box office. Hopefully some more information comes sooner rather than later.

Avengers: Doomsday is expected to arrive in theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that we get a full trailer in the near future.

Marvel Cinematic Universe fans have been buzzing about Avengers: Doomsday as of late in great part due to the flurry of teasers that have hit the web. Among those highlighted in the footage is Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, who headlined the first of the four clips released thus far. There’s been plenty of talk amongst fans about Steve’s return to the MCU, and there’s still so much we don’t know. Now, directors Joe and Anthony Russo are teasing the size of Rogers’ role, and one concern I’ve had is growing a bit more.

What Was Said About The Size Of Steve Rogers’ Role?

It’s no secret that Doomsday has an extensive cast and will have a considerable amount of characters to service. So it’s hard not to wonder which ones the Russo brothers will zero in on in this film, which is set to be one half of the culmination of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. The Russos, of course, aren’t exactly keen on spilling the beans on their plans for the upcoming superhero movie. During an interview with Empire Magazine, one of the siblings shared (via ComicBook) their feelings on Steve’s role:

“Central” appears to be the key word here and, while the comments are brief, they do speak volumes. These sentiments seemingly suggest that Steve won’t just be popping in for a handful of scenes. So those who are eager to see their fair share of Steve may indeed have a lot to celebrate. I’ve long been a fan of the heroic (and highly quotable) Rogers, and I’m curious as to what part he’ll play in this next Avengers movie. However, due to his return, I’ve also been concerned about another character’s place within the story.

Amid Steve’s Return, I’ve Been Thinking About Another Doomsday Character

Right now, the MCU has a new Captain America, and his name is Sam Wilson. Anthony Mackie’s wing pack-wearing hero is set to return in Doomsday though, with Steve back in the picture, I’ve been concerned that Wilson could get shortchanged in this latest team-up film. It’s true that we’ve yet to receive confirmation that Steve will indeed don his red, white and blue uniform again, though it did appear in his teaser. So it's hard not to wonder what this all means for Sam.

Given the Russos’ emphasis on Rogers being a “central” element within Doomsday, I can’t help but feel more concerned about the prospect of Sam being somewhat sidelined. It’d be unfortunate if Wilson were to not receive his due as a result of his predecessor coming back into the picture. Honestly, one of the last scenes I want to see in this film is an exchange between Sam and Steve that results in the former handing his shield over to the latter.

I could, of course, just be getting ahead of myself with all of this. The Russos are, after all, skilled when it comes to balancing characters and giving them their just due. So there’s a chance that these two Caps will operate in a balanced way throughout the film. Until I see that, though, I won’t let go of my worries.

Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule. In the meantime, fans can stream the Captain America films and other MCU installments using a Disney+ subscription.

As unbelievable as it may sound, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Avengers splitting up in Captain America: Civil War. One of the best Marvel movies (and an all-time great superhero film), Avengers 2.5, as some call it, gave audiences one of the most iconic action set pieces of all time with the airport fight. Well, now you can celebrate the movie’s big milestone and recreate that legendary moment with this LEGO set.

If you’re into building big Marvel-themed LEGO sets to showcase your fandom throughout your house (don’t we all), then this Captain America: Civil War is going to do the trick. It has Iron Man and Captain America, most of their respective teammates, and some awesome surprises that make it something you don’t want to miss out on. Let’s break it all down…

There’s So Much Action In This Civil War Set

Whether it’s Black Widow flying the Avengers’ Quinjet, Spider-Man swinging around a gigantic Ant-Man, or Cap and Iron Man duking it out, there’s a lot going on with this Civil War LEGO set. Though I’m someone who likes to spend some time building LEGO sets and then put them on a shelf to look at, this particular build could be an exception, thanks to all the cool features.

Not only does this give you the power to recreate that legendary movie moment, but it also has some environmental effects that turn the action up even more. One of the coolest is a catapult-like function that allows you to throw barrels and other objects in the air. A properly placed minifig could lead to some serious carnage of the brick variety here.

Three Avengers Are Oddly Missing, But That Massive Ant-Man Makes Up For It

The Captain America: Civil War LEGO set comes with eight minifigs, which is a lot, but there are some major omissions from this pack. We get Cap and Iron Man, Spider-Man, Falcon, Scarlet Witch, Black Widow, Black Panther, and the Winter Soldier, but that’s a few short of the full cast from the iconic movie scene. There’s no War Machine or Vision on Team Tony Stark, and no Hawkeye from Team Steve Rogers. This does seem odd to leave out three key characters from the franchise, though there are LEGO versions of each available elsewhere.

That said, the massive Ant-Man figure that comes with this set is so awesome, I initially forgot all about those three missing Avengers. While you can’t make a LEGO version of the moment where Ant-Man catches War Machine midair and throws him across the airport, this set does give you the power to have Spider-Man swing around the giant superhero. Oh, the possibilities this brings…

Some Captain America: Civil War LEGO Quick Specs

Before I wrap this up, there are some quick specs for the Captain America: Civil War LEGO set that we should go over first. From the price to the age range to the number of pieces and so much more, here’s all you need to know about this mighty LEGO build.

• Price: $99.99
• No. of Pieces: 736
• Suggested Age: 10+
• Number of Minifigs: 8 (plus a giant Ant-Man)
• Bonus Items: Quinjet (with opening cockpit), exploding barrels, environmental effects, connectors to make minifigs take flight

With the 10th anniversary of Civil War right around the corner, revisiting the legendary superhero movie while building this massive LEGO set (available at Lego's site) seems like the perfect way to celebrate the big occasion.

Fans of new superhero movies love a good “what if” scenario, especially when it throws unlikely heroes onto the same battlefield. That’s part of why excitement is already building around the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. A new piece of Doomsday fan art making the rounds taps right into that energy, imagining what it might look like when Captain America, Mr. Fantastic and Cyclops finally team up to take on Doctor Doom. It's a showdown many expect to see when the film hits the 2026 movie schedule.

What the Fan Art Depicts

The artwork comes from Instagram artist arifinity_, who created a stunning single frame of art that looks as if it were pulled directly from a new Marvel movie. The image, which you can see for yourself below, places Doom at the center of the chaos as he holds his own against three heroes from very different corners of the Marvel universe, each bringing a distinct style and energy to the fight.

In the post's caption, arifinity_ mentions that the artwork is called “The Big Three VS Doctor Doom.” They tag Marvel Studios and the Avengers, and give a shoutout to Ryan Meinerding for inspiring the original keyframe. You can definitely see that influence in the piece—the lighting, framing, and how the characters are arranged all have the classic Marvel look for epic group scenes, closely aligned with what you might see in a comic book splash panel.

What makes the concept land even harder now is how closely it lines up with what Avengers: Doomsday has already confirmed thanks to the recent teaser trailers playing in front of Avatar: Fire and Ash. We know Steve Rogers is returning in some form, even if he’s no longer operating as the Captain America we know. He passed that mantle to Sam Wilson, and it's Wilson’s take on the character pictured in the fan art. We also know the Fantastic Four are part of the story, and that Fox’s X-Men are officially in the mix. The most recent teaser has already revealed comic-accurate X-Men costumes, including Cyclops in his classic blue-and-yellow suit, making this lineup feel far less hypothetical than it might have even a few months ago.

Because of that, the crossover of Captain America, Mr. Fantastic, and Cyclops aren’t just three powerful characters thrown together for spectacle, but a version of which fans are very likely going to get a glimpse of very soon. So, as much as I think the fan art is cool, how is the rest of the internet feeling? Let's take a look.

Fan Reactions Are Split Over "The Big Three"

If there’s one thing the comments prove, it’s that this concept hits a nerve in the best way. A lot of fans are straight-up impressed with the look and scale of the piece, while others got hung up on the “Big Three” label and started arguing about who actually belongs in that kind of lineup.

Here are a few of the best reactions worth highlighting:

• “Bro’s cooking like rent was due this month.” — @dcu.feed
• “I remember seeing these type of concept arts for Age of Ultron…we cooked or what 😮” — @thehimon_
• “Yoooo I never even thought about this kinda ‘big 3’. Sick work as always man. 🤙🏻” — @gavin_gwinn_
• “So cool! I can nnnnot wait to see James Marsden in the iconic cyclops suit.” — @chefsparkles243
• “I love this but I think it should be Sentry instead of Sam.” — @bryanvsthewrldd
• “That ain't the big 3. Hulk, wolverine, and Spiderman are the big 3.” — @jokerjr40
• “BIG 3 ❌️ The leaders ✅️” — @s_a_t_v_i_k_6_1_6
• “The new trinity vs Dr doom.” — @ethan_m_cruz
• “In what universe are they the big three” — @lyndon342018
• “Big three ? Nah uh buddy” — @lukasfeineis

At the end of the day, whether fans agree on who qualifies as the “Big Three” or not, the art clearly struck a chord, sparking both excitement and debate while tapping into what makes Avengers: Doomsday so intriguing in the first place. Soon, like a box of action figures in the hands of a child, different corners of the Marvel universe are going to collide, and unexpected alliances are taking shape. The movie is shaping up to feel like the ultimate superhero mash-up.

If the energy on screen comes anywhere close to what this fan art is channeling when the film arrives on December 18, 2026, fans are in for a massive ride.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always expanding, thanks to new projects hitting theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Arguably the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which will once again find The Russo Brothers behind the camera. Rumors about that project are swirling, including reports that Chris Evans' Captain America will have a major role. But I have mixed feelings about the potential return of Steve Rogers.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is very limited, so fans have been filling in the blanks online. While Evans wasn't included in the Doomsday cast announcement, a post by scooper Daniel Richtman claims that not only will Steve Rogers be back, but he might even be the protagonist of the blockbuster.

While having the OG Captain America pop up in the next Avengers movie is exciting, I'm not sure that making him the lead character is the right call. He's been missing since getting his happy ending in Endgame, although Evans did a cameo as Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine. I would have enjoyed seeing a variant of Steve pop up, but I think making him the lead of Doomsday is a misstep.

This rumor arrived along with reports that we could be getting the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer shortly. Whether or not Evans returns as Steve Rogers the reported teaser remains to be seen, but I have to assume that some fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order might also have conflicting feels about this reported return.

We last saw Evans as Steve Rogers at the ending of Avengers: Endgame. After the Time Heist, he used the time travel machine to return the Infinity Stones (and Mjolnir) to their place on the Sacred Timeline. After briefly popping up as an old man, we learn that he and Peggy finally got their happy ending in the past, with the pair getting their long-awaited dane.

Because of this happy ending, I think it's a pretty huge risk to bring the OG Cap back into the fold for Doomsday. I would have much preferred seeing a variant get a surprise role, especially if he ended up becoming a villain like Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

It remains to be seen if this report turns out to be true, but the cinephiles are definitely invested in whatever The Russos have up their sleeve for the next two Avengers movies. The MCU has had some peaks and valleys in the years sine Endgame hit theaters, so the pressure is on to deliver a similarly must-see event.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to monitor these rumors about the movie, and see if the studio treats us to the first footage anytime soon.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine, one that's constantly putting out new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Without a doubt the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which is expected to be a massive multiversal story. Some epic fan art sees Chris Evans back as Steve Rogers, and leading his fellow Captain Americas Peggy Carter and Sam Wilson. Not going to lie, now I want to see this crossover happen.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, so fans are filling in the blanks with rumors, theories, and viral fan art. Case in point: the following image from Instagram, which sees the MCU's three Captains sharing the screen together. Check it out below:

I mean, how cool is that? While Steve Rogers is the OG Cap, a few other character have taken on the mantle, both in the Sacred Timeline and the multiverse. The idea of seeing the three shielded heroes fighting alongside each other is thrilling, although whether or not it's actually going to happen is anyone's guess.

The Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement confirmed a ton of characters including Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson. The same can't be said for the other two in this image, although there were reports that Chris Evans might be back. For his part, Evans claimed he wasn't going to appear... but some fans don't necessarily believe him. After all, Marvel stars are expected to lie to protect fans from spoilers.

As for Hayley Atwell, fans who have watched the Marvel movies in order will recall her penchant for showing up in surprise cameos throughout the years. That includes her brief but memorable appearance as Captain Carter in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Since Atwell took umbrage with being killed off in that blockbuster, perhaps she'd like another chance to play a Super Soldier in Avengers: Doomsday.

Of course, this is all just fan theories for now. Marvel has been keeping its cards close to the chest regarding Doomsday, which seemingly wrapped principal photography recently. Hopefully this means we'll get more information sooner rather than later, as fans are definitely curious about what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeves for the blockbuster.

Entire teams of superheroes are expected to collide in the Doomsday movie, and it should be interesting to see how exactly they interact. That includes The Avengers (presumably led by Sam Wilson), The Thunderbolts aka New Avengers, The Fantastic Four, and the X-Men. There are countless questions about how this will go down, and how the MCU as a whole might be influenced.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. If/how Evans appears remains to be seen, but fans would definitely love to see the OG Cap return.

A lot of eyes are on next year’s upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday. While the MCU has continued on at a steady pace, Disney is certainly expecting the next Avengers film to bring the franchise back to the heights it hit with the last two Avengers movies, and now fans are wondering if the movie might be bringing in a secret weapon, Captain America.

A post recently went viral on social media, which compares Chris Evans look as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Endgame, the last time the character appeared in the MCU, with a look at Evans when he recently appeared at the Toronto International Film Festival. There’s little argument that he’s currently in great shape.

Chris Evans looking like Captain America wouldn’t necessarily be that big a surprise, except that the actor’s newest movie, the recently released Honey Don’t, had Evans slim down and drop most of his muscle. This means that he has specifically made a point to get back into shape. Not surprisingly, fans are predicting that this means we’ll see him return in Avengers: Doomsday. Comments include:

• OMG the captain is coming back! - @ICEMANOUTLINE
• WELCOME BACK STEVE ROGERS - @liriocosmos
• “For what other reason could he be having this physique??” Idk, HEALTH?! He is totally playing Steve Rogers again, tho - @tyanfranco
• Steve Rogers is BACK without question!! I love this for us - @alamanecer

It is, of course, something of a leap of faith to assume that Evans getting back into physical shape means he is going to appear in Avengers: Doomsday. As one of the comments above even points out, this could have happened for any reason, including another film role that requires him to be in shape.

That said, it’s certainly not impossible that Evans could be playing Steve Rogers again. Avengers: Doomsday is currently in production, and while Evans has repeatedly said he won’t be in the new Marvel movie, this would hardly be the first time an actor claimed one thing when the opposite was true. There have continued to be rumors that Evans is returning despite his denials.

Considering that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU playing Doctor Doom rather than Iron Man, there are those who think Evans might be playing a different role, including a variant version of Captain America who is part of Hydra. That would certainly be one way to allow Evans to return without touching the send-off that Steve Rogers was given at the end of Avengers: Endgame.

While most of the cast of Avengers: Doomsday has been revealed, it is known that not every major name has been announced. There’s certainly a possibility that Chris Evans could appear, though we’ll likely need to wait until the actual movie comes out next year to know for sure.

Chris Evans has built up quite the resume as an actor, and continues to be one of Hollywood’s best leading men. However, his legacy will always be tied to his most iconic role as Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America. OG Marvel fans will remember this wasn’t his first gig as a Marvel Superhero, as he previously starred in the Fantastic Four movies. Now, one of Evans' co-stars on that film is recalling their reaction to learning he'd been tapped to play the Sentinel of Liberty by Marvel Studios.

Before there was Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch, there was Ioan Gruffudd and Chris Evans, respectively, playing the roles in the Fantastic Four films of the 2000s. While the 2025 summer blockbuster First Steps was the official MCU debut for the family of superheroes, Gruffudd and Evan’s portrayals -- as well as those of co-stars Jessica Alba and Michael Chiklis -- were the first live action introductions of the characters on the big screen (aside from the shelved 1994 film). While some fans were shocked that Evans was cast as Cap back in 2010, Gruffud told Vulture that he never doubted the casting:

There’s no denying Chris Evans fit the role of Captain America, with his now-gone biceps and all-American bravado. In fact, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has tried to pass the Captain America torch a few times since Steve Rogers exit in Avengers: Endgame, introducing multiple candidates such as Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson and Wyatt Russell’s John Walker. While Sam is now forging his own path, there's just something about Evans' portrayal of Steve.

Needless to say, while some fans were "jarred" over the casting decision, I agree with Ioan Gruffud that the choice made sense. It's for that reason that I, too, miss seeing Evans' Rogers in the MCU. Of course, no one is ever truly gone from the MCU until you see a dead body on screen. Plus, given the MCU's Multiverse Saga is still playing out, there's a chance he could return.

In fact, even iterations of pre-MCU Marvel characters aren’t out of the fold. On that note, Chris Evans reprised his role as Johnny Storm for the 2024 film Deadpool & Wolverine. In the same Vulture interview, Gruffudd responded to Evans' reprisal and shared some positive thoughts. And, given how great it is, it's hard to blame the Welsh actor for holding that view.

Considering these multiversal developments, I have to wonder if we could possibly see the return of former versions of the Fantastic Four, even the characters from Josh Trank's 2015 movie. While I think another version of Evans' Johnny Storm is out of the question after his brutal evisceration by Cassandra Nova in Deadpool & Wolverine, perhaps Ioan Gruffudd’s Reed Richards could step through the multiverse in a similar way to Garfield and Maguire’s Spider-Men?

Even if he doesn't return as the beloved super-stretchy scientist fans know and love, the Titanic actor has shown interest in joining the MCU, perhaps this time as a villain. Should that happen, I'd also be curious to hear what Evans thinks about his colleague taking on a fresh Marvel role.

We will just have to wait and see all the surprises in store, and with all the upcoming Marvel projects set to release over the next few years, anything is possible. Until then, you can brush up on your MCU lore and check out Chris Evans and Ioan Gruffudd's two Fantastic Four movies using a Disney+ subscription.

At this point, it’s hard to imagine anyone but Chris Evans playing Steve Rogers (a.k.a. Captain America) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Back in the early aughts though, Evans had to vie with other actors for the gig. There were a few notable names in the running, including Scott Porter, who’s still known for his work on Friday Night Lights. Porter recently recalled his audition and shared honest thoughts about what it was like losing the part to Evans. Based on the way he described it, it was a painful experience.

Scott Porter has forged a solid career for himself, having landed roles in various TV shows and movies. Nevertheless, losing the opportunity to play the leader of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes really stung at the time. Porter discussed it all during his appearance on Watch What Happens Live, where host Andy Cohen and others listened with intrigue as he shared his recollections. The Ginny & Georgia actor recalled being in the final four and, as he explained in the clip shared to TikTok, he prematurely bought into the hype around him:

Steve Rogers takes a lot of hits, but I’m sure the comic book hero has never felt the sting of losing an acting job to someone. It’s hard not to empathize with Scott Porter, as I can certainly understand why he’d want to play the MCU’s Sentinel of Liberty. However, despite having that freakout years ago, Porter now has a very tempered and reasonable take on not landing the role:

During his interview, Scott Porter mentioned that the other two actors that were part of the final four were his Hart of Dixie co-star Wilson Bethel and Mike Vogel (of Under the Dome and Sex/Life fame). Bethel has been open about losing out on Cap and, in hindsight, it’s ironic that he was in contention since he was later cast as the MCU’s Bullseye. Other notable stars auditioned before the top four were selected. John Krasinski tried out for the part, though he opted against it after seeing the muscular Chris Hemsworth in costume as Thor. Comedian Dane Cook even apologized to Marvel for his audition after the fact.

Chris Evans may not have been everyone’s first choice for the role of Cap, given his prior role as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch in the Fantastic Four films of the 2000s. However, Evans ultimately embodied the role perfectly, playing Steve Rogers in various MCU films between 2011 and 2019. The star’s winning performance is a major reason why a number of fans would like to see him reprise his role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and/or Secret Wars. Evans had denied rumors of a reprisal (though some fans remain skeptical).

Scott Porter should, at the very least be proud to have made it as far through the auditions as he did. Not only that, but Porter went on to voice heroic characters in animated productions like Marvel Anime: X-Men, Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers Assemble. And, based on his MCU fandom, I’d imagine that he’d be seated if Chris Evans does actually return as Captain America. Fans can check out Cap’s exploits in the MCU by streaming the films of the Infinity Saga on Disney+.

Although Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers was the only recipient of Dr. Abraham Erskine’s original Super Soldier Serum, as seen in Captain America: The First Avenger (the fifth of the Marvel movies in order), others were injected with variations of that serum in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley was one of those individuals, but he never crossed paths with Steve. I’ve wondered before how a scene between these two would have looked, and it turns out Lumbly has too, as he shared with me how he envisioned it going down.

