When Steve Rogers passed the shield to Sam Wilson at the end of Avengers: Endgame, he knew the stars and stripes belonged with someone who could carry the responsibility—not just the weight of the vibranium. Now, after wrestling with his new identity in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson fully steps into the role of Captain America in Captain America: Brave New World, hitting theaters on February 14, 2025.
The film finds Sam meeting with U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (played by Harrison Ford, taking over the role previously portrayed by the late William Hurt). Their meeting sets off an international crisis, forcing Sam to navigate an increasingly dangerous world where the lines between friend and foe are blurred. While Steve Rogers had super-soldier serum and state-of-the-art support, Sam has something different.
“When President Ross says, ‘You’re not Steve Rogers,’ Sam recognizes and understands that,” Anthony Mackie shared in an interview with Disney twenty-three. “He doesn’t have the serum. He doesn’t have the backup and the facilities that Steve had. But when we first met Sam, he was a counselor, a soldier, and a veteran. His brute force is his humanity, his mind, and his compassion—not his muscles.”
Sam’s True Superpower: His Humanity
For director Julius Onah (Luce, The Cloverfield Paradox), this makes Sam a different kind of Captain America, one defined not by enhanced abilities but by empathy and leadership. “Sam’s got so much heart,” Onah explained. “That makes him a great Cap, but he’s also very formidable. I’m excited to take him on this journey in this paranoid thriller full of twists, turns, and surprises… It’s really emotionally satisfying.”
Luckily, Sam won’t face this challenge alone. His Falcon and the Winter Soldier ally Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) returns, now fully embracing his role as the new Falcon. “Anthony and I got to know each other in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but in this film, we get to play at our own pace,” Ramirez said. “What you see on-screen stems organically from our personal relationship.”
They’re joined by Ruth Bat-Seraph (Shira Haas), a former Black Widow turned security advisor to President Ross. Though Haas remains tight-lipped on details, she teases that her character will play a pivotal role in Sam’s mission. “She is a big force on their journey,” she hinted.
A New Threat: SERPENT and Sidewinder
Adding to the mounting pressure is the arrival of a dangerous new adversary, Seth Voelker—also known as Sidewinder (played by Giancarlo Esposito). Leading a mercenary group called SERPENT, Voelker presents a dark reflection of Sam Wilson’s path.
“He used to be a military man, like Sam,” Onah revealed. “But he chose a different route, using his expertise as a soldier of fortune instead of for the benefit of others. Sam, meanwhile, uses his skills for the greater good.”
The film also sees the long-awaited return of Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader. First introduced in The Incredible Hulk (2008), Sterns resurfaces in a transformed state. According to Haas, his villainous turn is both terrifying and intellectual. “There’s a psychological aspect to this villain because his power is in his brain,” she said. “It’s exciting and scary.”
Sam Wilson Steps Out of the Shadows
For Mackie, this film is a chance for audiences to finally see Sam Wilson beyond the shadow of Steve Rogers and the Avengers.
“I was never offended when people said Sam was a sidekick, or that Falcon was secondhand to Captain America,” Mackie admitted. “That was only one facet of reality you got to see. You didn’t get to see Sam’s day-to-day life; you got to see how he was affected by Cap’s reality. Now, we get to see him as the soldier and patriot he is on his own terms. It’s really rewarding—not just for me, but for Sam Wilson.”
With a paranoid political thriller vibe, powerful themes, and a compelling lead hero, Steve Rogers was right — stars and stripes really do suit Sam Wilson
Synopsis: Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, finds himself in the middle of an international incident and must discover the motive behind a nefarious global plan.
Captain America: Brave New World also stars Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, with Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford. The film is directed by Julius Onah and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore. Louis D’Esposito and Charles Newirth serve as executive producers.
Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World opens in U.S. theaters on February 14, 2025.
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
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