It has been almost six years since the Avengers disbanded after defeating Thanos and mourning the 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 MCU must swiftly reassemble the team. The journey to recruit 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 seasoned 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 iconic Avengers teams in Marvel comics have always been anchored by Captain America. Following Steve Rogers' passing of the shield to Sam Wilson in Avengers: Endgame, the MCU took time to develop Wilson into the leader he needed to become. This transition was not easy for Wilson, as detailed in the six-episode Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which showcased his struggles in embracing the mantle of Captain America. By the time of Brave New World, Wilson proudly dons the red, white, and blue, ready to tackle his next monumental challenge: leading a new Avengers team.
A pre-release marketing clip for Brave New World reveals President Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford following the late William Hurt, requesting Wilson to revive the Avengers initiative. This request might confuse long-time fans, given Ross's role in establishing the Sokovia Accords, which led to the Avengers' fragmentation. However, Brave New World's director, Julius Onah, explains, "He was a guy who had this real legacy that could maybe be defined by his anger. But the man that we're meeting now is an elder statesman, a diplomat, turning a new leaf, understanding the errors of his past and wanting to do better. He wants to initiate the Avengers because they could be a benefit to the world."
As a general, Ross understands the tactical advantage of having the Avengers, but he plans to reshape the team. Following The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Captain America is now an official government position, and in Brave New World, Wilson works directly under the President. This suggests that a Captain America-led Avengers team would essentially function as a branch of the U.S. defense department.
"Ross is the man who passed the Sokovia Accords," Moore notes. "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 now faces Captain America's ultimate responsibility: leading the Avengers. President Ross's interest in reassembling the team likely stems from the discovery of Adamantium, a world-changing substance revealed to be sourced from the Celestial turned to stone in Eternals. With Adamantium sparking a potential arms race, having superheroes on one's side becomes crucial.
"I think certainly any nation that has a group of Avengers has a leg up over anyone else," says Moore. "And Ross is a general, so certainly he understands what a tactical advantage is!"
How Sam Wilson/Falcon Became Captain America in the Comics
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The underlying motive behind this new Avengers team suggests that the relationship between President Ross and Sam Wilson's Captain America may be fraught with tension. Steve Rogers was staunchly against government control, and Wilson has strived to uphold his predecessor's values throughout his superhero career.
"I really focused on the emotional journey that Sam was taking," says Onah. "It was really cool to then put him opposite somebody who had divided the Avengers in the past. Because of that history, Sam was put into prison. The Sokovia Accords, all the stuff that Ross pushed forward as Secretary of State came into play. These are things that when these two men walk into a room, that tension between them is palpable."
It's possible that Sam Wilson may not be the leader President Ross envisions. The answer might lie in 2025's Thunderbolts, featuring a team of anti-heroes including John Walker, who briefly took up the Captain America mantle in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier but tarnished Steve Rogers' legacy. Perhaps Walker and his morally ambiguous allies will become the President's Avengers, fittingly given Ross's nickname, Thunderbolt.
If this scenario unfolds, Wilson could form his own independent team of superheroes, perfectly timed for the arrival of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in 2026's Avengers: Doomsday. Regardless of the specifics, Brave New World marks a crucial step in Wilson's journey since he first took up the shield, leading him toward becoming the leader of the Avengers.
Onah highlights Wilson's worthiness, rooted in his empathy, which he describes as the character's superpower. Despite being just a man with a shield and mechanical wings, Wilson's ability to understand the perspectives of both allies and enemies enables him to effectively wield the shield and embody the values it represents. "I think that's what makes him a Captain America of this moment," Onah states.
"I don't think Sam would be prepared to lead the Avengers until he truly believed that he was Captain America," Moore adds. "And our goal as filmmakers was to take him on a journey of questioning whether or not he made the right decision. Hopefully by the end, we'll have him and the audience go 'There certainly could be no one else'. He is Captain America, and hopefully he takes the tools from this movie to be able to lead the Avengers."
With only two films between Brave New World and Avengers: Doomsday, Wilson must act quickly. It's likely that Captain America will appear in both Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four: First Steps as he recruits his team for the 2026 event. Although this path is shorter than the five films leading to 2012's The Avengers, characters like Spider-Man, Thor, and Bruce Banner may be ready to answer the call. The assembly of Avengers 2.0 begins here.