I recently interviewed Lumbly for the Digital release of the 2025 movie Captain America: Brave New World,. In addition to him talking about how difficult his running scene was during the White House action sequence, I brought up that Bucky Barnes mentioned in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (streamable with a Disney+ subscription) that Steve Rogers never knew about Isaiah Bradley. So I was curious what Lumbly thought a conversation between Isaiah and Steve might have looked like, and he told me that he believed “they would recognize something about their shared fate.” As he explained:

Steve Rogers was not the first pick for the Super Soldier Serum, but he soon proved himself to be the right candidate through his strength of character. While the United States didn’t get its army of super soldiers powered by Erskine’s serum, it gained someone who embodied the best ideals of the Red, White and Blue. As for Isaiah Bradley, Lumbly laid it out thusly:

Isaiah Bradley was injected with the Super Soldier Serum during the Korean War, when Steve Rogers had already been frozen for half a decade. Unfortunately, he was thrown in prison for 30 years by the US government for disobeying orders by rescuing some of his fellow super soldiers from a POW camp. During that time, he was experimented on by both the CIA and HYDRA, and it was only thanks to a nurse who took pity on him and fabricated his death that Isaiah didn’t spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Isaiah didn’t come out of hiding when Steve Rogers was unfrozen, and who could blame him? As Carl Lumbly went on to tell me, both had much different experiences after being injected with their respective versions of the super soldier serum: one was propped up as one of the 20th century’s greatest heroes, the other had his heroic efforts buried. And yet, Lumbly also thinks Isaiah and Steve would have found common ground beyond their enhanced abilities, saying:

Now before any of you go a step further with this and ask who would win if Isaiah and Steve came to blows, hold your horses. Carl Lumbly has already heard this question many times and doesn’t think it’s a plausible scenario. As he put it:

Despite the fact that it still hasn’t been clarified if the main Steve Rogers, who was last seen as an elderly man at the end of Avengers: Endgame, is still alive, it doesn’t seem likely we’ll see him and Isaiah Bradley meet. So hearing Carl Lumbly share his thoughts on this subject was quite the treat. And besides, at least Isaiah has a Captain America in his corner through Sam Wilson.

With Captain America: Brave New World behind us, Thunderbolts* is the next upcoming Marvel movie, arriving on May 2, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps follows on July 25. Carl Lumbly can next be seen in The Life of Chuck, which starts playing in theaters on June 6.

One aspect of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that fans have loved since its conception is the way in which it has referenced the comics that inspired it. With that have come a plethora of Easter eggs that have been littered throughout the various movies and TV shows that make up the franchise. As great as it is to see nods to elements of the comics, though, I really love when such tidbits are introduced in MCU films and pay off in others. A clip on social media highlighted such an example, and it’s making me think of more.

What Specific MCU Payoff Moment Is Covered In The Video?

If you watch the Marvel movies in order, you’ll gradually see that there are big moments that feel as though they’ll be paid off somewhere down the line. That’s not always obvious, and I’d say that one particularly funny scene from 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron that involves Steve Rogers is a firm example. As Earth’s Mightiest Heroes party, many of them take a turn at trying to lift Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir. Steve comes the closest to lifting the weapon but doesn’t yet, as in the Instagram video below, that came back around in a later film:

User superhero_fix points out that during the third act of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, Steve does indeed lift the enchanted weapon and uses it to face off with the Mad Titan, Thanos. I don’t know about anyone else’s showing, but audience members were shook when Captain America took control of Mjolnir. There was a subsequent debate involving Cap’s worthiness but, regardless of where you stand, it was a cool moment nonetheless.

These payoffs may seem insignificant to some, but they can absolutely be used to great effect. Overall, I’d say that the Mjolnir moment is one of the best payoffs in the history of the MCU, not to mention one of Captain America's best moments in the franchise. However, there are plenty of others that are just as worthy (no pun intended).

Let’s Talk About Some Other Great Payoffs In The MCU

Over the years, Marvel Studios’ extensive media franchise has played the long game on more than a few occasions. Some keen examples that come to mind have to do with the (incredibly quotable) MCU villains. The fate of the Red Skull post-Captain America: The First Avenger was up in the air for nearly seven years, before he was revealed to be on Vormir in Avengers: Infinity War. I can also say that I anxiously waited nearly a decade for the real Mandarin – the head of the Ten Rings Organization – to show up following that tease in the One Shot All Hail the King. Luckily, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings provided those answers.

Endgame has heartbreaking moments, and it also has some incredibly sweet payoffs – some more noticeable than others. One of my favorites is a cameo from Harley – the kid who assisted Tony Stark during the events of Iron Man 3 – at Stark’s funeral. Another subtle nod is when Steve Rogers refers to pal Sam Wilson as a “good man,” before returning the Infinity Stones to their rightful times. That’s in reference to Dr. Abraham Erskine telling Steve to remain a “good man,” before taking the super soldier serum in First Avenger.

Of course, it’s Steve’s faith in Sam that prompts him to name his Captain America successor. Sam’s own eventual solo film, Brave New World, would also pay off a few Easter eggs and plot threads by including some Incredible Hulk characters (sans Bruce Banner).

The connective tissue that binds the events described above can help add layers to the MCU and admittedly, make it somewhat confusing at times. All in all, though, I wouldn’t trade anything for the excitement I had when seeing Cap hold Mjolnir or Red Skull making his return. Should you want to check out those big moments yourself, stream the various Marvel movies using a Disney+ subscription.

Warning: Mild spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World are in play.

It’s amazing what can count as a miracle on the 2025 movie schedule. The fact that we even have a version of Captain America: Brave New World to watch feels like a feat, considering the complicated history of rumors surrounding director Julius Onah’s Marvel movie. After revisiting the picture for its home release, a continually elusive moment that wasn't included has me thinking about previous theories, as well as inspired some new angles on a scene we still haven't seen.

Captain America 4’s Continued Omission Of That ‘Funeral Scene’ Is Kinda Weird

As we previously saw in Brave New World’s November 2024 trailer, a moment where Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) attends a formal funeral is present. There’s a 21-gun salute, a solemn-looking Cap, and cherry blossoms present for symbolism. It feels like a somber moment of emotion that the MCU has included from time to time. However, this scene was not in the movie.

So, like any other media enthusiast, I was hoping that the Deleted Scenes for Captain America 4’s home release would include this scene, and perhaps some commentary on why it was cut. Alas, I was left empty-handed on both of those fronts. However, thanks to a theory from one of my colleagues, I think we can piece together some compelling cases for why that is.

I Back The Theory That This Was President Ross’ State Funeral

As CinemaBlend’s own Adam Holmes suggested in his Captain America: Brave New World funeral theory, I concur with the notion that this sendoff was meant for President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford). Supposedly leaked set photos revealing Liv Tyler's presence on set, and good old-fashioned trailer analysis point towards the President succumbing to his heart condition.

If you’re waiting for Sam Wilson to hit your Disney+ subscription to catch up, this is an additional warning for spoilers. That's because I have some further thoughts on why we still can't see this scene.

Marvel May Have Iced This Brave New World Scene For Two Big Reasons

I think there are two reasons that Harrison Ford’s Captain America: Brave New World character survived, leaving us without the completed scene in the Special Features package. First off, with Ross's resignation from the presidency in Brave New World’s ending, there’s a possibility that his imprisonment on The Raft will allow him to return for another picture or two.

While Kevin Feige’s comments on Marvel contracts have indicated that things have changed since the days of long-term agreements, having the Indiana Jones icon in your Rolodex of potentially recurring players is too good to pass up. However, I also think that Sam Wilson’s long-term character development potentially benefits from this choice.

If this is indeed Thaddeus Ross’ funeral, one has to assume that the result came from the current Captain America having to take him down during their DC showdown. Seeing as Sam’s background as a counselor and a soldier was cited as an important note to reinforce in the special feature “Assuming the Mantle,” that stereotypical MCU conclusion doesn’t make sense.

What’s more interesting is that if that assumption is in play, you’d need to include a different cut of that Red Hulk fight scene along with this funeral moment, for it all to make sense. At that point, you may as well include an entirely different “New World Order Cut” that restores these scenes, as well as all the other material cut during the reshoots/edits that took place.

While I still really want that wish to be granted, I can see why that may have been avoided. After all, if I Am Legend 2 can canonize a deleted ending, anything's possible.

Until that hypothetical scenario becomes a reality, or Marvel confirms that this funeral moment was a case similar to Avengers: Infinity War’s deliberately misleading trailer including a scene of The Hulk, we won’t know for sure what the truth is. Considering the paranoid political thriller nature of Captain America: Brave New World, that’s actually kind of fitting.

If you want to form your own theories or try to debunk anything discussed above, you can currently watch Anthony Mackie’s cinematic debut as the new Cap through purchase or rental on Digital HD.

Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson aren’t just a dynamic duo on screen; they’re friends off-screen as well, and I can’t get enough of it. Over the years, I’ve loved seeing them work together, and now, we got a sweet peek into their friendship as the Captain America actor penned a lovely tribute for the Black Widow star. However, now I really need them to team up for another movie sooner rather than later.

Scarlett Johansson always seems to be thriving. However, she’s doing particularly spectacular right now as she was named one ot Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the lead up to the release of Jurassic World Rebirth on the 2025 movie schedule. So, to celebrate the honor and highlight why she made the list, Chris Evans wrote the kindest and most heartfelt tribute about his Captain America: The Winter Soldier co-star, beginning his statement with:

Honestly, Evans, who is 43, and Johansson, who is 40, seem to have a friendship similar to that of Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff. And I would go as far as to say that the Black Widow does act like the older sibling to Captain America, even though Cap is decades older than her. Just watch The Winter Soldier with a Disney+ subscription, and you'll see what I mean.

Going back to the actors who played these great Marvel characters, Evans further proved why they’re like siblings, noting that their friendship dates back 23 years:

The rest certainly is history. These two have become some of the biggest stars in the world thanks to their filmography. That becomes abundantly clear if you watch the Marvel movies in order, because these two got into that gargantuan world basically on the ground floor, and found great success because of it.

Both actors have also received great acclaim in other films. For Johansson, her best movies include (but are not limited to) Oscar-nominated flicks like Jojo Rabbit, Marriage Story, and Lost in Translation. To that point, Evans praised his co-star’s career as a whole and the range of it, writing:

That fearless quality is something Evans really honed in on in the next part. Referencing her upcoming role in Jurassic Park Rebirth, he explained:

Well, that’s the sweetest thing ever!

It’s also a reminder that Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson really need to work together again. Initially, they were supposed to collaborate on Ghosted, but the actress had to exit. Then they were going to reunite for Project Artemis, but the actor had to leave that project. So, they haven’t collaborated in a long time, and we need to change that.

Sadly, neither of them will be part of the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday (as far as we know), and there isn’t anything else on the docket for them together. However, with a friendship as strong as theirs, and after seeing Evans' heartfelt message for his long-time co-star, I’d imagine another movie has to be in their future, and I can’t wait to see what they create.

Things are not going exceptionally well for Julius Onah's Captain America: Brave New World. While the latest film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe has maintained the top spot at the domestic box office for three weeks in a row, the numbers driving its performance are not exactly what anyone would call elite. In fact, the blockbuster is still trying to break out of the proverbial basement where the history of the franchise is concerned, as it appears as though it's destined to end up as one of the MCU's lowest grossing titles.

Captain America 4 did battle with Alex Parkinson's based-on-a-true-story drama Last Breath as the prime new release, and you can check out the early numbers in the domestic Top 10 below. After you peruse the chart, join me after for analysis.

Captain America: Brave New World Remains In The Bottom Three Of The MCU Worldwide

In the days prior to its arrival, Captain America: Brave New World didn't exactly light anyone's hair on fire, earning mostly tepid reactions from critics, and since then, things have not been going particularly well for the blockbuster beyond its ability to stay on top of the charts (which, frankly, says more about its competition than anything else). First, it became one of the rare MCU films to debut with only a seven-figure gross in the United States and Canada, making only $88.8 million in its first three days, and then it followed that performance with a painful 68 percent weekend-to-weekend drop.

Things haven't been going well for Captain America 4, and the ticket sales from its latest Friday-to-Sunday aren't helping its reputation. According to The Numbers, the film starring Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford and Giancarlo Esposito made just $15 million during Oscar weekend. That brings its domestic total to date up to $163.7 million.

That would be a great performance for a mid-budget, original release, but we're talking about the biggest movie franchise of all time here and one that cost $180 million to make (according to The Hollywood Reporter). So far, the film has made just $341.8 million worldwide, which is more than only two other features in the canon: Nia DaCosta's The Marvels ($199.7 million) and Louis Letterier's The Incredible Hulk ($265.6 million). As fans know, those are titles that any production wants to be associated with in a conversation about box office within the legacy of the MCU.

In order to not be ranked in the bottom three at the worldwide box office for the franchise, the film needs to add about $29 million more, which will allow it to outgross Joe Johnston's Captain America: The First Avenger from 2011 (without accounting for inflation). Above that is Cate Shortland's Black Widow, which made $379.8 million during its theatrical run (but let's not forget that it was released day-and-date on streaming).

Will it succeed? It's not guaranteed. Compared to this time last year, blockbuster competition is minimal (March of 2024 included the releases of Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two, Mike Mitchell's Kung Fun Panda 4, Adam Wingard's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Gil Kenan's Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire), but the film is at a point now where it's performance is less about what else is playing on the big screen and more about remaining general interest. Anyone who had a real passion to see Captain America: Brave New World prior to release has already seen it at this point, and word of mouth is not motivating people to check it out while its still in theaters.

Needless to say, there will continue to be eyes on its performance until it leaves cinemas and makes its way to digital and streaming.

Last Breath Debuts In Second Place With A Soft Opening Weekend

Captain America: Brave New World in part kept its place at the top of the domestic chart because Last Breath didn't manage to cause much of a stir among movie-goers. Based on the documentary of the same name and featuring a talented ensemble cast including Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu and Cliff Curtis, the new release made just $7.8 million in its first three days playing in over 3,000 locations.

As far as 2025 debuts go, it's a performance that puts the title behind Josh Ruben's Heart Eyes, which made $8.3 million in its first three days, but the drama is unlikely to experience the second weekend uptick that the slasher film got thanks to Valentine's Day. Last Breath appears to be getting positive buzz from audiences, as CinemaScore surveys from opening weekend patrons returned a "B+" grade, but that doesn't suggest a passion that will have everyone telling their friends they must see it while its playing on the big screen.

The Monkey Takes A Modest Drop In Its Second Weekend

With Captain America: Brave New World still making eight-figure totals and Last Breath arriving, Osgood Perkins' The Monkey got pushed down to third place in its second weekend, but it's still making money. Weekend-to-weekend, the new Stephen King adaptation saw its ticket sales drop about 55 percent from $14 million to $6.4 million, and it has made $24.6 domestically to date.

Per Vulture, The Monkey only cost between $10-11 million to make, so its theatrical run has been successful to date. The new film won't be able to match the success of Osgood Perkins' Longlegs from last year, which finished its worldwide run making over $126 million, but it's a solid start for a year that is going to see the release of at least two more King adaptations in cinemas: Mike Flanagan's The Life Of Chuck starring Tom Hiddleston and Edgar Wright's The Running Man starring Glen Powell.

Looking ahead to Friday, Bong Joon-ho's long-awaited follow-up to Parasite – Mickey 17 starring Robert Pattinson – will be arriving in theaters, and it will be fascinating to see how it performs against everything else that is currently playing. Be sure to head back here to CinemaBlend next Sunday to see how everything shakes out in the Top 10, and check out our 2025 Movie Release Calendar to plan your next excursion to your local theater.

Danny Ramirez went from going to Tom Cruise’s boot camp for Top Gun: Maverick to playing Anthony Mackie's wingman in the latest of the new Marvel movies. However, what did he learn from Hollywood’s stunt king that helped him play the Falcon, a superhero who can literally jet through the sky, in Captain America: Brave New World? Well, Ramirez recently spilled what wisdom went through his head while catching up with his fellow Maverick cast member Lewis Pullman.

In a new profile for Interview Magazine, Danny Ramirez chatted with Pullman about making his MCU movie debut in the Captain America movie that recently premiered on the 2025 movie schedule. Here’s how Tom Cruise came up when the new Falcon actor was asked about “flying” in Brave New World:

Hey, once you’ve been trained by Tom Cruise like the Maverick cast was, they can expect the actor to support them from then on, and they, of course, want to be on his good list to get his famous Christmas cake every year. So, while Danny Ramirez was filming the stunt scenes for his Captain America movie, he was very careful to maintain his form while being in the air. He had a feeling the actor would be paying attention to his form, and he didn’t want to disappoint him should he see the movie.

In the interview, Pullman, who played Lt. Bob Floyd to Ramirez’s Mickey "Fanboy" Garcia and will soon make his own Marvel debut in this summer’s Thunderbolts*, understood exactly what he meant, pointing out that it was likely important for him not to get “whiplash” on set. As Ramirez continued:

Now, when the Top Gun: Maverick cast signed on for the long-awaited legacy-quel, a whole lot was expected from them in order to star in the movie with Tom Cruise. They did flight training for three months so they could be in the planes with real pilots pretending to be flying themselves in the backseat of real F/A-18Fs. That meant they had to learn how to withstand high G-forces, which can lead to a lot of fainting while people are going through it.

You can check out more about the making of Captain America: Brave New World through our interviews with Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez and more. The movie is currently in theaters, and you can look forward to seeing another Top Gun album in the MCU thanks to Lewis Pullman’s role inThunderbolts*, which hits theaters on May 2.

Though Steve Rogers’ time as Captain America has passed, the man’s legacy is still very much with us. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to march on past his happy ending in Avengers: Endgame, the Chris Evans standalone series is still pretty insightful. It also inspires a lot of thoughts that go into random tangents, so let’s get into a reappreciation of what the Steve Rogers era of Captain America has contributed to the MCU.

Joe Johnston Was The Perfect Choice To Direct The First Avenger

If you’d put “From the director of The Rocketeer” on the posters for 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, you’d have probably made someone’s day. Having Joe Johnston help introduce this man out of time with a thrilling throwback adventure was definitely the move. I don’t care what anyone says, this is a top-tier entry when looking at the Marvel movies in order.

Howard Stark Was Totally A Plus Ultra Member

Tying in an obscure Disney movie that I still love to death, I think Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) would definitely have been a member of Tomorrowland’s Plus Ultra. If only there was a push to connect that film to the Marvel legacy, maybe it could have seen more eyes.

The Agent Carter Series Was Done Dirty

Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter is an icon of cunning and strength. And in those early eras where “everything is connected,” giving Agent Carter only two seasons on ABC feels like a move that could only come from HYDRA high command. It’ll never be too late to revive this series, if only to fill in more of Peggy’s adventures with or without Steve.

What Would Dr. Erskine’s Super Serum Do To A Morally Level Person?

In The First Avenger, Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) laid out the knowledge that his Super Serum amplifies both the good and the bad in a person. So basically your moral compass gets as juiced as your muscles do, which begs the question: what if you’re morally neutral? Are you just an aggressively fair person, or would that ultimately count towards the “Good” side of the spectrum?

Dr. Erskine Would Have Protested Isaiah Bradley’s Super Soldier Treatment

If Dr. Abraham Erskine had even an inkling of the experimentation and eventual disowning of super soldier Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), he’d have been furious. Seeing his life’s work being used the way that was revealed in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series, we might have gotten another Disney+ subscription exclusive series: “The Wrath of Dr. Erskine.”

Having A Drink With Stanley Tucci Is A Career Goal

Between stories of how Stanley Tucci drank with Chris Evans, and the various cocktail videos he’s shared on social media, it’s now a career goal for me to have drinks with Mr. Tucci. Oh, the stories that could come from a sit down in the right lounge.

I Don’t Think Arnim Zola Was A True Believer In HYDRA

While Arnim Zola (Toby Jones) worked for the Nazi party, and later for HYDRA, I don’t think the man was as dyed in the wool about that nefarious organization’s goals. Sure, he was opportunistic and loved to use infinite resources to do stuff like turn himself into a computer. But I think his superiors benefitting from such work was just an example of a cost he’d pay for his own selfish aims.

Disneyland Should Totally Do A Recreation Of Cap’s USO Show

Not too long ago Disneyland put on the supposedly Broadway-worthy Rogers: The Musical. While the series was never intended to be a permanent fixture, I think having a Marvel Studios stage show at Anaheim Park’s Avengers Campus makes sense. The only difference is I wouldn’t bring back Rogers: The Musical, but rather I’d want a replica of Cap’s big USO show, complete with “Star Spangled Man” being sung in the finale

We Really Need A Howling Commandos Spinoff

I know that the Howling Commandos were eventually used in episodes of both Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter, and I appreciate that fact. However, that wasn’t enough screen time for Steve Rogers’ unit, especially since Captain America: The First Avenger made them a joy to watch in action. This should seriously be a Disney+ spinoff, as it could help make up for the untimely cancellation of Agent Carter.

From Steve Rogers’ Decision To Crash In The Ice, This Picture Becomes One Huge Cry

The moment you know that the first Captain America is going to sacrifice himself for his country, it’s an emotional plunge from there. Seeing Peggy Carter’s heartbreak, the Howling Commandos' mournful drink, and the kids inspired by Steve’s heroism putting a perfect dot on this extended flashback are all tear-worthy moments.

