“Captain America: Brave New World” electrified Comic-Con on Saturday with cast members Anthony Mackie, Tim Blake Nelson, Danny Ramirez and Giancarlo Esposito all hitting the San Diego fan event to tease the superhero sequel. But it was the late panel surprise arrival of Harrison Ford that left the biggest impact as the film icon took the Hall H stage to massive applause. Footage from the movie was screened during Marvel’s presentation and confirmed that Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross will, indeed, be transforming into the Red Hulk in the film. Ford gave the crowd exactly what they wanted, mimicking the Hulk’s mighty roar.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige called “Brave New World” a return to the gritty action of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” which put a spandex spin on the kind of paranoid thrillers that were so commonplace in ’70s cinema, while Mackie teased that Marvel fans will be seeing a version of Captain America that is more “cerebral.” Mackie noted that Sam Wilson is “not so much a muscle bound guy” like Steve Rogers, his mentor and the original Cap, was.
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Esposito also arrived with a bit of news, revealing for the first time that he is playing Sidewinder, the King of the Serpent Society.
The new footage from “Captain America: Brave New World” that played in Hall H began with Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross, who is now the U.S. president, addressing the ending events of “Eternals” at an meeting with world leaders that’s called the Celestial Island Summit. It turns out Adamantium has been discovered in the ruins where a dead Celestial appeared in the ocean and is now the most valuable element on the planet. Ross is recruiting Sam Wilson/Captain America to build a new Avengers team, but things don’t go according to plan. By the far the biggest reveal of the footage was confirmation that Ford’s President Ross will be ditching the Resolute desk to become the Red Hulk. The previous trailer confirmed the Red Hulk’s appearance in the movie, but now Marvel fans know for sure that Ross is the man behind the muscles.
“Just when I think my nerdy life can’t get more complete, I hear Harrison Ford say Adamantium,” Feige said at the end of the panel.
The first trailer, released on July 12, featured an attack at the White House and an assassination attempt on Ross. In an eerie coincidence, there was a real-life attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump the next day.
Mackie takes the mantle over from Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, who starred in the previous three “Captain America” movies and the four “Avengers” movies. At the end of 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” Steve bids farewell to his fellow superheroes and goes back in time to spend a new life with his beloved Peggy Carter. He gives his vibranium shield to Sam, who vows to do right by the patriotic hero.
'Captain America 4' will finally address the Celestial from 'Eternals' and how it creates adamantium in the MCU: 'It means opportunity, enhancement of powers, long life' https://t.co/clIjWH6B1O pic.twitter/lnRDo3wLQ0
— PvNew (@PvNew) July 28, 2024
“Captain America: Brave New World” will be the first time Mackie returns to the Marvel universe. The cast includes his “Falcon and Winter Soldier” co-stars Danny Ramirez, as the new Falcon, and Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley; Shira Haas as the superhero Sabra; Giancarlo Esposito as a mysterious villain; and Ford taking over the role of “Thunderbolt” Ross from the late William Hurt. The movie also includes an MCU throwback by bringing back Liv Tyler, as Betty Ross, and Tim Blake Nelson, as the Leader, from 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk” movie.
Julius onah directs “Captain America: Brave New World,” which was written by Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson and Matthew Orton. The film hits theaters next year on Feb. 12, 2025.
