Captain America: Brave New World Launches Avengers 2.0

It has been nearly six years since the Avengers disbanded following the defeat of Thanos and the tragic loss of Tony Stark. However, the world's need for its mightiest heroes has resurfaced, and with new Avengers films slated for 2026 and 2027, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is poised to reassemble the team. The journey to form the next generation of Avengers kicks off in "Captain America: Brave New World."

"We know people miss the Avengers and we miss the Avengers," says Nate Moore, a veteran producer at Marvel Studios and a key figure behind the fourth Captain America film. "But we knew if we jumped right back into the Avengers after Endgame, we wouldn't give people a chance to miss it."

Moore emphasizes that the most effective Avengers teams in Marvel comics have always had Captain America at their core. After Steve Rogers passed his shield to Sam Wilson in "Avengers: Endgame," the MCU needed time to develop Wilson into the leader the team required. This transition was not easy for Wilson, as explored in the six-part Disney+ series, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier." By the time of "Brave New World," Wilson proudly dons the iconic red, white, and blue, yet faces the daunting task of leading a new Avengers team.

In the opening of "Brave New World," President Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford, steps into the role previously held by the late William Hurt, and requests Wilson to revive the Avengers initiative. This may surprise fans, given Ross's history with the Sokovia Accords, which fractured the Avengers. However, director Julius Onah explains that Ross has evolved into a statesman who recognizes past mistakes and sees the Avengers as a global asset.

"He was a guy who had this real legacy that could maybe be defined by his anger," Onah states. "But the man that we're meeting now is a man who is an elder statesman, who's a diplomat, who's turning a new leaf, who sees and understands the errors of his past and wants to do better. [He wants to initiate] the Avengers because they could be a benefit to the world."

As a general, Ross understands the tactical advantages of having a superhero team. However, he aims to control the new Avengers, given that Captain America is now a government role, and Wilson works directly with the President. "Ross is the man who passed the Sokovia Accords," says Moore. "He certainly realized that the Avengers left unchecked may not be the best idea for anyone. And so I certainly think he understands that power is more beneficial to him if it's under his command, and he figures why not do it first before somebody beats me to the punch."

Sam Wilson must now step up to Captain America's ultimate responsibility: leading the Avengers. | Image credit: Disney / Marvel Studios

President Ross's interest in reassembling the Avengers likely stems from the discovery of Adamantium, a super metal introduced in the MCU after the Celestial turned to stone in "Eternals." With nations potentially entering an Adamantium arms race, having a superhero team could be a significant advantage.

"I think certainly any nation that has a group of Avengers has a leg up over anyone else," says Moore. "And Ross is a general, so certainly he understands what a tactical advantage is!"

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The dynamics between President Ross and Sam Wilson's Captain America may be fraught with tension due to their differing views on government control. Steve Rogers was staunchly against such oversight, and Wilson has strived to uphold his predecessor's principles. "I really focused on the emotional journey that Sam was taking," says Onah. "It was really cool to then put him opposite somebody who had divided the Avengers in the past. Because of that history, Sam was put into prison. The Sokovia Accords, all the stuff that Ross pushed forward as Secretary of State [came into play]. These are things that when these two men walk into a room, that tension between them is palpable."

It's possible that President Ross might not see Wilson as the ideal leader for his government-controlled Avengers. The upcoming MCU project, "Thunderbolts," set for 2025, introduces a team of anti-heroes, including John Walker, who previously tarnished the Captain America legacy. This team might become the President's Avengers, leaving Wilson free to form an independent team just in time for the arrival of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in "Avengers: Doomsday" in 2026.

Wilson's worthiness to lead the Avengers stems from his empathy, which Onah describes as his superpower. Despite being just a man with a shield and wings, Wilson's ability to understand others' perspectives enables him to embody the values that the shield represents. "I think that's what makes him a Captain America of this moment," Onah remarks.

"I don't think Sam would be prepared to lead the Avengers until he truly believed that he was Captain America," adds Moore. "And our goal as filmmakers was to take him on a journey of questioning whether or not he made the right decision. Hopefully by the end, [we’ll have] him and the audience go 'There certainly could be no one else'. He is Captain America, and hopefully he takes the tools from this movie to be able to lead the Avengers."

With only two films between "Brave New World" and "Avengers: Doomsday," Wilson must act quickly. He is expected to appear in "Thunderbolts" and "Fantastic Four: First Steps" to recruit his team. Though a shorter path than the five films leading to the original "Avengers," the MCU's beloved characters like Spider-Man, Thor, and Bruce Banner may be ready to join the call. The assembly of Avengers 2.0 begins here.