Was Adrianne Palicki The First MCU Double Dip?

People love to notice things like the “Marvel Double Dip,” which is where a single actor is seen in different roles throughout the MCU. But was future Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D star Adrianne Palicki the first actor to achieve that feat? She’s certainly one of the earliest occurrences of that phenomenon, and it’s no wonder Marvel Studios has continued to employ it.

Alan Silvestri’s Captain America March May Be My Favorite Marvel Theme

I could never get tired of the “Captain America March,” crafted by the legendary Alan Silvestri. One of the most iconic composers not named John Williams, this maestro’s work has made quite an impression throughout cinematic history, especially on the MCU. If there’s anything that lifts me from the sadness of The First Avenger’s ending, it’s this rousing tune that stands for fighting the good fight.

Sam Wilson Showed Us He Was The Next Cap Right Up Front

Right from the beginning of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) showed the world why he was the perfect successor to Steve Rogers. With a background in counseling veterans and a heart dedicated to doing what’s right, Wilson’s inheritance of that Vibranium shield was spelled out quite early on.

What Ever Happened To Sam’s Girl At The Front Desk?

Sam Wilson makes a fun remark about how he wants Steve to “stop by the VA, make me look awesome in front of the girl at the front desk,” and it’s never really followed up on. But since the character became even more prominent throughout the MCU after The Winter Soldier, doesn’t it make you wonder if Sam ever did impress the object of his affection?

Project Insight Leaves Me With Tons Of Questions

Wow oh wow. The centerpiece MacGuffin known as “Project Insight” raises a ton of questions that could probably be a separate list. So I’ll just focus on two big concerns for now: how in the world did S.H.I.E.L.D. get the funding for Captain America: The Winter Soldier’s big bad project, and at what point did this ever look like a good idea to anyone?

Gary Sinise Would Be A Fantastic Captain America

Through the Marvel Multiverse, all things are possible, even casting Gary Sinise as a variant of Captain America. His apt voiceover for The Winter Soldier’s Smithsonian exhibit on Steve Rogers always reminds me of the fact that in an earlier time, the Apollo 13 vet would have been a perfect Cap. However, it’s not too late to make Mr. Sinise an alternate universe’s Old Man Rogers, provided he’s up for that.

Robert Redford’s Winter Soldier Casting Is Perfect Subversion

Robert Redford’s career has seen the iconic actor quite often playing the good guy who challenges authority. So to have Captain America 2 using him as the ultimate big bad Alexander Pierce led to one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s biggest rug pulls. I still feel the betrayal when he kills his housekeeper to cover his tracks.

Sharon Carter Is Probably The Biggest Loose Thread In The MCU

After helping Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson navigate a massive government conspiracy in The Winter Soldier, and the perils of the Sokovia Accords in Civil War, Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) is the biggest question mark of the MCU. With her appearance in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier revealing her to be a secret traitor to the government, Agent 13’s story is all over the place.

I Really Hope Steve Rogers Was A Lot Of Young People’s Introduction To Harry James

Harry James and His Orchestra’s “It’s Been A Long, Long Time” practically became a theme song for the personal side of Steve Rogers. Introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and fulfilled in Avengers: Endgame, I’d like to think quite a few young Marvel fans are now also big band-era enthusiasts.

The Winter Soldier’s Politics Are Practically Timeless

Using Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) as our new man out of time, The Winter Soldier offers a practically timeless political counterpart to the Captain America legacy. With the hired assassin showing us the downside to the existence of the Super Serum program, the balance of power is a huge theme of the story that’s told in this massive blockbuster.

Anthony Mackie Was Totally Right About Captain America

While some audience members weren’t too keen on Anthony Mackie’s comments on Captain America and how its various leads represent its country’s ideals, I think he’s absolutely correct. Through both Sam Wilson and John Walker’s embodiment of the title, very different messages come out in these insightful Marvel stand-alones.

I Think The Sokovia Accords Are The First Step To The X-Men’s Struggles

Thanks to Captain America: Brave New World’s massive ending, the government that succeeds Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross’ presidency feels primed to take on legislation against “enhanced beings” in light of that picture’s events. Which kind of feels fitting, as that very character seems to have laid the groundwork through the Sokovia Accords in Captain America: Civil War.

Captain America Movies Need To Stop Being Backdoor Sequels To Other Series

Let’s just admit it once and for all: Civil War is a backdoor Avengers movie, and Brave New World could basically be an Incredible Hulk sequel. No matter who Cap happens to be at any given moment, it feels rather unfair that his stories are often hijacked to set up some grander plan, which doesn’t allow us to dig into his character as much as we should.

Tony Stark Pulling Peter Parker Into Civil War Was A Very Dumbledore Move

What happens when a mentor endangers a young kid full of promise, via a fight that’s way over his head? You get Tony Stark’s drafting of Peter Parker (Tom Holland) into Captain America: Civil War’s big fight. Or, you get Dumbledore’s treatment of Harry Potter throughout his tenure in the Wizarding World. The big difference is that we’ve never seen Hogwarts’ headmaster grapple with as much guilt as Tony did during Avengers: Endgame.

The Civil War Story Arc Should Have Been Its Own Phase

In the world of Marvel Comics, the Civil War story arc was a gigantic deal that played out over an extended period of time. For as good as the finished product happens to be with this Captain America three-quel, it still feels rude to short-change this huge pivot, in the name of introducing Spider-Man and Black Panther.

Part Of Me Still Wishes We Got Captain America: Serpent Society

When it was first announced, the third chapter of Steve Rogers’ story was initially titled Captain America: Serpent Society. A wildly different movie than what we eventually got, YouTube channels like Bullets & Blockbusters have covered how the original concept was supposed to play out, and the moral dilemma that Steve Rogers would have faced is one of the several reasons I’m still curious about what could have been.

Cap Also Betrayed Howard Stark By Siding With Bucky

As if it wasn't bad enough that Captain America: Civil War pitted Steve Rogers against Tony Stark, we also learn that Bucky Barnes' Winter Soldier persona was the murderer of Tony's parents. So when Cap sides with his old buddy from Brooklyn, he's betraying two generations that trusted him to do the right thing.

Henry Jackman’s Scores Still Totally Rip

Composer Henry Jackman was a fantastic successor to Alan Silvestri’s work on Captain America: The First Avenger, full stop. Both The Winter Soldier and Civil War’s musical scores are mindblowing entries into the musical catalog of the MCU, with special thanks to cues like “Taking A Stand” representing the musical path laid out for Cap’s road ahead.

We Didn’t Get Nearly Enough Time With Steve Rogers’ Nomad Persona

A totally disillusioned Steve Rogers who believes in beards and forgoes his classic shield was something that teased all sorts of possibilities in Avengers: Infinity War. Of course, Chris Evans’ MCU hero would eventually clean up, and start wearing the stars and stripes when the chips were really down; but couldn’t we have gotten a little more time with the grittier side of Cap?

Cap Getting Thor’s Hammer Will Never Stop Being Amazing

It was the shot called during a random gag in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but Steve Rogers getting to wield the hammer of Thor is always a moment that’s welcomed on the big screen. In fact, it sits up there next to Cap finally yelling “Avengers, assemble!” as an iconic moment that makes the Marvel Cinematic Universe what it is.

For A Kid Who Had No Business Fighting, Steve Rogers Did The Best He Could As Cap

In terms of military training being paired with his skills as a counselor, Sam Wilson is the epitome of who I think should be Captain America. But for a kid from Brooklyn who had to build that legacy the hard way, and with no examples to work off of. Steve Rogers did the best he could - and that should never be forgotten.

Steve Rogers Should Have Never Went Back In Time To Romance Peggy Carter

I’m sorry, but Avengers: Endgame’s finale showing Steve returning to Peggy Carter after World War II is wrong. Not only is this a time paradox so great it should rip apart the Sacred Timeline, but it also means that when Mr. Rogers was kissing Sharon Carter in The Winter Soldier, he was technically kissing family. I don’t think he’d approve of that.

There are a slew of upcoming Marvel movies on the horizon, but the latest, Captain America: Brave New World, really introduced us to Anthony Mackie as our newest full-fledged hero. Reviews of the fourth Cap movie have been mixed, but among the pros are the fact the movie gave us a fun cast introduction and did so with a delightful 2-hour runtime and some other changes to the typical MCU format. One of these changes was a bold move that certainly made a statement; I’m just not sure I loved it.

I’ve been watching Marvel movies even before the studios’ acquisition by Disney. I grew up with them in the same way a lot of fans grew up with Star Wars or Harry Potter, and the one commonality every single one of these movies has had in common is the Marvel logo at the very beginning of the film, which has turned into an opening sequence in the MCU era.

This was conspicuously absent from Brave New World, with the new movie favoring a black and white logo instead of the colorful, character-filled kickoff. Unfortunately, I absolutely felt the absence of the modern era format as I dove into the film.

How Marvel Movies Have Changed Their Opening Crawl Over The Years

Now, to be clear, there have been some changes to the crawl at the beginning of plenty of Marvel films in the past. This has been going on before Disney bought Marvel, before Disney made a deal with Sony, and before Disney bought Twentieth Century Fox, thus combining superhero properties like Deadpool all more formally under one umbrella.

Over time, the studio has also switched from showing us a logo opening with a bunch of comic book highlights to an opening that’s shown off footage of MCU heroes. In 2019, when Captain Marvel came out, the logo at the beginning paid tribute to Stan Lee using a bunch of throwback press footage. When Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premiered in theaters, the opening logo paid tribute to Chadwick Boseman as the Panther mantle was being passed. (Though the Black Panther 2 ending also paid tribute to Boseman’s character in a different way.)

And, in several cases, we have gotten that Marvel introduction with different sorts of music. For example, Avengers: Endgame leaned into rock and roll and used “Dear Mr. Fantasy” instead of traditional orchestral music to set the vibe, and then cut to Iron Man playing a version of paper football with Nebula. In Deadpool & Wolverine, we got the traditional opener, but then Wade Wilson was singing “dun dun dun dun” over it before noting “that logo music just gets me.” I guess what I'm saying is, it is not uncommon for the movies to give us some element of personalization each time.

The color of the Marvel logos has changed before, as well, and given the events in Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it’s not a huge surprise they were going to go with a more somber tone to kick off this latest flick.

There have been fun openers, end-of-an-era openers, sad openers, and poignant openers, and in this case director Julius Onah chose to dive in with little fanfare. This could be reflective of Sam Wilson’s journey as a more grounded hero. There were plenty of jokes in the movie about how Sam “should have” taken the super serum like the Cap before him, but without giving away major spoilers about the Brave New World ending, ultimately he got to a good place with his hero identity by the end of the film.

Whatever reason Marvel had for changing the opening, we haven’t gotten a good answer yet, and while I’m all for working toward a new era of Marvel with movies like Brave New World and more Marvel movies coming in order like the upcoming Thunderbolts* and enthusiasm-inducing Fantastic Four: First Steps, I do think maintaining some threads between movies is necessary to keeping fans engaged.

To me, the Marvel opening sequence is something that efficiently did that and led to positive talking points in a way Brave New World's opening didn't. I’m someone who really wants to buy into Phase 5 and Phase 6, yet I’m finding fewer and fewer reasons to stay on board as a fan, and this opening change, while it may feel minor to some, was just another bold decision that didn’t really play perfectly for me. Bring back the colorful opener, please.

There Marvel Cinematic Universe has a new Sentinel of Liberty, and he’s played by Anthony Mackie! As of late, the fan-favorite actor has been celebrating the release of Captain America: Brave New World, and he’s truly felt the love from fans. Just recently, Mackie engaged with his admirers when he responded to questions about the MCU and more on social media. While opening up, Mackie even shared some sweet thoughts on what it’s like following in Chris Evans’ footsteps and some context for his constant use of the term YOLO.

What Did Anthony Mackie Say About Chris Evans?

It goes without saying that the Sam Wilson actor had some serious shoes to fill, as Chris Evans more than embodied the role of OG Captain America Steve Rogers. Despite that, though, I’d say Anthony Mackie more than rose to the occasion in Brave New World. Mackie recently took to Instagram to talk about the making of this latest MCU film, and a user named built2flawless asked what it was like for Mackie to take over for Evans while Sam was taking over for Steve:

Steve’s send-off occurred during the final moments of Avengers: Endgame, at which point the now-elderly super soldier bestowed his red, white and blue shield upon a surprised Sam. While initially hesitant, Wilson officially accepted the mantle during the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (which can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription). That show ultimately set Sam up for the events of his first solo film in the cinematic universe, which sees him uncovering a conspiracy that puts him face to face with the Red Hulk.

It’s cool to hear Anthony Mackie speak so fondly of Chris Evans, who he became close with while they worked together. That sheer level of closeness is what prompted Evans to spoil Endgame’s conclusion by telling Mackie about Sam’s new role. Since then, the Knives Out actor has also been supportive of his co-star as, in 2022, Evans definitively said that Sam Wilson is the new Cap after fans asserted that Rogers was irreplaceable. And, to Mackie’s point, this is a “different” take on Cap, and he’s made it his own.

Anthony Mackie Shared The Story Behind His YOLO Habit

One of the funnier topics that the longtime Marvel star discussed during his AMA was the fact that he uses the word YOLO quite a bit on a set. The term has been used for some time now, and it’s a shortened way of saying “you only live once.” When it comes to the Twisted Metal alum though, there’s a specific reason why he tends to use it quite frequently:

So it sounds like that all comes down to an inside joke shared amongst Anthony Mackie and the crews of the Marvel productions he’s worked on. I don’t know about the rest of you but, over the years, I’ve certainly shared such jokes with friends, family members and colleagues. What these comments speak to is the way in which Mackie has bonded with the people he’s been privileged to work with over the years. On a side note, I love to hear a delightful behind-the-scenes story like this one.

Captain America: Brave New World won’t mark the final time Anthony Mackie works with an MCU crew or dons the iconic shield. He’s set to reprise his role as Sam in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday as well as its sequel, Secret Wars. Amid rumors that he’s returning for the first of those two films, Chris Evans has denied involvement, though not everyone seems convinced. We’ll have to see but, regardless, after the movie has been released, I hope Mackie launches another fun AMA filled with fun tidbits for the fans.

I have waited years for this moment, and here it is – the time I lay everything out on the line for Sam Wilson because I stand by my man.

Alright, well, that might be pushing it a bit, but it's the truth. I've been waiting a long time for Captain America: Brave New World to come out, probably ever since The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The upcoming Marvel movies list has been mocking me with its release date for years, and now, finally, it's here.

Of course, as a longtime Captain America fan, I knew I needed to head to the movies immediately to witness its greatness, despite what critics have said about the film. I have to say that I came away with an unpopular opinion about Sam Wilson that I think some might not agree with, but here we go anyway.

I Still Love Steve Rogers As Captain America

Look, I love Steve. What's not to love about Steve?

As someone who grew up in New York and was bullied immensely as a child, the idea of this scrawny kid from Brooklyn fighting for what he believes in and pushing forward to become a powerful superhero and symbol for the country meant a lot to me.

And for ten years, that is precisely what Steve Rogers was. It was always one of Chris Evans' best roles, and it really revived his career after a string of box office bombs when he was younger. He's had some hilarious one-liners and some speeches that still sit with me even now, years later, after his time as Cap was over in Avengers: Endgame.

Even if Steve Rogers somehow came back in the MCU timeline, I'd still find a way to love him. But that's not what this article is about – we're talking about Sam Wilson.

But I Think I'm Starting To Like Sam Wilson A Lot More

Yeah, I'm sorry, but I'm really starting to like Sam Wilson as Captain America a lot more.

Before you throw tomatoes at my face and threaten my body with pitchforks, I want you to hear me out. Honestly, I think we often forget that Anthony Mackie's Sam has actually been in the MCU since 2014 – more than a decade now – ever since the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The character has earned his stripes and more with how much he has gone through and it’s not surprising Steve chose Sam.

But that's not the main reason why I like Sam as Cap so much. It's because he feels real. Steve was made for an entirely different generation – the ones who existed during World War II. While we all related to him, he was never someone who adequately represented what America is now.

Sam, however, is that. As he has said before, he is a Black man in the Captain America suit, which in itself puts a target on his back. It's everything else that makes him a perfect Cap, though. He's honest, he's smart, and he speaks about the state of the country.

He's willing to pull his punches when necessary but fights for what he believes in when he knows he has to. I mean, no one fought for Isaiah Bradley until Sam came along, and now he is a free man, someone who is able to just live and let his demons stay in the past.

That is the sign of a true hero; when you are willing to fight for those who have no one – to fight for the people that everyone is against. And I can't help but love that.

His Suit Feels More Realistic, And It Reminds Me Of Iron Man's Devices

I think what I also love about Sam is his gear. Let's be honest here – while Steve as Captain America is great, he was really just a super strong soldier who had a Vibranium shield. He was quick on his feet, don't get me wrong, and knew plenty of stunts, but he didn't have any cool gear.

Sam, however, is not a Super Soldier. He's just a regular guy with access to some amazingly high-tech stuff, and we see that with his Vibranium suit and shield and everything else in Brave New World.

In that way, he reminds me of Iron Man, someone who feels almost forgotten in the world of the MCU as no one ever brings him up, aside from Peter Parker in the Spider-Man films. Sam is essentially what Iron Man was – minus the millions of dollars. He's a regular guy who is fighting crime and has some sick gear and a suit that is practically impenetrable to add to it.

I love heroes like that. Ones that are smart and able to use their gear to their full extent while keeping their very human bodies somehow intact. It's why people like Iron Man so much, or even Daredevil – they are regular people who know how to use their weapons, and I adore that kind of style.

The Stakes Are So Much Higher, Which Is Something I Like

I'm sure that there are plenty of people who agree with Sam's sentiment in the movie – that he should have taken the Super Soldier serum. Even though Sam said it in a disgruntled manner, I disagree. Because now, the stakes are higher.

When you have a superpowered individual like Steve or Bucky, and they get hurt, you don't really think much of it. Most of the time, they are going to be totally fine, and the worry for them is never really…well, real. We don't feel fear because nine times out of ten, they are going to walk away utterly okay.

That's not the same with Sam. He is normal, and while I do like that aspect of him, it also makes me care a lot more because he can so easily be hurt. Granted, he does have the suit, so that protects him at least a little, but even that can't stop serious falls or crashes, as we saw with Rhodey and what happened to him in Civil War.

He's a human with human bones, skin, blood, and everything else under the sun. That makes him worthy of the fear we feel for him.

I Hope We Get More Sam Wilson Captain America Movies Because He Deserves Them

At the end of Captain America: Brave New World, it was alluded to that Sam is essentially going to rebuild the Avengers. We know that two more Avengers films are coming from the MCU Phase 6, but I really hope that there are going to be more Cap movies where Sam is leading.

I know that change is never easy, and it can kind of be painful to think of anyone else but Steve in the Captain America suit. But pain produces change most of the time, and I really believe that Sam's version of the character is what we need right now as a country.

I'm not sure what else is going to happen with his character, but I hope that it's given the treatment it deserves and that any new film featuring Cap will deliver a storyline worthy of Sam.

This MCU is new and unpredictable, but exciting as well, and I can't wait to see what happens next. Now all I have to do is wait for the Thunderbolts* movie, and I can finally get a proper dose of Bucky.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a five-star film and easily one of Marvel’s best movies. From the jump, the flick sets the tone perfectly by opening with the legendary “On your left” scene. The moment Steve Rogers meets Sam Wilson is both hilarious and wholesome, as Cap lapped his future Falcon during his run on multiple occasions. However, Anthony Mackie has some big and hilarious thoughts about it, including one qualm about Chris Evans that fans couldn’t stop laughing about.

Anthony Mackie Really Wants You To Know That Chris Evans ‘Wasn’t Running That Fast’ In Winter Soldier

While Anthony Mackie is the new Cap and Captain America: Brave New World, and that film just premiered on the 2025 movie schedule, he’s reflecting on his MCU origins. His character met Steve Rogers while running at the National Mall in Washington D.C. and the gag was that as Sam kept getting lapped, Evans’ character would say “on your left” every time he passed them.

Now, Mackie would like us all to know that Chris Evans can’t actually run that fast as he exclaimed in a video for Marvel:

In the video, the former Falcon was trying to talk about filming this iconic moment with Evans.

It truly is one of my favorite MCU moments, and it led to other iconic callbacks too, like the “On your left” moment in Endgame. However, the staying power of this line and the fact that this was the first of many scenes shared between an iconic duo was not what Mackie was focused on at first, as he reiterated:

I mean, he’s right, there’s no way Chris Evans could run that fast, he is, in fact, not a super soldier. However, his harping on it so much has me giggling.

Jokes aside, the current Cap went on to talk about the legacy of this long-lasting gag. To this day, fans will come up to him and say the line Steve used to pass Sam over and over again, and sometimes it gets quoted at Mackie in odd ways, as he explained:

I imagine that must be odd. However, it doesn’t diminish how fantastic the bit is or how funny Mackie is both in the film and in this interview. Fans loved it too as the actor clearly could not let this whole situation go.

Fans Find Anthony Mackie’s Qualm About Chris Evans Hilarious

Even though it’s been over ten years since The Winter Soldier’s premiere, and Mackie is now leading his own Captain America movies (Brave New World’s reviews were not the best), Winter Soldier is still a beloved point of conversation. That proved to be especially true when the actor started exclaiming about Evans' ability to run.

To prove that point, take a look at some of the comments on the TikTok of this instance. Fans were having a ball with Mackie’s passion about the fact that Chris Evans can’t actually run like a super soldier, and I’m laughing so hard over them:

• "Chris Evans can't run that fast!" 🤣 -theperksofbeingsmol
• Bros traumatized with the “on your left” for life -DJ Dean
• Why do I feel like Mackie says Chris can’t run that fast because he doesn’t want someone to say “oh look how slow he runs” -Adam S
• If i have learned anything today it’s that Chris evans does not run that fast😂😂😂 -Kristy Aponte
• "chris evans can't run that fast!" i believe anthony mackie 😂😭 -Ionzic
• The more he denies it the more I want to believe he can run that fast -chrxssantxago
• Chris Evans can't. Captain America can -dixie-normus

Much like Mackie’s faux feud with Tom Holland, I can’t get enough of his qualm with Chris Evans. Now, I’d love to see the Knives Out actor respond to all this silliness.

However, who knows if that will happen. So, in the meantime, you can go back and stream The Winter Soldier as well as all the Marvel movies in order with a Disney+ subscription and you can catch Mackie as the Star Spangled Man With A Plan in Brave New World, which is in theaters now.

Light spoilers for Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World lie ahead.

The highly anticipated Captain America: Brave New World finally arrived in theaters this weekend and, as you’d expect, fans are flocking to their local cinemas to catch a screening. I was able to see the Anthony Mackie-led film myself and, for the most part, I enjoyed it. However, director Julius Onah’s flick isn’t perfect and specifically highlights one issue I’ve had with recent Marvel Cinematic Universe productions. On that note, I’m hoping the problem is handled ahead of the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

What Was My Biggest Issue With The Latest Captain America Film?

Brave New World sees Sam Wilson embarking on a mission to clear Isaiah Bradley’s name, after the seasoned super soldier was framed in an incident involving the President of the United States (Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross). There are some solid story beats, including the actual shooting at the White House, Sam and Joaquin Torres’ (Falcon’s) infiltration of Camp Echo One as well as the final fight between Wilson and the hulked out Ross.

What I took issue with, however, was the screenplay. There are a number of good ideas to be found in this 2025 movie schedule release, but the narrative sometimes feels scattershot. At times, it feels as though the film jumps from one plot thread to another without any true rhyme or reason. In general, some of the transitions between Sam and Joaquin’s journey and President Ross’ briefings and meetings with diplomats felt jarring here and there.

Another sticking point regarding the script is the actual dialogue, which can feel a little too cheesy in some spots. One example is Sam’s fight with the Serpent Society enforcer who, at one point, muses that he wants to add the star on Sam’s suit to his collection. Ross’ explanation of adamantium, specifically how it compares to the strength of vibranium, also doesn’t feel that smooth.

Captain America 4 isn’t the only MCU production that’s had a less-than-stellar script in recent years either. When it comes to feature films, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder and The Marvels also suffered from such issues. The TV side of this franchise is no different, as Secret Invasion and Echo are amongst the titles that could’ve been tightened up a bit more on varying levels.

How Can Marvel Make A Change Before Other Major MCU Titles Drop?

Fans surely know, at this point, that when it comes to the schedule of upcoming Marvel movies, Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars are approaching in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Those films do have a seasoned writer in Stephen McFeely, who’s co-written some major MCU installments like Captain America: The Winter Soldier as well as Infinity War and Endgame. He certainly understands this universe, but one would hope that he’s given an ample amount of time to truly polish the script.

When it comes to filmmaking, it’s certainly not uncommon for films to go through multiple drafts, and that’s been the case when it comes to Marvel Studios productions as well. So I’m hopeful that Stephen McFeely – who joined these films after ex-writers Jeff Loveness and Michael Waldron were dropped – has had time to let these scripts marinate. That would be a viable approach not only for these next two films involving Earth’s Mightiest Heroes but other flicks as well. (I’m also thinking about Tom Holland’s fourth Spider-Man film.)

Don’t get me wrong, there have still been some solid MCU flicks and shows amid the Multiverse Saga. One would just hope that Marvel lets the scripts cook a bit more, via a few additional passes, before entering production on a project. In the meantime, check out Captain America: Brave New World in theaters. Also, stream past films in the franchise using a Disney+ subscription.

Warning: spoilers for Captain America’s latest adventure are in play. If you haven’t seen the film yet, you’ve been warned.

My fellow moviegoers, there’s a bit of a constitutional crisis we must urgently address in the world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As Captain America: Brave New World has now taken its place in the 2025 movie schedule, all of the political intrigue that’s unfolded is going to be a hot button of discussion.

For someone who went to college for a political science degree and has some of that programming still rattling around, the ending to Sam Wilson’s cinematic resurgence left me with a question that will affect all upcoming Marvel movies. In a world where lawmakers would rather draft legislation than face this ever-changing world with a bold blend of empathy and jurisprudence, what we know about Captain America 4 could mean a lot for what’s coming down the line. So let’s jump in, and ask ourselves this question I hope will be answered by May 2nd, the latest, when Thunderbolts arrives.

Who In The World Is President Ross’ Vice President?

I have a feeling the end of Captain America: Brave New World has just given us a lead to expand what we know about Thunderbolts*. Between Ruth Bat-Seraph (Shira Haas) pronouncing James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes (Sebastian Stan) as a “future congressman,” and now ex-president Thaddeus Ross appropriately being imprisoned on The Raft, the political landscape of the MCU is in further turmoil.

Not even 100 days into the Ross Presidency, Marvel now has its own entry into the canon of movies involving presidential succession! Since Thaddeus Ross has now stepped down from the mantle of the presidency, the vice president is the first in the line of 15 people that can assume the office if the acting president steps down or is incapacitated.

Which leaves me with a very important question: who in the name of Stan Lee was President Ross’ vice president, and now the president of the United States? Whomever this person was could be involved in the labyrinthian conspiracy that undid the former Hulk Hunter’s time in the Oval Office, and that part kind of scares me.

That concern only grows when remembering that Thunderbolts* will also be dipping its toes into a sort of political intrigue. Much like the executive branch’s role in real-time U.S. politics, the veep is a heartbeat away from the presidency - and if the wrong sort of person is in that position, it could spell big trouble.

I mean, imagine if it's revealed that, somehow, Countess Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is the new president! Would you feel safe with someone like that in the White House, fond memories of Veep aside?

Marvel’s Next Cinematic Phase Depends On The Answer To This Question

We’re now in the “brave new world” of Adamantium, which as producer Nate Moore’s remarks on Mutant easter eggs confirmed is yet another carefully laid Marvel Studios breadcrumb teasing the potential introduction of the X-Men. It’s a future concern that could take the political infighting of Captain America: Civil War’s Sokovia Accords, and amp it up to an unholy end.

In Captain America: Brave New World alone we’ve seen Super Soldiers like Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) used as patsies for assassination attempts, and the world has now seen the fury of President Red Hulk, which is literally the largest case for invoking the 25th amendment I’ve ever seen. Short of climbing into a mech, a la Metal Wolf Chaos, I don’t think the leader of the free world has ever been a bigger threat.

Attention towards what President Thaddeus Ross called “enhanced beings” is already being scrutinized, and if the discovery of Adamantium is going to anything, it’s going to give us a Wolverine. I think you see where I’m going with this, as the antics of Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake-Nelson) has left the world with a foundation for the Mutant Registration Act, aka “the Sokovia Accords, with extra bigoted steps.”

Just as the destruction of Wanda Maximoff’s home nation eventually tore apart The Avengers, Captain America 4 has sowed the seeds of discontent. Whomever the next president is, they’ll more than likely be the Commander-in-chief that navigates this next crucial juncture of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Maybe I missed something in Brave New World that gives us a clue to whomever President Ross’s VP is. So I’ll more than likely be scouring for those breadcrumbs when I next see the picture. You can currently do the same, as the Marvel Studios release is now showing in theaters. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm about to start my campaign to become president of the MCU; because if General Ross can do it, anyone can!

Look, I love Bucky Barnes as much as the next person. In fact, when it was revealed that he was canonically the MCU's White Wolf, I thought, hell yeah. Let's get him suited up immediately.

However, when it comes to whether I'd rather have Sam Wilson or Bucky Barnes take up the Captain America mantle, I, like Cap himself, 100% choose Sam over Bucky.

You might be wondering how that's even possible (I mean, hellllooooo. Bucky's a super soldier), but I have five reasons why I'm glad that Sam is the star of Captain America: Brave New World and not Bucky.

Sam Has A Better Understanding Of What It Means To Be An Average American Than Bucky

You know what? One of my favorite Marvel shows is still The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and that’s mostly because it really humanized Sam Wilson for me.

Yes, as far as superheroes go, The Falcon has always been one of the more grounded characters (which is ironic, given that he flies). In truth, he’s more along the lines of somebody like Hawkeye and Black Widow rather than Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. That said, when it came to movies Like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Civil War, and Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame, The Falcon seemed larger than life.

Not so in the Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, though. Sam comes back from the Blip wanting to handle some family business, and tries to get a loan from the bank. But, guess what. He gets rejected! Sam Wilson, a bona fide Avenger who helped save the universe…got rejected for a loan at the bank.

If that doesn't speak to the American experience (a Black man being declined for a bank loan), then I don't know what does.

For that reason, I think Sam is better suited to deal with modern day problems than Bucky. Now, I’m not saying that somebody like Bucky wouldn't be a worthy Captain America. I’m just saying that Sam has a better understanding of the struggles of current day Americans, that’s all.

Sam Is Also Just A Normal, Every Day Dude With An Extraordinary Heart

Does Sam get paid as an Avenger? The answer is surprisingly no. Especially since Tony Stark (Who I guess is Doctor Doom now?) perished after the events in Endgame. And honesty, that's messed up.

But, it also really drives home the point that Sam is really just an ordinary guy. He’s not some super soldier with a metal arm. I view him more like a firefighter, or a police officer in that he puts himself in extremely dangerous situations just because he has an extraordinary heart.

Which might be one of the many reasons why Steve Rogers picks Sam in the first place, since, at his core, Sam is very much like a young Steve. If you don’t remember all the way back to 2011 when The First Avenger came out, Steve was always the smallest guy with the biggest heart.

Even before he got the Super Soldier Serum, he was the kind of guy who would leap on a grenade if it meant saving his fellow soldier, and I think that Sam’s willingness to defend his country without getting the serum really speaks volumes.

Yes, Bucky would definitely be the more durable Captain America, but being Cap is more than just about strength; it’s all about heart. And, while I know that Bucky has heart in spades, I think it’s more fitting that just an ordinary dude with extraordinary willpower like Sam is the one who gets the shield.

Sam Is Of The Here And Now, While Bucky, Like Cap, Is Of The Past

Sam doesn't come from a bygone era like Steve or Bucky. He's not a part of “The Greatest Generation” who fought in World War 2. No, Sam is one of us, dealing with current day problems.

Which is one of the main reasons why he had such a hard time accepting the shield after it was given to him. In a lot of ways, he viewed it as a burden, and it was because he was mostly thinking of the present. As a Black man, he didn’t feel like the country represented him, so how could he, in turn, represent the country?

This was mostly before he met Isaiah Bradley, who was one of the first Super Soldiers, but was swept underneath the rug because he was a Black Super Soldier. However, by learning about this man, Sam better understood that while there was still a lot of work to be done in regards to race relations, the fact that he had been chosen to be Captain America shows the leaps and bounds in progress that this country has made, and it would take somebody of this era to fully understand that.

Inversely, Bucky, like Steve, mostly has values from an era that no longer exists. While we’re always looking back fondly toward Americans in World War 2, we do not currently live in that era. Steve knew that he was of the past, and he also knew that Bucky was of the past, as well. When passing on the title, Cap wanted to give it to the future rather than the past.

So, while America needs to occasionally look backward, it can’t live in the past. That’s why I love that Steve chose Sam over Bucky, as his old friend is not the future. Sam is.

A Black Captain America Is One Hell Of A Symbol

Okay, so maybe I shouldn’t bring my own race into this, but since The Falcon and the Winter Soldier wasn’t shy on the subject of race, I’m not going to be shy, either. In truth, I’m happy that Cap chose Sam over Bucky because I like the idea of a Black Captain America in general.

I know, I know. “DEI hires” is the new negative buzzword, and I’ve seen my fair share of comments like that online in regards to Sam being Captain America. But honestly, those people are not going to put a damper on my pride of seeing a Black man (a fictional Black man, sure, but a Black man all the same) representing this entire country as Captain America.

Seeing Sam land in his superhero pose with both his wings, and his shield is one hell of a symbol (I mean, what represents freedom more than wings?). And, I’m overjoyed that Steve decided that even though there would likely be people who’d rather see Bucky as the next Cap, he still chose Sam, because he thought he was the right choice.

Look, I’m not going to lie to you. As a Black man myself, I cried when Obama first took office. I was ecstatic to see that people chose him to lead our country into the future, and he inspired millions to have hope for a better America.

I really don’t want to get political here, since I know a wide swath of people visit this website, and I respect all political views. That said, it’s kind of hard not to get political when talking about a character like Captain America, and I’m happy that Steve chose Sam for the job, because 1: He’s perfectly capable, and 2: he makes me even more proud to be both an American, but also a person of color. Just like Obama himself.

Lastly, I Just Like Anthony Mackie, And I'm Happy To See Him Fronting His Own Movie

Finally, not to take anything away from Sebastian Stan (he had one hell of a 2024), but I’m honestly just happy to see Anthony Mackie frontline his own movie.

I’ve been following Mackie’s career for a long time, and while he’s been a great supporting actor for many years, it’s rare where you actually see him as a leading man, and playing Captain America (rather than just his buddy), is a huge opportunity for him.

Don’t get me wrong. I would love to see Stan play Cap as well, and I’m aware that both Sam and Bucky have been Cap in the comics. However, I’m really just happy to see Mackie have his moment, since I feel he’s earned it.

I loved him as Cap in the last episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and I’ve been highly anticipating this movie for a long time now. So, that’s just another reason why I’m happy that Steve chose Sam over Bucky – it means that Anthony Mackie gets to star in his own movie!

Are you Team Sam, or Team Bucky, and why? You heard my reasons. Now what about yours?

The slate of upcoming Marvel movies looks so much more…well…fantastic now that The Fantastic Four: The First Steps is just a two short seasons away from hitting theaters. The excitement hit fever-pitch heights with the release of the blockbuster’s first trailer and that Galactus sneak peek. There’s a lot to pay attention to, from the alternate 1960s timeline to Ebon Moss-Bacharach’s stellar CGI look as The Thing, and it wouldn’t be a Marvel movie without at least one easter egg to mull over.

In the case of the Fantastic Four’s latest (first) outing, I believe there’s a low-key reference to Steve Rogers’ fate in the decades after the events of the earliest film in the MCU timeline, Captain America: The First Avenger. But tell me, am I making too much of a leap here with this assumption?

I Think This Movie Marquee Could Be A Subtle Nod To Captain Amerca On Ice

In the middle of the trailer, Vanessa Kirby's Sue Storm is shown mid-brawl while standing down a battle-torn street. There's something truly horrifying about seeing a giant concrete support split apart like a tree, and I would not want to be standing under it during timber time.

In any case, it's not Sue so much as the theater marquee behind her that caught my eye, as it's advertising a film called "Subzero Intel", which is not an actual movie that was ever produced within real-world Hollywood. And as far as I can tell, it also isn't a direct reference to anything aleady existing within the MCU. So unless this is a sequel to a Mortal Kombat spinoff about its iciest fighter, I'm refocusing my sights on Chris Evans' debut as an Avenger.

Because as everyone reading this no doubt remembers, Captain America saving the day in The First Avenger resulted in him flying the HYDRA bomber Valkyrie into icy waters near Greenland, where he was believed to be dead as he remained frozen and undiscovered for decades. (At least everyone but in-universe filmmaker "Aiden Power.") So if it isn't already clear as hell, I think that the Subzero Intel of the title is talking about Cap and the HYDRA plane.

Though Aiden Power isn't a specific reference to any other Marvel characters, I have zero issues with believing that name is a mini-reference to the Super Soldier Serum, because it's an "aid in power," or "aiding power." Either way, it's a pun I want to put my faith in.

The title could technically also be a sub-reference to the fact that Chris Evans' first big superhero role was as Johnny "Human Torch" Storm in the first two Fantastic Four films that were produced years before the MCU came into existence. Fire and ice, yeah?

Considering this Sue Storm moment appears to be taking place still within the throwback 1960s setting (or even the '70s), this whole idea almost has to fall back on someone in-universe making a movie about Steve Rogers, presumably holding him up as an American hero. Which kind of taps into The Boys' own MCU-parodying multiverse of films. The fact that other MCU movies don't address Avengers-worship in other forms of media, perhaps Subzero Intel was just a one-off.

Check out the full Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer below to see everything else that director Matt Shakman & Co. are bringing to fans this summer.

The Fantastic Four: The First Steps will hit theaters on July 25, 2025. Whether or not it will be part of a double feature alongside new Phase 6 feature Subzero Intel is anyone's guess. But don't forget to check out Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson taking control of the shield for real this time in Julius Onah's Captain America: Brave New World, which is out on February 14, 2025.

When it comes to the schedule of upcoming Marvel movies, the latest title set to see the light of day is Captain America: Brave New World. The Anthony Mackie-led film will see Sam Wilson navigate a massive conspiracy and go toe to toe with the Red Hulk. While that latter aspect of the 2025 movie schedule release is exciting for fans, some have been considered amid rumors of significant reshoots for the flick. With that, Mackie weaved past the negative takes on the production process while also sharing his take on the finished flick.

Captain America: Brave New World reportedly began filming – with director Julius Onah at the helm – in March 2023, before production wrapped that June, sometime after the start of the 2023 WGA Writers Strike. By December of that same year, it was reported that changes would be made to Cap 4, with additional scenes and material being written. As part of that, Giancarlo Esposito was cast in what was a mystery role. (He’s since been confirmed to be playing Serpent Society leader Sidewinder.)

The comment assumption amongst fans across social media seems to be that constant changes have been made to the film due to it not being up to par. No one from Disney’s superhero-centric studio has confirmed nor denied that assertion. Anthony Mackie was asked about the reshoots while speaking with Esquire. When responding, the actor pointed to how other notable blockbusters have been filmed in recent years:

He makes a good point in that plenty of massive movies undergo reshoots, and that’s certainly been the case for the films that make up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Some of the best flicks in the expansive franchise needed additional scenes to be filmed and, at this point, Marvel has built reshoots into production schedules. Of course, reshoots can give, and they can take away. For example, wrestler and Brave New World cast member Seth Rollins says his role was cut amid the changes. Still, Anthony Mackie has faith in the movie:

This fourth Cap movie signifies a major accomplishment for the Twisted Metal star in a number of respects. For starters, it marks the first time since his debut as Sam Wilson in 2014 that he’s headlined a film in this expansive IP. He also holds a specific distinction alongside Scarlett Johansson as an MCU actor who also serves as an executive producer on an entry in this franchise. So it goes without saying that Mackie is quite proud of the work that’s been done – and he even defended the film from politicization.

As of this writing, critics’ reactions to Brave New World have yet to be shared, but those as well as full reviews will be here soon, as the film will be with us in less than two weeks. What matters most, of course, is what you think about it once you see it for yourself. I’m aiming to stay optimistic about what Anthony Mackie and co. have created. Hopefully, the reshoots contribute to a film that’s as “big” and “fun” as the leading man describes.

Check out Captain America: Brave New World in theaters on February 14 and, in the meantime, use a Disney+ subscription to stream the first three films in the superhero saga.

Over a decade ago, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson took to the skies as the Falcon for the first time in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. There’s been considerable change in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Wilson is now Cap and leading his own movie subtitled Brave New World. With the 2025 movie schedule entry almost here and many other MCU entries under Mackie’s belt at this point, it’s fair to wonder just how much longer he plans to remain in the fold. Well, luckily for inquiring minds, the actor is speaking to that very subject.

The fact that the Half Nelson alum has been part of the MCU as long as he has is somewhat surreal for me. Personally, I still remember when his casting as Sam was announced, and official concept art of the character was unveiled. When you look over the Marvel movies in order, Wilson has had quite the journey, so you certainly have to consider whether it’ll come to an end soon. Anthony Mackie addressed that during a profile piece for Esquire, and it sounds like he’s not prepared to hang up the wings just yet:

So it would seem the 8 Mile veteran is down to stay with the massive superhero franchise for another decade. His rationale for that particular prediction does make sense. Coming up, he has the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars on his plate, with the former reportedly set to begin filming this year. A fifth Captain America movie isn’t a certainty right now, though it could be a possibility. That aside, it wouldn’t be surprising if Sam popped up in other MCU properties, especially given his important, in-universe status as Cap.

Hearing such enthusiasm from the leading man is great, as it’d be very easy for him to be jaded at this point. Of course, what may add to his excitement is that he’s only just reached a new era in his character’s history. There are still plenty of stories that can be told now that Sam Wilson is the Sentinel of Liberty. Of course, before getting ahead of ourselves, we need to focus on the latest situation that Wilson has to contend with in the MCU.

Captain America: Brave New World sees Sam Wilson contending with the aftermath of an international incident. Wilson eventually finds himself wrapped up in a web of intrigue that leads to him stumbling upon a conspiracy. Anthony Mackie has talked up the film and teased what fans can expect. He’s also dropped F-bombs over the politicization of the film. Any chatter of that nature aside, though, he has reason to be proud, as he also serves as an EP on the film. (That’s a MCU milestone only he and Scarlett Johansson have managed to reach as actors within the franchise.)

Time certainly does fly, and it does my heart well to see Anthony Mackie still taking pleasure in his involvement in the MCU and looking towards the future. Whenever Sam Wilson does fly off into the sunset, I’d hope that he receives a sweet sendoff. Considering what Mackie has brought to the role of Sam Wilson all these years, it’s certainly what he deserves.

Be sure to check out Captain America: Brave New World when it hits theaters on February 14. In the meantime, stream Sam Wilson past appearances in Marvel movies and shows using a Disney+ subscription.

Be it Gus Fring from Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul, Moff Gideon from The Mandalorian, or Stan Edgar from The Boys, Giancarlo Esposito's on-screen villainy is usually of the shot caller variety, but we will get a fresh type of antagonism from the veteran actor in Captain America: Brave New World. Not just a chess player, Seth Voelker a.k.a. Sidewinder makes moves – and based on Esposito's recent comments about the part, it sounds like he won't just be a one-and-done Marvel Cinematic Universe star.

New York's ABC affiliate interviewed Giancarlo Esposito about his role in Captain America: Brave New World this past fall at LA Comic Con, and the recently published quotes suggest that his first appearance as Sidewinder won't be his last. The reporter asked about the look of the character compared to the comic book counterpart (who wears a red and purple costume and has a large orange neck frill), and he hinted at a potential evolution of the style going forward. Said the actor,

As far as the style is concerned, you can actually see what he means in the still at the top of this article. Specifically, it would appear as though the aforementioned orange neck frill sported by the Marvel Comics villain has been translated by the costume to department and become a more grounded style element: a tan jacket collar.

But let's focus in on that "movies to come" part of that response. We don't actually know a lot about how Sidewinder plays into the larger story of Captain America: Brave New World, but this quote would suggest that he will have unfinished business when everything is wrapping up in the third act. Perhaps the Serpent Society (a group that he leads) will have a significant presence in upcoming MCU movies leading into the big capstone projects waiting at the end of Phase 6: Avengers: Doomsday (arriving in May 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (coming in May 2027).

It's also equally possible that Giancarlo Esposito is simply messing with us here. If he is talking about appearing in future Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, that has the effect of lowering our guard and making Sidewinder feel "safe" as we watch Captain America: Brave New World. If it turns out he dies in the film, it will be that much bigger a surprise given his comments.

It won't be much longer until everyone in the world gets to discover the character's fate. Starring Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Tim Blake Nelson, Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly and Shira Haas in addition to Giancarlo Esposito, the fourth Captain America blockbuster will be flying into theaters everywhere on February 14, 2025.

Roger Ebert's wise words of “No good movie is too long, and no bad movie is short enough” are permanently etched in mind, especially when heading into the 2025 movie schedule. That being said, a new development has inspired me to be a bit hypocritical about that doctrine. You can thank an update about the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World for that, as I'm quite pleased that a surprisingly short runtime is reportedly in store for this blockbuster!

That knowledge comes from the official AMC Theatres page for the flick, which now lists Brave New World as running 118 minutes. On the surface, that’s a pretty crisp pace for the right story to play out. But, again, if your Marvel movie sticks the landing at 150 minutes, like James Gunn did with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, that screening will fly by.

That actually touches upon the major reason I’m happy Captain America: Brave New World has this allegedly svelte time frame. While director Julias Onah’s upcoming Marvel movie is the fourth to carry the Cap brand, it starts off a new story with a new MCU character taking on that storied mantle.

So we’re not quite in reboot country, but one could say a rebranding is pretty close. That's because Sam Wilson’s tenure with the shield should be a very different story than Steve Rogers’ origins. Judging by the action we’ve seen in the trailer, I have a feeling that the interconnected intrigue will still be present, while also allowing Brave New World to be a total thrill ride.

Just picture it: a chapter that still sets the table, but doesn’t get bogged down with too much prep work for the road ahead! It certainly worked for 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, and that beauty was the last Marvel movie in order right before The Avengers stormed our world!

To that point, check out this list of the running times for Chris Evans’ trilogy of solo Captain America movies:

• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) - 124 minutes
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) - 136 minutes
• Captain America: Civil War (2016) - 147 minutes

Everything from the rise of the Thunderbolts* to other necessary beats on the road to Avengers: Doomsday awaits, and having Captain America: Brave New World seemingly slimmed down feels promising. Of course, 2023’s The Marvels was even shorter at 105 minutes long and, if you ask me, that movie definitely fell into the “not short enough” bucket.

In either case, I wonder if this news will have any effects on Cap 4’s opening weekend estimates? Surely we'll get updated numbers as the clock ticks down to a Brave New World dawning in theaters, starting February 14th. For those of you who like to do the homework, you can catch the previous Captain America films and The Falcon and Winter Soldier’s one-season run, through access to a Disney+ subscription!

The slate of upcoming Marvel movies has seen some shifts since Phase 5 and Phase 6 were initially announced at 2022’s San Diego Comic-Con. From the asterisk on the Thunderbolts title to the pivot of Robert Downey Jr. playing the next big MCU villain, the past couple of years have kept us on the edge of our seats regarding the universe’s future. However, did you know that the upcoming Captain America movie was almost called something else?

As the Captain America: Brave New World release date approaches its premiere on the 2025 movie schedule, its executive producer Nate Moore shared why the film swapped titles from its original name Captain America: New World Order with Empire (via Comic Book Movie). In his words:

While the original title, “New World Order” seemed to be a reference to the first episode title of Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the set of words is also a term used in numerous conspiracy theories about a secretly emerging totalitarian world government. It makes complete sense that Marvel didn’t want to connect itself with the modern conspiracy theory after the title received feedback from the public and people within Marvel Studios and the production.

The new title Brave New World, which was announced in June of 2023, presents a much more hopeful image for Anthony Mackie’s debut film as Captain America.

It also separates itself from being misconstrued as an adaptation of a famous conspiracy. “New World Order” could certainly also mean a big change in the social systems and politics, but as Moore shared, it was not the right title to market the movie.

Along with Anthony Mackie leading the Captain America: Brave New World cast, Danny Ramirez will return as Joaquín Torres after his debut in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Harrison Ford is also set to debut as the Red Hulk, and even fight Mackie’s Captain America. You can check out the latest trailer for Brave New World below:

Brave New World could especially be a big movie for the MCU because Nate Moore also gave hints in the same interview that Sam Wilson’s Cap could be leading the new Avengers team.

Brave New World hits theaters on February 14, before Thunderbolts* arrives in May, effectively setting the stage for Marvel Phase 6, which will also feature Fantastic Four and two Avengers movies. We can’t wait to see what “brave new world” the upcoming 2025 movie will be referring to.

Boot camps and other military training scenes have been part of Hollywood movies for a long time. Some of the most intense scenes in film history have some from such scenarios and so we've decided to make a list of some of the most iconic examples of these scenes. Our list of the most intense military training scenes in film history,

G.I. Jane

Demi Moore went through a ton of training in real life to pull off her starring role in G.I. Jane. The movie tells the fictional story of the first woman to go through Navy SEAL training and it's as intense as a movie can get. Though the movie didn't perform well at the box office, you have to appreciate the dedication Moore put into the role.

Heartbreak Ridge

You have to admit, having Clint Eastwood play a military instructor is perfect casting, and so it makes sense he would cast himself in his own movie, Heartbreak Ridge. Eastwood is awesome as a gunnery sergeant sent to clean up a ragtag unit of slackers. It's classic Eastwood.

Tigerland

Tigerland was one of the biggest bombs of director Joel Schumaker's career and that's too bad because it's actually a great movie. Colin Farrell plays a Vietnam-era draftee who is opposed to the war and does everything he can to be a troublemaker in his training for the war. The result is a lot of incredibly harrow scenes throughout his training and makes for an amazing movie about military life,

Top Gun

Top Gun is a little different because it's not about boot camp or other military training movies, it's about pilots trying to become the best of the best in high-level naval aviation. That doesn't diminish the intensity of the training, however, it only enhances it. It's become one of the most iconic military movies of all time as a result.

An Officer And A Gentleman

In An Officer And A Gentleman, Lou Gossett, Jr. plays the epitome of a strict, no-nonsense drill sergeant. He's particularly hard on one of his trainees, played by Richard Gere, in this genre-defining military training movie. It's a romance movie at its heart, but some of the most memorable scenes are the military scenes.

The Tuskegee Airmen

HBO's 1995 movie The Tuskegee Airmen has a stacked cast that includes Laurence Fishburne, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Courtney B. Vance, Andre Braugher, Cuba Gooding Jr., and John Lithgow. It's appropriate to have such a cast when telling the true story of the real-life Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black pilots in the U.S. Military. It's a hard road for all the trainees and this movie pulls no punches in telling the difficult, sad, and eventually triumphant story.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Even the Marvel Cinematic Universe has dipped its toes into military training movies. In Captain America: The First Avenger, audiences get to see a pre-Captain America Steve Rogers go through his early military training and it plays for both laughs and for inspiration as the undersized Rogers does all he can to succeed, despite the odds (and everyone around him) being against him.

Mulan

In both the 1998 animated movie and the 2020 live-action remake, Mulan features a few cool training scenes as the titular character, under the guise of being a man, learns how to fight in ancient imperial China. It's a different take on training, for a few obvious reasons, but both movies have great sequences.

Glory

Glory, which tells the story of one of the very few all-Black regiments in the Civil War, is one of the best war movies ever made. And that starts with the training sequences that are as intense as any movie, given the subject matter and what you would expect of an all-Black regiment being trained by white officers in the 1860s.

Full Metal Jacket

You simply can't make this list without including Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece Full Metal Jacket. The opening third of the movie features one of, if not the, most intense example of military training in Hollywood history. Led by real-life former drill instructor R. Lee Ermey, the first act of the movie is simply incredible for many reasons, including its realism.

Starship Troopers

1997's Starship Troopers was a box office bomb that was actually pretty great. The Paul Verhoeven-directed film was misunderstood at the time and has developed a strong cult following in the decades since. It also has a great training sequence and being set in the future, it's a sequence that sets it apart from a lot of the other movies on this list.

Beasts Of No Nation

Beasts Of No Nation is one of the hardest movies to watch that you'll ever see, but one of the best movies set in Africa. It's truly not for the faint of heart. The training scenes are not conventional, as training an army of child soldiers isn't conventional, and that makes the scenes all the more intense and ultimately heartbreaking.

Stripes

We had to include some lighter movies on this list, right? Stripes is one of the funniest movies of its era and yet, it still manages to pull off some intense army training scenes that ultimately includes the hapless unit's drill sergeant getting blown up. So that's pretty intense! And hilarious.

Taps

1981's Taps is set in a military school for teenagers and features a monster cast in some of their earliest roles including Sean Penn, Giancarlo Stanton, and Tom Cruise. It doesn't feature a ton of training scenes, but there are a few that add to the tension of the movie before some of the kids end up using that training for sinister purposes.

Jarhead

2005's Jarhead, directed by Sam Mendes, is based on the true story of a marine in the first Gurl War and features some of the most intense military training scenes ever put on film. Not only does the recruit (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) go through Marine boot camp, but also through sniper school, which is even more intense as only a fraction of the class make it all the way through.

The Dirty Dozen

There are few war movies as classic as The Dirty Dozen. In the movie, Lee Marvin's character is put in charge of a unit of misfits and rule-breakers that he must mold into a crew capable of pulling off a mission no one else is interested in doing. He does that, of course, with a lot of serious training.

The Recruit

While The Recruit isn't about military training, per se, the CIA recruitment training isn't all that different in many respects, so it deserves a spot on this list. Instead of the hard-nosed drill sergeant, it's an equally hard-nosed recruit trainer played by al Pacino putting his pet project, played by Colin Farrell through some intense training.

Private Benjamin

Private Benjamin, starring Goldie Hawn in one of her best roles is a silly movie, in all the best ways. When Judy Benjamin (Hawn) loses her husband on their wedding night, she is more or less tricked into joining the army and hilarity ensues. Like other military comedies of its ilk, it somehow shows the lighter side - and the harder side - of boot camp.

Hacksaw Ridge

Director Mel Gibson may have a problematic history in Hollywood, but it's hard to deny that he really knows how to tell a story. Hacksaw Ridge is the true story of Desmond Doss, a Seventh-Day Adventist, and conscientious objector joining the army during World War II and eventually being awarded the Medal of Honor for his service as a medic in the war. The first half of the movie includes his training as a medic before joining his unit in the Pacific Theater.

The Boys in Company C

Though not as famous as some of the other movies on this list, The Boys in Company C is a great movie about boot camp during the Vietnam era. The movie starts with "the boys" going through some of the most brutal training you can imagine and though the movie is filled with silly stereotypes, the training scenes are still excellent.

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump might not be the first movie that comes to mind when you think of intense training scenes, but it's got them! Gump and Bubba go through training for the war together and become great friends, of course. It also somewhat cynically shows Gump as the perfect recruit because of his below-average intelligence, which isn't really fair, but still makes for some great moments.

Top Gun: Maverick

Just like it's predecessor, Top Gun: Maverick features some incredible flight-training scenes in preparation for the final attack of the movie. This time, the trainer is Maverick as he takes no quarter on his trainees in getting them ready for the attack.

Biloxi Blues

The 1988 Mike Nichols-directed Biloxi Blues is based on the semi-autobiographical play by Neil Simon telling his story about boot camp during World War II. While it is definitely a comedy, there are some very intense and downright terrifying moments in the movie between the recruits and their drill sergeant played by Christopher Walken.

American Sniper

There is nothing harder in the military than Navy SEAL training (also known as BUD/S training). Perhaps the best depiction of that training comes in American Sniper when Chris Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper, does the training before becoming a sniper. You feel every bit of how intense the training really is as you watch Kyle and his fellow recruits suffer through it.

The Inspection

Writer and director Elegance Bratton brings his own life story to the big screen as a gay man going through boot camp in the U.S. Marines. Boot camp is hard for anyone, but it's even more complicated for gay men seeking acceptance and recognition as Bratton so elegantly shows in the movie.

Major Payne

Okay, okay, before you roll your eyes too much here, yes, Major Payne is a silly movie, and no, it's not technically military training as Payne (Damon Wayans) is training kids. But - it does show, in a completely over-the-top way, a somewhat realistic, if cartoony, version of a boot camp drill sergeant.

Zero Dark Thirty

Most of the movies on this list are of boot camp or other general military training, Zero Dark Thirty is unique in that it shows the training for one specific mission - the mission to take about Osama bin Ladan. It still very much belongs on this list as the training scenes are every bit as intense as any boot camp scene can be, and it's an incredible look at the ongoing training members of the military go through even after they are deep into their careers.

Men Of Honor

Men of Honor is the true story of the first African-American master diver in the U.S. Navy. It stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear, who leaves the farm in Kentucky in 1949 without much of an education and goes through some of the most intense training in the Navy, all while dealing with the prejudices you'd expect to see in a movie about this era.

Basic

If we're honest, Basic from 2003 isn't the best movie on this list. It might just be the worst, but it still has some pretty great training scenes, as the title of the movie implies. Should you seek it out? Probably not, but if you come across it and enjoy movies about military training, you might like it.

Cherry

2021's Cherry, directed by the Russo Brothers and starring Tom Holland as Cherry is more about the post-military life of a soldier suffering from PTSD and the crimes he commits. It does feature some great training scenes in the beginning though.

The D.I.

You may not be familiar with The D.I., but it is one of the defining movies of its genre. The movie features Dragnet star Jack Webb as a no-nonsense drill sergeant that in many ways is the template for how those roles have been played since The D.I. came out in 1957. It's not the best movie in its genre, but you can't deny it's influence.

In the Army Now

We wouldn't have a complete list without including the Pauly Shore "classic" In The Army Now. Sure, it's as dumb as you would expect from a Pauly Shore vehicle, but the training scenes are actually pretty decent, all things considered.

Audiences know that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a steady source of content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. There are countless questions about upcoming Marvel movies, especially the next two Avengers crossover events. Rumors are swirling about both Doomsday and Secret Wars, including chatter about Chris Evans' return to the MCU. Captain America's return was brought to life in twisted fan art, and now I really want to see this story play out.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but the hype is real about Robert Downey Jr. playing Doctor Doom. Fans are excited to see the variant of Tony Stark as a villain, and some are hoping that we also get to see Cap as a baddie, perhaps a HYDRA agent. Artist spdrmnkyxxiii's Instagram brought this to life, check it out below:

I mean, how cool is that? This seems like a great way to bring the OG Captain America back with a twist, especially as the next two Avengers movies will rely on the concept of the multiverse. We'll just have to wait and see if this actually comes to life on the big screen.

Fans who spent the years watching the Marvel movies in order know how noble Captain America has been throughout its tenure. That's why I'm so excited about his potential return as a HYDRA Agent in the next Avengers flicks. If Tony Stark gets to be a villain, why shouldn't Steve Rogers?

Seeing Chris Evans back in the MCU doesn't seem totally out of the question, as he had a small but memorable role in Deadpool & Wolverine. Rather than ruining Steve and Peggy's happy ending from Avengers: Endgame, Evans actually reprise his role as The Fantastic Four's Human Torch (with a serious potty mouth). He's already proven himself willing to dip his toes back into the Marvel pools, so perhaps playing a HYDRA version of Captain America in the multiverse is interesting enough to entice the 43 year-old actor.

Narratively, it seems like just about anything could happen in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, with the variants allowing countless characters to be considered. While Chris Evans might not want to sign another multi-picture contract as Cap (especially since Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson has taken on that mantle), coming back to play a villain variant might be an enticing concept.

Of course, there are a number of rumored characters that Marvel fans would like to see pop up in The Russo Brothers' upcoming Avengers flicks. Chief among them are Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch, as well as the title characters of Deadpool & Wolverine.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

OK, Superman. You had the spotlight for a while as fans got hyped over your trailer, and your upcoming DC movie. But now it’s time we shift focus over to your distinguished competition at Marvel, who plan to storm back into theaters as early as February 2025 with the next adventure in the saga of Captain America! It appears that Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is going to have a handful of adversaries in the February release of Captain America: Brave New World. We’ve been told that Breaking Bad sensation Giancarlo Esposito will be playing Sidewinder, the head of the Serpent Society. We’ve heard rumors of a battle over the Celestial that’s sticking out of the water. And we know that Cap is going to fight a Red Hulk.

Thankfully, he’ll have a brand new Vibranium-infused suit to help keep him alive.

Much has been made about the casting of Hollywood legend Harrison Ford in the role of Thaddeus Ross, replacing the late William Hurt. One thing that we haven’t talked that much about is Ford being 82 years of age, and still being willing to “Hulk out” in the movie. Speaking with EW, Weta visual effects supervisor Dan Cox elaborated on the process of weaving Ford into the creation of the Red Hulk. And he assured fans:

Yes, we know that this is Han Solo. And Indiana Jones. And that Harrison Ford has been doing stunts for the bulk of his natural life. Sometimes, he even wrecks his own planes when he’s off a movie set. There’s very little he can’t handle.

But everyone loses the war against Father Time. And it takes a special kind of physicality to step into the role of the Red Hulk, as you can see in the trailer for Captain America: Brave New World.

Then again, computer graphics and visual effects are pretty magical, so turning the 82-year-old Harrison Ford into an angry beast is possible in 2025. And it’s likely going to be one of the main factors that brings MCU fans out to the theaters in February, to see SOMEONE hulking out – because it has been years since Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) had a proper Hulk attack.

There are three Marvel movies on the docket for 2025, with Thunderbolts* following Captain America, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps closing out the story – but also setting up Avengers: Doomsday. This is going to be a very exciting year for both Marvel and DC… as well as for fans of the comic book genre, so stay tuned.

If you watch the Marvel movies in order throughout Phases One through Three, something remains mostly consistent. That’s the fact that the Avengers are mostly a consistent presence within the cinematic universe. However, since the dawn of the Multiverse Saga with Phase Four, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have mostly been MIA. I’ve been wondering what the team’s actual status is post Endgame and, now, a producer for the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World is providing us with some hints on that front.

What Did The Captain America 4 Producer Have To Say About The Avengers?

There are currently plenty of questions in need of answers when it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s signature superhero team ahead of their next two films. More immediately, though, fans will see the return of Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, who now bears the mantle of Captain America. It’s already a given that the film will focus on Sam’s continued trials as the “star-spangled man with a plan.” Though, as Brave New World EP Nate Moore hinted to Empire, Wilson’s former team will also be a topic of discussion:

Fans last saw the do-gooders (and their allies) come together in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, during which they made their final stand against Thanos and his army. The team ultimately emerged victorious – but at great cost. By the end of their conflict with the Mad Titan, two of the group’s founding members – Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) – had died. Also, OG Cap Steve Rogers received his pleasant ending, as he ventured to an alternate timeline to live a life with Peggy Carter. And, on top of all that, the team’s base of operations in upstate New York was a massive pile of rubble after the film’s now-iconic battle.

Needless to say, it feels like the team is in a very uncertain position. On that note, I’m excited to see how Brave New World dives into the team’s current status within the MCU. Ahead of that, though, what you should know is that Nate Moore’s sentiments aren’t the only breadcrumbs that fans have been gifted by Marvel Studios’ braintrust over the last few years.

Kevin Feige Spoke To Us About The State Of The Avengers

A few years back, CinemaBlend spoke with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige about all things MCU. It was during that conversation that our own Sean O’Connell asked the film producer about the state of the aforementioned team. Feige’s comments suggested that big Avengers questions would be addressed in forthcoming films. Among the queries Feige mentioned were, is there a core team and, if so, who’s leading and funding it. The savvy producer also teased that the question of what makes an Avenger will be explored.

CinemaCon footage of Captain America 4 also suggested that the Avengers would be something of an undercurrent within the story. Per a description of what was shown at the expo this past April, U.S. President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross wants Sam Wilson to rebuild the iconic group of supes – a prospect that Wilson seems thrown off by.

It’s hard to say exactly what lies ahead for the group, but their presence is going to be important when it comes to upcoming Marvel movies. Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars – which will open in 2026 and 2027, respectively – will see the team face a massive new threat. I’m talking about Doctor Doom, who’s being played by the returning Robert Downey Jr. Let’s hope that whatever squad that’s formed proves to be effective, and we’ll see if Sam Wilson proves to be the person capable of leading them.

You’ll be able to see if Sam has leadership potential when Captain America: Brave New World soars into theaters on February 14 amid the 2025 movie schedule. In the meantime, stream the first three Cap films as well as all four Avengers movies using a Disney+ subscription.

Anthony Mackie has put in serious work as far as the Marvel Cinematic Universe goes. Since his debut as Sam Wilson/The Falcon in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, he’s been a steady presence within the sprawling franchise. Sam and Mackie, by extension, took a major step forward in 2021 when the character took on the mantle of Cap. Mackie is now set to headline the long-awaited Captain America: Brave New World and, ahead of that the actor earned an honor that only Scarlett Johansson and few other MCU vets have reached.

The aforementioned upcoming Marvel movie marks the first solo film for Anthony Mackie’s Wilson, and that fact only puts him in the company of MCU alums like Robert Downey Jr., Brie Larson and Chadwick Boseman. However, thanks to Brave New World, Mackie now possesses an even rarer distinction. Walt Disney Pictures released the official credits for the movie, which revealed that Mackie is named as an executive producer. That’s certainly a big deal, considering that only a few actors in this franchise have been granted that title.

As it stands, only three other actors have been EPs for MCU movies. Scarlett Johansson served as an EP on Black Widow and holds the same duties on the upcoming Thunderbolts*. Chris Hemsworth received that same credit for Thor: Love and Thunder, and Ryan Reynolds served as a producer on 2024 movie schedule entry Deadpool & Wolverine. As for TV shows in the franchise, Tom Hiddleston was an EP on Loki, while Samuel L. Jackson and Oscar Isaac were for Secret Invasion and Moon Knight, respectively.

It makes sense that Anthony Mackie would be named an EP on his latest superhero flick – and that’s not just because he plays the lead role. As mentioned, he’s more than paid his dues when it comes to the House of Mouse’s massive comic book-inspired IP. Considering the executive producer credit, Mackie likely had more say when it came to creative-related conversations. This isn’t the A-lister’s first foray into producing either, as he did so for the films Io, Outside the Wire and The Banker as well as the recently released Elevation.

By all accounts, the actor/producer has relished the opportunity to lead his own MCU film. This comes years after Spider-Man star Tom Holland dissed him over the fact that there wasn’t a Falcon film. It was for that reason that earlier this year, the Half Nelson alum absolutely roasted his MCU buddy Holland while at San Diego Comic-Con. Amid his excitement, the Detroit actor also defended the Brave New World title, as he feels it marks a new beginning for his character and those in his orbit.

The fourth film in the Cap series will see Sam Wilson attempting to get to the bottom of a far-reaching conspiracy that puts him at odds with U.S. President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. Brave New World trailers have teased a flick filled with action, drama and espionage and, of course, it’ll also mark the MCU debut of the Red Hulk. There are a lot of expectations for the Julius Onah-directed film, and I’m hopeful that it’ll live up to them.

I’d also be curious to hear about the kinds of conversations that Anthony Mackie participated in as one of the producers of the film. The trend of actors simultaneously serving as producers is becoming more common in Hollywood, and it’d be great to see it continue when it comes to the MCU.

Check out Captain America: Brave New World when it opens in theaters on February 14 as part of the 2025 movie schedule. You can also use a Disney+ subscription to stream the Marvel movies in order, including the first three films in the Cap franchise.

As the Captain America: Brave New World release date approaches in less than three months, Marvel fans can look forward to seeing Anthony Mackie leading his first movie as Captain America. But since we learned that Robert Downey Jr. will be the next big Avengers villain, we’re already looking forward to the reunion between the Marvel stars. Mackie recently had a great response to the upcoming matchup, too.

In a newly released interview when Mackie and Danny Ramirez were in Brazil for the country’s own D23, the new Captain America reacted to fighting Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom once the former Iron Man actor takes up the role. In his words:

While RDJ was leading the Avengers team to glory against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame back in 2019, oh how the tables have turned. When speaking to Nerdbunker, the Captain America actor joked that the Oscar-winner has earned what’s coming for him when he debuts as Doctor Doom. He’s expected to make his big debut when the Avengers: Doomsday release date arrives in May 2026. His new MCU character is also expected to lead Avengers: Secret Wars, which comes out the following year.

During this summer’s Marvel showing at Hall H during San Diego Comic-Con, the studio shocked audiences when the Iron Man actor made a surprise appearance to announce he’ll be playing Doctor Doom in two upcoming Marvel movies.

While it was previously supposed to be Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror to follow Thanos as the Avengers’ next big villain, after Majors dealt with legal issues and allegations, the MCU decided to pivot to Doctor Doom instead. Since we’re in The Multiverse Saga, there’s something perhaps twistedly poetic about Downey being the team’s next adversary.

Fans have been mixed on Downey’s casting thus far, but there is something kind of fun about the Avengers cast getting to have beef with RDJ and his character after his amazing legacy as Tony Stark. Previously, Anthony Mackie made similar comments when speaking about the Doctor Doom reveal overshadowing the Brave New World footage at SDCC. Mackie joked he hopes he gets to “punch” RDJ in the next Avengers movie.

After Iron Man got an iconic ending with Avengers: Endgame by sacrificing himself for the universe by defeating Thanos after using the Infinity Stones to reverse the villain’s plot, it will certainly be interesting to see the actor get a chance to play a very different role in the MCU. He'll be reuniting with the Russo Brothers for the two Avengers films, which reportedly was a condition for his return.

You can check out Mackie in the latest Captain America: Brave New World trailer ahead of its release on February 14, 2025.

Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, was already a relatively well-known superhero before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but there’s no question that Chris Evans’ portrayal of the character boosted his profile significantly to global audiences. And much like how the funniest Tony Stark quotes have been chronicled, there are some great quotes from Evans’ Steve that can be heard when going through the Marvel movies in order. Below are the 32 best ones, some of which go hand in hand with Steve’s best moments in the MCU, too.

“I could do this all day.”

If any of the quotes on this list summarize Steve Rogers’ character, it’s this one. First uttered by a pre-Super Soldier Serum Steve in Captain America: The First Avenger when he was getting beat up in an alley, and then brought back in Captain America: Civil War, it exemplifies his unwillingness to back down in the face of adversity.

"On your left."

At the beginning of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson met Steve Rogers when Captain America himself kept running ridiculously fast laps around the future Falcon. Each time, he said “On your left,” and it was a memorable enough line that Sam got to say it himself in Avengers: Endgame’s portal sequence.

“I understood that reference.”

Steve Rogers went on ice in 1945 and woke up in 2011, meaning there were almost 70 years' worth of historical and pop culture references that he had no idea about. However, when Nick Fury mentioned in The Avengers that Loki was controlling people like “flying monkeys,” which confused Thor, Steve immediately got that reference, having seen The Wizard of Oz in 1939. This quote gets extra points for being a popular meme online.

"Before we get started, does anyone want to get out?"

After meeting with Alexander Pierce and deciding not to share the flash drive he’d gotten from Nick Fury, Steve Rogers was ambushed by STRIKE agents in an elevator at the Triskelion. Realizing something was amiss as more agents entered the confined space, he gave them one chance to back out before promptly beating them up, including Brock Rumlow, the future Crossbones.

“Language!”

By the time Avengers: Age of Ultron rolled around, Steve Rogers had been unfrozen for several years and had gotten relatively used to living in contemporary times. Still, some 1940s habits are hard to break, so when Tony Stark exclaimed, “Shit!” when he accidentally ran into a force field, Steve said, “Language!” He was given grief about that for the rest of the movie.

"I know we're not perfect, but the safest hands are still our own."

Captain America: Civil War saw the Avengers and other heroes clash over their differing views on the Sokovia Accords. Tony Stark felt international oversight was something worth supporting, but Steve was firmly opposed to the legislation, arguing that it was still the better choice for superheroes to operate unrestricted.

"Avengers! Assemble."

The Avengers may have formed in 2012, but audiences had to wait another seven years to hear the Mjolnir-wielding Steve Rogers shout out the rallying cry for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes from the comics. That wait was worth it though, because it came as the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and all their allies came together to battle Thanos and his forces.

“I don't want to kill anyone. I don't like bullies; I don't care where they're from.”

The physically frail Steve Rogers tried his hardest to enlist during World War II, but it wasn’t until he met Dr. Abraham Erskine that he finally got his shot. When the German scientist asked Steve if he wanted to go to Europe to kill Nazis, he gave the above answer, which made Erskine think more highly of him.

“Every time someone tries to win a war before it starts, innocent people die. Every time.”

Tony Stark may not have intended for Ultron to become sentient and kill everyone on Earth, but his and Bruce Banner’s goal to create suits of armor around the world to protect humanity definitely backfired. Steve said this quote after ripping a log piece in half in frustration over Tony’s motives, and it served as effective foreshadowing for Captain America: Civil War.

“Oh God.”

Two simple words, and yet they perfectly encapsulated what those who survived Thanos’ snap were feeling when they realized he’d won and made half of all life in the universe disappear. Falling to the ground, Steve could barely keep it together at the end of Avengers: Infinity War as he grappled with what just happened.

"No. No, I don't think I will."

After returning the Infinity Stones to their respective timelines, Steve Rogers decided to live a life with Peggy Carter in the past. The 112-year-old Steve described this life as “beautiful” to Sam Wilson went he returned to his original timeline’s present day to give his old friend a different version of his Captain America shield. And yet, when Sam noticed the wedding ring on Steve’s finger and inquired about it, the elderly man opted not to share.

“You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing.”

Steve Rogers was the first superhero to show up at Stuttgart, where Loki had forced a group of humans from a gala to kneel before him. Steve saved an old man who’d stood up (figuratively and literally) to Loki, and then compared the Asgardian God of Mischief to Adolf Hitler.

"This isn't freedom, this is fear."

It wasn’t just missing out on decades of history and pop culture, as well most of the people he knew back in World War II having died, that Steve struggled with early on in the MCU. There were also changing values, as evidenced by his reaction when Nick Fury revealed Project Insight to him. In Steve’s mind, having three Helicarriers take out threats preemptively was not something that would be good for the public.

“You get hurt, hurt them back. You get killed... walk it off."

When the Avengers showed up in Sokovia to stop Ultron, Steve Rogers did these words to get everyone pumped up, as humanity itself was at stake. They emerged victorious in the end, although sadly, Quicksilver died in the process and was not able to walk it off.

“If I see a situation pointed south, I can't ignore it. Sometimes I wish I could.”

Similar to Steve saying, “I can do this all day,” this quote demonstrates how far Steve Rogers will go to stand up to adversity and do what he thinks is the right thing. He said this while talking with Tony Stark in Captain America: Civil War and explaining his rationale for opposing the Sokovia Accords. However, he then acknowledged that he doesn’t actually wish he could ignore such situations.

“… Take it from a guy who's been frozen for 65 years... the only way to really be cool is to follow the rules.”

Steve Rogers made amusing cameos throughout Spider-Man: Homecoming through a series of PSAs for high school students that were filmed sometime after the events of The Avengers. These cheesy and punny lines, the above being perhaps the biggest offender, were made all the funnier by the fact that at this point in the MCU timeline, Steve was a fugitive from the law.

“And Hulk? Smash!”

When the Avengers finally came together for the first time as a team, Steve Rogers issued orders for his teammates so they could more effectively combat Loki’s Chitauri army. But Steve wisely decided to not give Hulk anything complicated to carry out, instead just telling the green behemoth to do what he does best.

"... The price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay."

Steve said these inspiring words as part of his speech to all the S.H.I.E.L.D. employees at the Triskelion who had no idea that their ranks had been infiltrated by HYDRA since the beginning. It paid off, as agents like Sharon Carter rebelled against STRIKE and all the other HYDRA operatives who’d made their true allegiances known.

"I keep telling everybody they should move on and grow. Some do. But not us."

Those who were left alive by Thanos’ snap were traumatized, and five years after this genocide, those on Earth were barely coping with how life changed in an instant. When Steve met with Natasha Romanoff at the Avengers Compound, he acknowledged that he hasn’t been following his own advice, and that the two of them have stayed stuck.

“… I had a date.”

When Nick Fury and his people caught back up with Steve Rogers after he broke out of confinement and took his first steps into contemporary times, the one-eyed spy informed the super soldier that he’d been asleep for almost 70 years. Remembering his last words to Peggy Carter before he went on ice, Steve was disappointed that he hadn’t been able to keep their appointment.

"I'm not looking for forgiveness. And I'm way past asking for permission. Earth just lost their best defender. So we're here to fight. If you wanna stay in our way... we'll fight you, too."

Steve Rogers may have spent the two years between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War as a fugitive from the law, but he was still fighting for what he believed was right. So when Thunderbolt Ross accused him of acting as those all were forgiven for what went down in Civil War just because aliens had invaded, Steve told him this.

“My faith's in people, I guess. Individuals. And I'm happy to say that, for the most part, they haven't let me down. Which is why I can't let them down either.”

Things didn’t end well between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers in Captain America: Civil War, but that didn’t stop the former from trying to make peace with the latter by the end. Steve left Tony a note that included this assessment of himself, an apology for hiding the truth about Bucky Barnes killing his parents, and a flip phone that Tony could use in case he ever needed help.

"When I went under, the world was at war. I wake up, they say we won. They didn't say what we lost."

Steve Rogers was still very much a man out of time when The Avengers began, but he’d done a fair amount of research about what happened during his time being frozen. As he learned the Allies won World War II, but he also wondered at what cost that was reflected in contemporary society, as he told Nick Fury.

“For as long as I can remember, I just wanted to do what was right. I guess I'm not quite sure what that is anymore. And I thought I could throw myself back in: follow orders, serve. It's just not the same."

When Steve wanted to serve in World War II, it was to do his part in a conflict that had a distinct line between good and evil. But during the time of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, that line was no longer as clear cut, and while he was visiting with the elderly Peggy Carter, he reflected on how being a soldier from his original time period didn’t feel the same anymore.

“I knocked out Adolph Hitler over 200 times.”

After Abraham Erskine was shot and the original Super Soldier Serum formula was lost, Senator Brandt decided Steve would be put to better use as a propaganda figure, specifically for a stage show to promote war bonds during World War II. This show involved him “punching” Adolf Hitler, so technically he could count that as an accomplishment to mention before he infiltrated Red Skull’s base.

"Let's go get this son of a bitch."

Steve cursed towards the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron when he called Nick Fury a “son of a bitch,” obviously harkening back to the “Language!” moment. But this instance of cursing hit way harder, as Steve said the above after he and the remaining Avengers discovered Thanos’ location, with the Avengers: Endgame title card following immediately afterward.

“Ultron thinks we're monsters. That we're what's wrong with the world. This isn't just about beating him. It's about whether he's right.”

It didn’t take long for Ultron to decide after gaining sentience that all of life on Earth needed to be eliminated in order for there to be peace. Naturally, the Avengers had to stop the robotic menace, but Steve also felt it was important for him and his teammates to prove that humanity wasn’t as despicable as Ultron claimed.

"This job... we try to save as many people as we can. Sometimes that doesn't mean everybody. But if we can't find a way to live with that, next time... maybe nobody gets saved."

Wanda Maximoff tried her best to get the soon-to-explode Crossbones away from civilians in Lagos during Captain America: Civil War, but the blast still hit a nearby building and killed some Wakandan humanitarian workers. Wanda took this hard, and Steve tried his best to comfort her, which included saying the above to her.

“I am Steve Rogers.”

When Thor returned to Earth to aid in fighting Thanos’ forces in Wakanda, he brought with him Rocket and Root. The latter said his standard three words when the God of Thunder introduced him to Steve Rogers, and Steve responded by sharing his own name, unaware that “I am Groot” is literally the only thing the sentient tree can say.

"We lost. All of us. We lost friends. We lost family. We lost a part of ourselves. Today, we have a chance to take it all back."

Once Earth’s Mightiest Heroes figured out time travel in Avengers: Endgame, they formed teams for the Time Heist, where they would retrieve alternate timeline versions of the Time Stone to undo the effects of Thanos’ snap. Before they headed off to their respective missions, Steve Rogers kicked off his inspirational speech with these words and capped off with how they were “going to win. Whatever it takes.”

“There's only one God, ma'am, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that.”

Steve took the arrival of Thor on Earth during The Avengers pretty well. After the Odinson snatched Loki and Tony Stark flew after them, the first Captain America took it upon himself to follow after them. When Black Widow advised him to stay on the sidelines since Thor and Loki were “basically gods,” he countered that they were far from he considered to be the real deal.

"That was not my first kiss since 1945. I'm 95, not dead."

When Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff were trying to avoid being noticed by Brock Rumlow and the STRIKE team while being discreet inside a mall, the latter took it upon herself to kiss the former so that their faces would be hidden as Rumlow passed by. Later on, when Natasha inquired about if this was his first kiss since he went on ice, Steve denied that, although he didn’t share any further details.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly expanding, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who've spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that the post-Endgame landscape has featured a ton of changes. That includes Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson taking on the mantle as the new Captain America. He recently shared the sweet story of Chris Evans telling him he'll be the next Cap.

What we know about Captain America: Brave New World is limited, but it'll be the first chapter of the franchise where Anthony Mackie takes top billing. The cast of Captain America 4 is stacked, but fans might miss the OG Cap. But at the Disney APA Content Shocase in Singapore (via Deadline) Mackie revealed the sweet way Evans reacted to the passing of the torch. The pair were watching football together when Evans showed him the final pages of Avengers: Endgame, where Sam's uture became clear. As Mackie recalls:

How sweet is that? Given Evans' long tenure as Steve Rogers, it would have been understandable if he had conflicting thoughts about someone else becoming Captain America. But he was seemingly thrilled for his friend and colleague, as Mackie was getting a big promotion in the MCU as a whole.

Following the finale of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson officially became a (flying) Captain America, and would have that role in upcoming Marvel movies. And after some years of waiting, we'll finally get to see him lead the cast of Captain America: Brave New World. And it should be fascinating to see ho the movie's action is influenced by its new star. Between the wings and the fact that Sam never took the super soldier serum, and there is going to be a very different Cap in town.

Fans are eager to see how the new Captain America affects the MCU as a whole. The inclusion of Red Hulk is particularly interesting, especially because Harrison Ford is already set to return as Thaddeus Ross as part of the Thunderbolts* cast list. Exactly how he becomes Red Hulk is a total mystery at the time of writing this story, but the trailers for Brave New World are teasing an epic battle. And without being a super solider himself, how will Sam Wilson face off against the hulking character?

After getting his first solo movie as Cap, Mackie is expected to factor into The Russo Brothers' pair of crossover movies. Avengers: Doomsday will be the first, and fans are eager for information about its cast.

Captain America: Brave New World will hit theaters on February 14th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point, constantly releasing new content for its generations of fans. Moviegoers who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen plenty of action on the big screen, as well as a ton of funny one-liners from its cast of heroes and villains. And there are several times a Marvel character had a great comeback. Let's break it all down.

Humor has become a regular part of the shared universe, and smart money says upcoming Marvel movies will continue this trend. While some projects are more comedy-heavy than others, most of our favorite characters have gotten sassy comebacks in throughout the MCU so far. In no particular order, here are some favorite. But be warned, a big spoiler alert is in effect given how many movies and their contents will be discussed. Someone cue the MCU theme song!

"Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist." - Iron Man

During most of the first Avengers movie, Earth's Mightiest Heroes are struggling to come together and work as a team. Around halfway through, the team is once again arguing, where Steve Rogers asks Tony Stark what he is without his Iron Man armor. And RDJ's delivery of his response is the stuff MCU dreams are made of.

"What’s up, Regular Sized Man?" - War Machine

The Avengers often struggle to coexist given their years of history together. We saw this in Endgame, when those heroes who didn't get snapped decide to band together and pull off a Time Heist. Given their scuffle during Civil War's airport fight, Rhodey is sure to poke fun at Ant-Man as they meet at the Avengers Compound.

"Just Wong? Like Adele? Or Aristotle? Drake, Bono, Eminem." - Doctor Strange

The original Doctor Strange movie really opened doors in the MCU, bringing trippy visuals, magic, and new characters into the fun. While Wong and Doctor Strange are buddies, their first meeting was a bit awkward. Especially when Stephen went on a rant about people with just one name.

"Why was she up there all this time?" - Okoye

Avengers: Infinity War's battle of Wakanda was a truly epic action sequence, especially as the Battle on Titan was happening at the same time. The Good Guys tried to protect Vision from Thanos' forces, with Wanda staying at his side as Shuri tried to procure the Mind Stone from his head. But after Wanda stepped away and took out a huge amount of enemies at once, Okoye was left wondering why she wasn't in the field sooner.

"Have fun in prison!" - Darcy

The WandaVision finale was super satisfying, and offered answers and badass superhero fights for the beloved series. It became clear that S.W.O.R.D. acting director Tyler Hayward was manipulating the entire situation, and was in fact a true villain. And after he attempted to shoot Wanda's children, Darcy made sure to pin him in his car until the authorities could arrive.

"We have a Hulk." - Iron Man

Given his penchant for banner and backtalk, Tony Stark appears a number of times in this list. Iron Man's swagger was in full effect for The Avengers, especially when he was threatening Loki before the final Battle of New York. And when the horned villain mentions he has an army, Tony gives him this iconic four-word response.

"You need a woman who is pathetic like you." - Drax

The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is arguably the funniest in the entire MCU, thanks to its zany group of characters and the way they interact with each other. Dave Bautista's Drax is a consistent scene-stealer, and has some truly hilarious lines. Case in point: the not-so-helpful advice he gives to Peter Quill about Gamora in Guardians 2.

"I do what he does, just slower" - Sam Wilson

Sam Wilson/ The Falcon was introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which is considered by some fans to be one of the strongest entries in the entire MCU. His friendship with Steve begins when Cap consistently passes him while jogging, which is how the "on your left" line was cemented into Marvel history. And when talking to Nick Fury in his secret bunker, he maintains he does whatever Steve does... but slower.

"We are Groot." - Groot

While the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is full of funny lines of dialogue, James Gunn's Marvel franchise has also had plenty of heart to go with it. And the first big tear-jerking moment came from the first movie, when Groot decides to sacrifice himself to save the rest of the team. And when Rocket asks why he's doing this, an alternate version of his signature line is delivered.

"I could do this all day." - Captain America

This line is one of the biggest catch phrases /recurring themes throughout the entire MCU. During Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve is getting beat up in an alley, but insists he could do it all day long. This line would be uttered a number of other times throughout the MCU, including by Captain Carter in Doctor Strange 2.

"What are those?!" - Shuri

Letitia Wright's Shuri is the biggest comedic relief throughout Ryan Coogler's Black Panther movie. Case in point: when T'Challa visits her lab early in the movie, and she takes the time to poke fun at his footwear. And given the popularity of the "what are those?" memes at the time, this comeback was doubly effective.

"I just pay for everything and design everything, make everyone look cooler." - Iron Man

When we catch up with Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers: Age of Ultron, they've become a pretty cohesive team unit. They're good in the field, and have a hierarchy of power that's been established. And when Maria Hill calls Tony "boss" he hilariously clarifies his role, and makes it clear that Captain America is running the show.

"Baskin Robbins always finds out." - Dale

Early in the first Ant-Man movie, Paul Rudd's Scott Lang is struggling to live outside of prison. And while he's pretty miserable while working at Baskin Robbins, he needed that job. Unfortunately his manager Dale figured out his real name and criminal record, and things go downhill.

"I recognize that the council has made a decision, but given that it's a stupid-ass decision, I've elected to ignore it." - Nick Fury

During early stages of the MCU, Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury is taking his orders from the World Security Council. But he ends up at odds with them a number of times, including in The Avengers. Because while they want to nuke NYC, Fury is intent on letting his newly formed team try to the end.

"And for gosh sake, watch your language!" - Iron Man

During the opening battle of The Avengers: Age of Ultron, we see the titular team attacking a heavily armed HYDRA base. The team is using coms to speak to each other as they dispatch a variety of enemies, and at one point Cap accidentally scolds them for cursing. This becomes a running joke throughout the rest of the sequence, because Tony Stark is Tony Stark.

"At first it was fun, then scary, then fun again, then spooky but in a fun way." - Madisynn 

She-Hulk was a delightful breath of fresh air for the MCU's TV world, and had plenty of memorable moments like the return of Daredevil. But the fourth episode also introduced us to a glorious new character named Madisynn King. The party girl and TV addict (and Wong's new bestie) has to take the stand, and her description of going through a demon dimension is hilarious.

"You're in a relationship with me. Everything will never be okay." - Iron Man

At the end of Iron Man 3, Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts ends up being the real hero of the final battle, successfully killing the villainous Killian. This was partly because she had the extremis virus in her, which gave her new dangerous abilities. But while asking if she was going to be okay after all of it, Tony Stark had an endearing comeback about their relationship.

"And I killed Sparky too." - Agatha 

At the end of WandaVision's seventh episode, Kathryn Han's Agatha reveals she was the one pulling the strings throughout the entire series. Set to the Emmy-winning song "Agatha All Along", we see the various ways she manipulated Wanda. And to top it all off, she reveals to the audience that she also killed Billy and Tommy's dog Sparky.

"I do anything and everything Mr. Stark requires. Including occasionally taking out the trash." - Pepper Potts

When we meet Tony Stark at the beginning of Iron Man, he's a rich playboy who doesn't seem anything like a hero. We see him seduce journalist Christine Everhart, and the morning after she and Pepper have a sassy exchange about her employer. And just like Tony, Gwyneth Paltrow's character is quick with a comeback.

"I just keep imagining you waking up in the morning, sir, looking in the mirror and then all seriousness, saying to yourself, 'You know what would be a really kickass name? Taserface!" - Rocket

During Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the Ravagers stage a mutiny against Yondu. He and Rocket are taking prisoner, and are intimidated by Taserface. But when Bradley Cooper's character learns that the alien actually chose that name, he absolutely loses it.

"He’s a friend from work!" - Thor

Thor: Ragnarok is arguably the most popular of Chris Hemsworth's franchise, as it brought new energy and comedy to the property. Fans were eager to see him and Hulk reunite in the Colosseum on Sakaar. But the crowd and The Grandmaster are puzzled when the God of Thunder was excited to see the big green guy, and referred to him as a "friend from work." That's one way of describing their relationship.

"Get lost, Squidword." - Iron Man

Thanos and his forces come searching for the Infinity Stones in Avengers: Infinity War, and a number of conflicts arrive. And when The Black Order arrive on Earth for Doctor Strange's Time Stone, Tony shades Ebony Maw's appearance by comparing him to a SpongeBob character.

"I’ll do you one better, Why is Gamora?" - Drax

The Guardians and Avengers interact for the first time in Avengers: Infinity War, and there are some mild communication issues to be had. After a standoff Star-Lord asks "Where is Gamora?", Iron Man asks "Who is Gamora" and Drax... is Drax.

"I get emails from a raccoon, so nothing sounds crazy anymore." - Black Widow

Avengers: Endgame features a five-year time jump, where the entire galaxy attempts to move on after The Snap killed half of all life. During that time Natasha talks to Steve, and makes it clear that she's not surprised by anything in the new, cosmic world.

"You're such a poser." - Yelena

Black Widow helped to reveal Natasha's mysterious backstory, including the family that she bonded with as a kid. In that family is Florence Pugh's Yelena, who has quickly become a fan favorite. And that's partly because of the way she busted her sister's chops... including the signature Black Widow pose.

"You look like melted ice cream." - Rocket

After the time jump in Avengers: Endgame, Marvel fans were introduced to Bro Thor. A ton of jokes about his appearance were made throughout the rest of the movie, starting with Rocket telling him that he looks like "melted ice cream" in New Asgard.

"Doth mother know you weareth her drapes?" - Iron Man

There's a ton of internal conflict during The Avengers, before the group of heroes is able to work together. Iron Man and Thor have a fight during that time, where Tony Stark also pokes fun at Thor's costume and way of speaking.

"Wow. I guess all actors aren’t complete pieces of sh*t" - Nebula

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is full of memorable comebacks and hilarious lines from the cast of cosmic heroes. Some of the best are about how much they hate actors, with Nebula dropping an expletive while complimenting Kevin Bacon's character.

"You’re only a genius on Earth, Pal." - Rocket

In Avengers: Endgame, Rocket develops a strong bond with the rest of the surviving heroes that didn't get snapped by Thanos. And while getting some sass from Tony Stark, Rocket made it clear that he wasn't the only genius in the room.

"Oh that crown. I thought that was a big eyebrow." - Thor

In the opening sequence of Thor: Ragnarok, Chris Hemsworth's hero is captured by Sutur. The two trade insults during this time, including The God of Thunder's critique of Fire Demon's appearance.

"An ant has no quarrel with a boot." - Loki

Loki is the main villain of The Avengers, and has plenty of sassy one-liners throughout its runtime. That includes his very fist scene, where he compares humans like Nick Fury to an insect.

When Captain America Comments On His Own Butt

Avengers: Endgame's time heist was a wild ride through the MCU at that point, and featured some wild crossover moments. While back in 2012, there's some discussion about Steve Roger's butt. And after he beats a younger version of himself, he looks at his unconscious body and pays his derriere a compliment.

There are several elements that make the highly anticipated Captain America: Brave New World one of the biggest upcoming Marvel movies. Among them is the return of Incredible Hulk character Dr. Samuel Sterns a.k.a. The Leader, who’s once again played by Tim Blake Nelson. This will mark Nelson’s first appearance as the character in well over a decade, and he recently admitted that he was previously “heartbroken” over the prospect of never reprising his role. However, he also just confirmed that there was a silver lining to that wait.

Samuel Sterns was introduced in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk as a cellular biologist who aids Bruce Banner in his attempt to rid himself of his monstrous alter ego. When Sterns is last seen, he’s infected with some of Bruce’s blood, which causes his head to pulsate. While Tim Blake Nelson himself lost hope that he'd ever play Sterns again, he’s happy to be back in the fold, and believes the gap of time will bode well for Sterns:

The comments that the O Brother, Where Art Thou? star shared with THR may suggest that the Marvel Studios braintrust has really been able to think about the character all these years. It’s possible that if Sterns had returned earlier, his characterization may not be as intriguing as it is now. Additionally, the Lincoln alum mentioned that he also benefited from his hiatus from The Leader has also been beneficial for him from a professional standpoint:

While Tim Blake Nelson still has a desire to branch out and flex his various acting muscles, he does seem excited to be a part of the Brave New World cast. He previously teased big things for Samuel Sterns in this new Marvel Cinematic Universe entry. In an interview that took place this past spring, Nelson also said he was “happy” with this interpretation of his villainous character, as he was mostly created without the use of CGI. In other words, it sounds like fans are going to get the green, big-headed baddie from the comics in all his glory!

I’m happy that the Ballad of Buster Scruggs star now has another opportunity to shine within the MCU after the previous disappointment he experienced. Nevertheless, given how talented an actor he is, I’m also thrilled he was able to take on other projects in the interim. Here’s hoping that Dr. Samuel Sterns returns with a vengeance and serves as a complex antagonist for Sam Wilson.

Captain America: Brave New World opens in theaters on February 14 as part of the 2025 movie schedule. In the meantime, stream The Incredible Hulk and other Marvel movies in order using a Disney+ subscription.

Marvel Studios spent much of this year circling its wagons and resetting its creative mission. There was a time when fans had as many as three upcoming Marvel movies to look forward to on the calendar. In 2024, however, there has been one – Deadpool & Wolverine – and it’s about to arrive in theaters. This just means that Marvel has a lot to tease for its pending slate, because the action is about to pick back up strong in 2025. And first on the docket is the continuation of Sam Wilson’s journey as the new Captain America. Today, we got the first full trailer for Anthony Mackie’s Captain America: Brave New World, which opens in theaters on February 14, 2025. Take a look now!

Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) officially was handed the shield at the end of Avengers: Endgame, when Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) completed his journey to return the Infinity Stones, and retired as a content old man. Wilson didn’t embrace the role of Captain America right away, however. He spent the bulk of the run time on the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier coming to terms with the fact that the world still needed Cap as a symbol of hope. 

Now that he IS Captain America, though, Sam Wilson looks like he’s going to have a target painted on his back, in the place where an adamantium shield belongs. Captain America: Brave New World looks to continue the political intrigue that was explored in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and, specifically, Captain America: The Winter Soldier – still considered by many to be the best Marvel movie made by the studio. The sequel is expected to have many familiar faces from the Disney+ series, including Danny Ramirez returning as Joaquin Torres and Carl Lumbley once again playing Super Soldier prototype Isaiah Bradley. 

It also marks the introduction of Harrison Ford as replacement for the late William Hurt in the pivotal role of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross… who will be President of the United States at this stage of the story! And also, based on the official poster... The Red Hulk:

There are a lot of exciting places that this movie can take the MCU. The universe has been segmented into galactic stories, earthbound stories, and even street-level tales. The Captain America saga has the potential to place a boot in all three, depending on which direction that director Julius Onah and his creative team want to take things. Given the fact that Marvel Studios also has Thunderbolts on the calendar for 2025, it’s my guess that they will use these stories to flesh out the geo-political landscape of the MCU before once again plunging into the complicated Multiverse Saga in movies like The Fantastic Four and the announced Avengers movies. 

I’m willing to bet that this trailer for Captain America: Brave New World will be in theaters ahead of Deadpool & Wolverine, which arrives on July 26. Marvel absolutely is back in the swing of things, which is very exciting, indeed.

Whether it’s taking on post-apocalyptic delivery orders in Twisted Metal or facing friendly haunts in the spooky comedy We Have a Ghost, Anthony Mackie is the kind of actor whose characters face threats without blinking, and audiences easily buy in because Mackie sells the bravado. But the star of the MCU sequel Captain America: Brave New World faces some of his most unique challenges yet in his new NatGeo special Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast, such as…giving a shark an anal swab.

While perhaps not everyone’s (or anyone’s) favorite way to celebrate spending time at or around a beach, putting a larger-than-average cotton swab into a shark’s heinie is technically more important than getting a tan or going for an ocean swim. So it obviously takes a hero like Anthony Mackie and others seen in the exclusive clip below, and not Captain America, to take on this kind of highly specific research. Check it out!

I doubt the MCU’s Cap knows why swabbing a shark’s anus is so important, but audiences will get an in-depth look at the factors that play into why Mackie is part of the new series in the first place when Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast arrives on NatGeo on Sunday, June 30. The actor hails from New Orleans, and returned to his Louisiana stomping grounds for a sea life experience that wasn’t tied to the recreational boating and fishing of his youth.

Rather, this series will be focusing on a troubling aquatic curiosity dubbed depredation, which has been affecting fishing communities all over the world, with Louisiana’s Gulf Coast being hit quite hard. Simply put, depredation happens when sharks go after and consume fisherman’s catches before the fish and other creatures are able to be retrieved from the water. Not only is it troubling for the idea that sharks are increasingly present in fishing-heavy areas, but it also means a somewhat unfair competition is happening between professionals and beasts.

To circle back around to the anal-swabbing side of things, the reason why Anthony Mackie and others are tasked with such a duty is so that the swab and feces can be tested for the inclusion of fish, so that those involved with the studies can draw conclusions about the more close-knit ties between humans and sharks over time, and ways to potentially find solutions for the future.

I know one shark who would be downright devestated if he had to be removed from being so close with his human compadres....

Mackie, who also has Twisted Metal Season 2 coming down the pipeline on Peacock, will hopefully get some traction at home for this act from his sons who don't care about Captain America. And if they still don't care, then he can threaten to put one of the used swabs in their beds while they're sleeping.

Don’t forget to swab, er, set your calendars for Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast, which will air on NatGeo on Sunday, June 30 at 9:00 p.m. ET., and will be available to stream with a Hulu subscription the next day. Head to our 2024 TV premiere schedule to see what other new and returning shows are coming soon.

The whole world started to know Anthony Mackie’s name when he joined Captain America: The Winter Soldier as Falcon. The Marvel fun didn’t end after Avengers: Endgame either, as he reprised Sam Wilson in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and will again in the 2025 movie release of Captain America: Brave New World, the 35th MCU movie. Being such a busy Marvel actor, Mackie spoke not only about how fatherhood has impacted his acting career, but jokeed about his kids not really caring about Captain America to begin with.

In ​​THR’s Comedy Actor Emmy Roundtable, The Gentlemen’s Theo James spoke about how having kids has led him to make more thoughtful decisions regarding his family compared to taking any role that comes his way. Anthony Mackie reflected on that by explaining that he wanted his four young kids to have more opportunities and advantages than he had growing up:

It’s truly an insane concept to hear of kids in your class going on trips to Europe like it’s no big deal. When you're a parent, it’s natural to want them to have more choices and opportunities in store for them. With Anthony Mackie’s Marvel train not stopping anytime soon playing the new Captain America, his dream of providing his kids with financial stability looks to be an ongoing reality right now.

Imagine having the actor playing the mechanical-winged superhero in a number of Marvel movies living in your house! While you may think Mackie’s kids must brag to everyone in sight about having a Marvel superhero dad, think again. Here’s his joking response to his kids not feeling starstruck by their celebrity father:

In a way, I think Anthony Mackie should consider his kids not associating him with Marvel all the time to be a good thing. With The Hurt Locker actor being so recognizable, he must get a lot of young fans coming up to him for autographs and pictures. When he’s with his kids, I’m sure it must be nice to take a break from all of that.

Still, you do have to thank Anthony Mackie's superhero films for times when it's brought his family closer. For instance, Avengers: Endgame helped him connect with his son when they both saw the box office hit in theaters. The boy was in awe that his dad would be the future Captain America. Doesn’t that bring tears to your eyes?

Fatherhood seems to have greatly impacted Anthony Mackie’s career in making sure his kids have all of the advantages his Julliard classmates had growing up. Maybe his kids aren’t so dazzled right now having Falcon/Captain America as their dad, but at least that presents some normalcy in the household. Maybe when the upcoming Marvel movie Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters on Valentine’s Day next year, they’ll feel differently.

If you listen to a lot of the complaints about Marvel Studios these days, you’d think that the storytellers there were throwing 100 mph fastballs out of the gate, delivering unquestionable hit after hit after hit. “Marvel has fallen off!” people will scream, clamoring for the glory days of Avengers: Infinity Way and Avengers: Endgame… two of the best comic book movies ever made, and ones that need a decade of set up to justify their payoff. What people tend to forget is that the MCU went through a period of uncertainty – both in front of and behind the camera – as it took its initial steps into world building, and that early phases were way more imbalanced than fans remember. 

This conversation recycled recently when a Tweet by That REDACTED Guy started going viral (it has more than 1 million views at this point). The opinion states that MCU Phase 1 “was not universally well received,” and that it took until The Avengers at the end of the Phase to finally pull the fanbase together into the cohesive unit it was for years. 

And do you know what? He’s right. We all look back at Iron Man, and the casting of Robert Downey Jr., as a watershed moment in comic-book movie history. And it was. But RDJ wasn’t the automatic cure all for the early ailments of the MCU, and the studio took several swings that – in this day and age – would be scrutinized beyond belief. In hindsight, Marvel Studios was figuring out its path just as much in Phases 1 and 2 as it seems to be doing now, introducing new heroes, laying down plotlines that may, or may not, lead to narrative avenues, and experiencing a bit of luck when a movie connects beyond the intended audience.   

This isn’t quite revisionist history. But here are some points about early Marvel that I think need to be reiterated. 

Iron Man 2 was bad, and people knew it at the time. 

Ah, Marvel’s first sequel. It almost seems quaint now, a movie – like so many of the Marvel films – that buckled under the weight of continuing the main hero’s journey while also feeding into the rapid world-building that was happening in the MCU. Iron Man 2 increased the role of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and added Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) into the fold. It gave Mickey Rourke a bit too much rope to play the boring Whiplash, but in the process, cheated the wonderful Sam Rockwell out of more screen time as the deliciously sinister Justin Hammer. 

But the true sin of Iron Man 2 is the tissue-soft approach it took to one of Tony Stark’s most unforgettable story arcs, “Demon in a Bottle” from the comic books. In that plot, the billionaire succumbs to alcoholism, and nearly flushes away his superhero career, and his personal life. Perhaps Robert Downey Jr.’s own demons prevented him from fully embracing the dramatic heft of the storyline. Or, Marvel Studios at the time didn’t want to bog down a crowd-pleasing superhero blockbuster with such mature conflicts. Either way, the mishandling of that subplot, and the hasty rush through larger MCU construction, led to a mixed bag sequel that (in my opinion) ranks below any Ant-Man or Doctor Strange sequel that gets ravaged by demanding Marvel fans to this day. 

The Incredible Hulk has a low approval rating, as well.

Even before Iron Man 2 brought the superhero back down to Earth, the MCU took a shaky second step with Louis Leterrier’s The Incredible Hulk. The results were so mixed, Leterrier never returned for an MCU project, leading man Edward Norton instantly was replaced, and the Hulk was redesigned for his later appearance in The Avengers.

Years later, Marvel audiences try to remember The Incredible Hulk more fondly. Tim Roth’s Abomination was resuscitated in both Shang-Chi and the She-Hulk Disney+ series, while Tim Blake Nelson is expected to play The Leader again in Captain America: Brave New World. But the Hulk has been a character that Marvel has struggled with how to best use. The angry green giant is effective in Avengers movies, and steals scenes in sequels constructed around more three-dimensional heroes (like Thor, in Thor: Ragnarok). I think the initial hesitancy of the MCU audience to embrace The Incredible Hulk, though, scared Marvel off from fully exploring the character on the big screen. That movie’s 69% Fresh grade on Rotten Tomatoes from audience members is lower than Eternals (77%) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (82%), two MCU films that are labeled as “bombs” nowadays. 

Audiences were more forgiving, and less spoiled, during Phase 1.

I am going to push back on the notion that Kenneth Branagh’s Thor was “boring,” or that “barely anyone cared” about Captain America, as was stated in the viral Tweet. There’s no question that Chris Evans’ Star-Spangled Avenger enjoyed more success with his sequels, but Joe Johnston’s Captain America: The First Avenger was critically acclaimed, and commercially successful. And by telling its story as a prequel set in the 1940s, it allowed itself to distance its narrative from the weight of world-building that collapsed on Iron Man 2. At least, until it became necessary to connect Captain America to the events of The Avengers:

But audiences at the time understood that Marvel Studios was building to something bigger. That there was the promise of a team-up movie, The Avengers, on the horizon. And when it arrived, it delivered. It had some flaws. But the overwhelming joy of seeing some of our favorite Marvel heroes fighting side by side spackled over those gashes. 

We endured two more mixed movies before Marvel finally hit its stride. Iron Man 3 has its vocal supporters, though the Mandarin plot twist still divides the fandom. And Shane Black’s lone movie was followed up by Thor: The Dark World, which many MCU fans consider to be the lamest movie in the series to date. Then, we reached Captain America: The WInter Soldier, followed by Guardians of the Galaxy, and Marvel started to get a stronger grip on the types of stories it wanted to tell, the ways that they could expand the world (to more cosmic corners) and increase the mythology. And audiences gradually became spoiled by the Marvel model. So much so that DC’s SnyderVerse fell apart for not being enough like Marvel, and Fox and Sony eventually bowed to the MCU, giving theri superhero toys over to Kevin Feige. 

But yes, the evolution of the MCU has meant that fans seem to have forgotten the rocky, unexpected early days of the saga, when missteps didn’t stand out as boldly as they do these days, and ever move was less scrutinized by a fanbase that knows how good things can be, and questions why we have to wait for glory. Seemingly, upcoming Marvel movies like Deadpool and Wolverine, The Fantastic Four, and Thunderbolts* will keep the MCU on a positive trajectory. But if they don’t, let’s all remember that Marvel’s capable of hitting a few doubles, and it doesn’t mean they are out of the game, by any stretch. 

Major spoilers for the latest episode of X-Men ‘97, “Bright Eyes,” lie ahead, so read on with caution.

X-Men ‘97, which is available for Disney+ subscribers, is more than halfway through its first season and continues to be a near-flawless piece of superhero work. It’s masterfully built on the OG show by exploring various facets of the mythology surrounding the iconic team of mutants. Additionally, the creative team has also made references to the larger Marvel universe. That happened in a big way this week, as the newest installment featured a brief appearance from a major do-gooder. As you’d expect, fans are chatting about it – and making all the jokes about the character’s somewhat unfortunate run-in with Rogue.

In “Bright Eyes,” the team lay Remy LeBeau a.k.a Gambit to rest following the massacre on Genosha in the fifth episode, which left viewers devastated. While Cyclops, Jubilee, Wolverine and co. paid their last respects to their fallen comrade, Rogue went searching for answers regarding who’s responsible for the death of her lover. Her searches for Henry Gyrich and Boliver Trask led her to The Incredible Hulk’s General “Thunderbolt” Ross. Later on, she arrived at a seemingly remote cabin, and it was there that she ran into none other than Captain America. Steve Rogers revealed he was on a similar mission and, together, the two used records from a mysterious organization called “OZT” to determine that Gyrich could be in Mexico.

Some may have expected for Cap and Rogue to team up and head there immediately, but that’s not how their meeting went down. Disillusioned by Rogers’ intent to go about his mission by the book, Rogue took his shield and throwing it miles into the distance, before taking off for Mexico. The clip of the powerful mutant tossing the vibranium weapon like a frisbee is unsurprisingly going viral. X user @kamkenobi shared it himself and dropped a funny – but true – assessment:

Yes, Steve is a super soldier and doesn’t get as worn out as the rest of us when faced with a physical task. However, what the southern X-Man did with his shield has to be incredibly inconvenient even for him. @TheDGrimmett shared a funny clip to illustrate what the Sentinel of Liberty’s next steps (pun intended) will be:

If I were in Cap’s shoes, I’d not only be annoyed but in a bit of disbelief that someone actually committed such a petty act with my weapon of choice. A clip shared by @Tyrone1760544 seems to convey that same sentiment:

However, another post shared by @blurayangel probably better sums up the character’s true reaction during that moment. And, ironically, the fan used a clip of The Boys’ despicable Homelander to illustrate their point:

We now have to wonder what’s going to go down if or when Rogue and Cap cross paths again. Historically, the Avenger has never truly been one to hold a grudge, yet I can’t help but chuckle over what @House0fWanda believes will happen should they reunite:

You may think that Rogue was wrong to do that, but you can understand why she’s so hell bent on seeking retribution for what happened to Gambit. Voice actress Lenore Zann spoke with CinemaBlend about what lies ahead for her character. And, based on her comments, after Genosha, this is “the beginning of [Rogue’s] real journey.” She’s certainly in a dark place right now, as she even had no problem letting Trask fall to his death. (He was later revealed to be a human-Sentinel hybrid, but still.) I’m sure we’ll see the heroine’s grief expressed in other ways – and I’ll be eager to see if that causes her to bump heads with another hero like Captain America.

New episodes of X-Men ‘97 premiere on Wednesdays on Disney+ as part of the 2024 TV schedule. As you continue to watch, be sure to look ahead to other titles with our schedule of upcoming Marvel shows.

Over the last decade and change, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a well-oiled machine. The studio is constantly releasing new content, both in movies and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Actor Chris Evans spent many years playing Steve Rogers/ Captain America, which wrapped up with the ending of Avengers: Endgame. And after having some space away from the shared universe, Evans recently spoke about his favorite Marvel movie role.

Despite Steve Rogers finally getting his happy ending, some fans are still hoping that Chris Evans returns as Captain America in an upcoming Marvel movie. Fans who watched the Marvel movies in order know how perfect he was in the role, and it turns out that one movie in particular stands out to the 42 year-old actor. While appearing at Emerald City Comic Con (via ComicBook), he spoke about this saying:

There you have it. It looks like his second solo movie was Evans' favorite entry into the MCU. And he picked a great choice, as Captain America: The Winter Soldier is considered one of the best Marvel movies ever by fans. And it seems Evans agrees its one of the franchise's best entires. 

The Knives Out actor's comments help to peel back the curtain on what it's actually like within the MCU. While he was understandably nervous filming Captain America: The First Avenger, by time the sequel went into production he was far more confident. Plus, the actual contents of the film were thrilling, including some of the MCU's best action sequences.  

Captain America: The Winter Soldier was a far more street-level story than many other MCU movies. And as such, the action felt thrilling and real. The movie also brought back Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes, albeit as a brainwashed super killer. We saw a number of beloved characters nearly perish in the process, including Black Widow and Nick Fury.

While Avengers: Endgame became the highest grossing movie of all time, it sounds like Captain America 2 remained Chris Evans' personal favorite. And it should be interesting to see how the franchise continues on without him, starting with Anthony Mackie's Captain America: Brave New World. 

The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Deadpool & Wolverine on July 26th. Check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Over the last decade and change, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a well-oiled machine, with both theatrical releases and live-action shows that are available with a Disney+ subscription. But it was a risk in the early days, where stars like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans signed into their roles. The latter actor retired from playing Captain America in Avengers: Endgame, although some fans are still hoping he'll return in an upcoming Marvel movie. Evans recently spoke about the state of the genre as a whole, while also claiming it's "no shade."

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have a special place in their hearts for Evans' portrayal of Steve Rogers/ Captain America. He's had a few years away from the shared universe, as Avengers: Endgame's ending saw him finally getting his happy ending. When appearing at Emerald City Comic Con (via Twitter), Evans spoke about how tricky the genre is, offering:

Points were made. While Marvel is behind some of the best superhero movies, the genre offers some unique challenges. And it's because of this that sometimes quality within the genre can ebb and flow. Although some projects are universally acclaimed.

Given how many years Evans spent playing Steve Rogers, he definitely knows what he's talking about regarding the comic book genre. Plus he famously played Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movies prior to landing his role as Cap. 

Indeed, the MCU has had a number of ups and downs, especially following the release of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. On top of mid level reviews, titles like Ant-Man 3 and The Marvels struggled at the box office. And as such, there are growing concerns about superhero fatigue.

But when superhero movies are good, they are really good. Just look at projects like Todd Phillips' Joker, which was universally acclaimed and earned Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar win for Best Actor. And Avengers: Endgame became one of the highest grossing movies of all time upon its release.

The issues of quality aren't unique to Marvel studios, as we've seen Sony struggle with some of its recent comic book outings. Morbius failed to perform at the box office...twice, and most recently Madame Web was another financial flop. 

As for Chris Evans, he's given no indication that he'll be returning to the MCU anytime soon. He spent a decade as Captain America, including the physical transformation and long hours that are synonymous with these types of roles. Although if Marvel wants to return to its former glory, bringing back some OG's would likely drum up excitement. 

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Deadpool 3 on July 26th. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates. 

You might think that it’s very easy to design a costume for a superhero epic. The comics themselves provide an awesome template, and many characters have had multiple examples over the years that would allow a costume designer to get crafty. And yet, for every winning design, there are far too many superhero costumes that mail it in (looking at you, X-Men franchise), leading comic book fans to scratch their heads and wonder why we had to wait until Deadpool and Wolverine to finally see Hugh Jackman in a proper Wolverine costume!

Costumes matter. They can detract from a superhero movie, or elevate a feature to make it one of the 30 best comic-book movies ever made. That’s how important we consider them. Which is why we’ve put together this list of the 15 coolest superhero costumes ever featured on film. We limited it to film, understanding that exquisite work has been done in genre television as well. For now, these are the ones that stood out the most, capturing the spirit of the character and taking the necessary steps to bring the comic book vision to life on screen.

15. The Mighty Thor (Thor: Love and Thunder)

Marvel Studios has done OK with the God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth), though his high point probably occurred in The Avengers, and the studio has done everything it can to change Thor’s physical appearance from film to film (haircut, eye patch, problematic weight gain). So imagine my surprise when the MCU introduced The Mighty Thor – giving Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster a chance to shine – and the design was near perfect. The “chef’s kiss” addition was the wings on the helmet, something that eluded Thor for years, but looks fantastic on Jane. 

14. Aquaman (Aquaman)

Aquaman became a bit of a punchline, both inside the DCEU and outside of it. Some of that had to go with the running gag in Entourage. But even when Zack Snyder introduced the character (as played by Jason Momoa), there were jokes about him talking to fish – or, doing more to fish, if you believe John Cena’s Peacemaker. Snyder opted for a muted, brown armor in his DC movies. But James Wan embraced the orange and green color scheme of the classic DC comics. And so help me, Atlanna, the costume worked. It looks good in the heroic reveal scene, and added style to the fight sequences in Wan’s first movie. The DCU is going to have a tough time matching this one. 

13. Frank Castle (Punisher: War Zone)

How hard can it be? The Punisher wears all black, and has a bright white Skull on his chest. That’s it. Go. However, the symbol of the vigilante was de-emphasized when Dolph Lundgren played Frank Castle in the dreadful 1991 thriller, meaning all Punisher: War Zone had to do to improve on it was include the skull. They did. Now, if we’re being honest, Jon Bernthal’s take on Castle is the epitome of vengeance. He looks amazing, and I’m thrilled he’s returning to the role. But that’s television, so for this list, the late Ray Stevenson gets the nod.

12. Elektra (Elektra)

Let’s keep it in The Land Before the MCU, when comic book movies had very few rules, and adherence to the comics was basically optional. 20th Century Fox had some success with Daredevil (starring Ben Affleck), and wanted to capitalize on the popularity of Jennifer Garner, who was killing it in Alias. So they spun her Daredevil character, Elektra, into a standalone movie… and gave her a much better costume than the boring black leather she wore in the initial movie! The film is terrible… really terrible. But Elektra’s suit in Elektra is remarkable, and basically comic accurate. 

11. Iron Man's Hulkbuster Suit (Avengers: Age of Ultron)

The MCU started with Iron Man, so shellhead has had more than a few iterations in live action. As such, he appears more than once on this list, because Marvel Studios wisely refined his look from movie to movie, often to fit the needs of the narrative. Such is the case with the magnificent Hulkbuster armor deployed by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Everything about this suit was cool, from the way Tony summoned it from space to the way it constructed itself around an existing armor. And then seeing it in action against a rampaging Hulk ranked as one of the coolest MCU set pieces… still to this day. 

10. Batman's Dark Knight Returns Suit (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice)

Here’s where the list starts to get controversial. Heck, we already made a list of Batman suits ranked by coolness, and Christian Bale’s suit ranked the highest. For my money, however, it doesn’t get cooler than the Frank Miller-inspired Dark Knight Returns suit that Ben Affleck wears when he takes on Henry Cavill’s Superman in Zack Snyder’s sequel to Man of Steel. Everything about Affleck’s Batman speaks to his preparedness in the face of overwhelming odds. He’s petrified by the arrival of the alien, Kal-El. He needs something formidable to survive. To me, though, it’s the glowing white eyes that push this one over the top. And a lack of nipples, of course.    

9. Deadpool (Deadpool 2)

Given how important Wade Wilson has become to the MCU as a whole, it’s hilarious that Ryan Reynolds basically had to leak test footage of the character in action to get a Deadpool movie greenlit. And from the jump – even back in that leaked footage – his costume looked pretty great. The big black cutouts around his eyes match his comic book. The strategically placed weaponry that accompanies Deadpool into battle. All of it looks great. The design of the Deadpool suit has been tweaked, but not drastically altered, so we might eventually put the Deadpool and Wolverine suit on this list. But for now, it looks best in Deadpool 2. 

8. Superman (Superman II)

Another hero who absolutely needs to be on this list? Superman, the Man of Steel. And yet, over the years, the Blue Boy Scout hasn’t had the greatest designs for his on-screen look. It’s almost like Richard Donner nailed it on the first try with Superman back in 1978, and everyone else has made changes just to differentiate themselves. I do like Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel look, but ultimately, I’m also a “trunks” guy. So I’m giving the edge to Christopher Reeve as the titular hero in Superman II. Slight improvement over the original film. 

7. Captain America (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)

Cap, like his iron cohort, has shown off multiple versions of his iconic costume over the years. They reflect different color shadings, but still represent the requisite items: the stripes around the stomach, the wings on the sides of Cap’s head, the shield. As much as I love the dark blue, Brubaker-esque costume Captain America wears in the opening mission of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, I’m going ahead with the traditional Cap suit he rocks in the final act, which is one part throwback to the innocence of First Avenger, and one part inspiration for Civil War (also a beautiful suit).  

6. Iron Man's Mark XLVI (Captain America: Civil War)

My personal favorite of the Iron Man movie suits. It’s so streamlined, so smooth and effortless. It boasts all of the features Tony has been implementing since the cave in Iron Man: repulsor blasts, a unibeam chest repulsor, rockets, boot thrusters, etc. But the emphasis on red over the gold makes it feel more comic accurate to me. It appears to be more durable, sustaining numerous hits in battle. And it’s the suit Tony wears when Steve surrenders his shield… a seminal moment in the MCU.  

5. Spider-Man's Final Swing Suit (Spider-Man: No Way Home)

Now we’re getting serious. The Top 5. And I’m going with Spider-Man, who is my favorite character, but also has enjoyed the most success with regard to his comic-book costume translating into film. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man gets knocked, gently, by fans who call him Iron Boy thanks to Tony Stark handing him his costume in Captain America: Civil War. And I might have gone with the sweatsuit costume that Peter rocks in Spider-Man: Homecoming… if not for the brief shot we got of this beauty as Spider-Man: No Way Home concluded. I love it for what it symbolizes: Peter on his own, an underdog facing off against the world. And for the way it looks, a blend of Steve Ditko and John Romita Jr. Perfection.

4. Doctor Strange (Avengers: Infinity War)

Doctor Strange is a product of the 1970s. His look begs for psychedelic immersion. His powers command a suspension of disbelief, and an embrace of the mystic arts. How do you even attempt to make his cloak a character? Well, that’s what Marvel Studios has managed to do so far, assisted by the brilliant casting of Benedict Cumberbatch in the role. I’d argue that Strange looked his absolute best in Avengers: Infinity War, taking on Thanos’ minions on the streets of Manhattan before matching up with the Titan himself in the final act. The costume he sports in IW is aces.  

3. Wonder Woman (Wonder Woman)

The best DC Comics costume put on the big screen… for now. I say that because James Gunn is preparing to relaunch the DC Universe, and will give us fresh interpretations of all the classic DC characters, beginning with Superman. But no matter what happens to Diana Prince, the costume that Gal Gadot got to sport in Patty Jenkins’ period piece will hold a place as an all-timer, an exquisite translation of her Amazonian garb that looked majestic when set against the bleak backdrop of Europe during World War I. Just look at the way the colors pop in the legendary No Man’s Land sequence. The costuming truly helps Wonder Woman stand out as a Goddess walking our planet. It’s a shame that Wonder Woman 1984 spent almost all of that creative goodwill.

2. Spider-Man (The Amazing Spider-Man 2)

You can claim Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man costume from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2. I’m not going to argue with you. For me, however, peak Spider-Man costuming occurred in one of the most disappointing efforts: The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Borrowing the big white eyes and the tight web pattern of a Mark Bagley, this costume looked lean and cool and perfect on Andrew Garfield. It looked even better when he brought it back to fight Electro and the Lizard in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Garfield’s ASM 1 suit looked like something he made from Dick’s Sporting Goods rejects. The ASM 2 suit is absolute perfection. Fight me.

1. Black Panther (Black Panther)

The best superhero suit we have seen so far. The Black Panther suit is so remarkable, it won genius costume designer Ruth E. Carter her first Academy Award (after being nominated for Spike Lee’s Malcolm X and Steven Spielberg’s Amistad). That’s history being made. But I love T’Challa’s upgraded suit from his introductory Captain America: Civil War suit, which played as practical and mechanical and necessary. But the upgrades evident from Wakandan tech elevated the Black Panther suit, and it fit Chadwick Boseman so well that it looked a little odd on Letitia Wright. We’ll see what the future holds for this Marvel Studios legend, but for now, the King remains on the throne of Superhero Costumes. 

Will anyone from any upcoming Marvel movies knock Black Panther off this esteemed pedestal? Or could it be someone from James Gunn's DCU?