Summary
Captain America: Brave New Worldhas addressed the worst criticism of the movie in the best way. The first hints of Sam Wilson becoming Captain America were found inAvengers: Endgamebefore the character did not fully accept the responsibility untilThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s ending. Since then, audiences have been waiting patiently for his first big-screen solo movie, with this coming in the form ofCaptain America: Brave New World’s storyas part of the MCU’s Phase 5.
Brave New World will be released worldwide in February 2025 after being delayed from both May and July 2024.
Despite the anticipation of many,Captain America: Brave New Worldhas received some negative attention, with one prevalent criticism holding little worth. Some of the negative attention towards regular elements of the film’s story was lessened thanks toCaptain America: Brave New World’s impressive teaser trailer, though one remains in some circles of the MCU fandom. However, Marvel has perfectly responded to this criticism in a simple yet effective way, negatingBrave New World’s biggest criticism.
Captain America 4 Trailer Breakdown: 10 Bombshells, Hidden Details & Best Moments In Brave New World’s Trailer Explained
The teaser trailer for Captain America: Brave New World has been released, bringing several twists, reveals, and amazing moments along with it.
Captain America: Brave New World’s Trailer Comes With A Response To An MCU Movie Criticism
Sam Wilson Perfectly Negates An MCU Cap Critique
The criticism in question that has been raised sinceAvengers: Endgameis simple enough in a broader sense: Sam Wilson should not be Captain America. For a variety of reasons,the decision to pass the shield onto Sam Wilson received backlash from sections of the Marvel fanbase. One of the more unproblematic reasons for this included the overlooking of Bucky Barnes, whom many saw as the successor to Steve Rogers thanks to his redemption in the MCU. That said, Bucky’s shaky past sees him arguably unworthy of the shield, meaning the MCU followed Marvel Comics in making Sam the next Captain America.
There have been regular MCU criticisms that simply disregard Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson as Captain America…
Unfortunately, this decision drew some more unfavorable criticism. Since taking on the shield, there have been regular MCU criticisms that simply disregard Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson as Captain America. As has been the case with Miles Morales as Spider-Man, some refuse to label Sam Wilson as Captain America and still dub him Falcon, despite a meaningful, powerful character arc that saw Sam earn the shield beyond doubt inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
These criticisms can often be attributed to underlying racism, as evidenced byThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s story. Thankfully, Marvel Studios did not sidestep this reality and chose to interweave Sam’s journey to becoming Captain America with explorations of social equality for black men in America. Regardless, these criticisms have often not stopped - be they racially motivated or otherwise - with the MCU movie still falling prey to some refusing to accept Sam Wilson as Captain America.
Although these criticisms persist,Captain America: Brave New World’s trailer offered the perfect response. In the trailer,Harrison Ford’s Thunderbolt Rosstells Sam Wilson that while he may be Captain America, he is not Steve Rogers. This links to similar criticisms by those who devalue Sam as Cap. However,Sam’s response is perfect:“You’re right. I’m not.”
Captain America: Brave New World Cast & Marvel Character Guide
Sam Wilson’s big-screen debut as the MCU’s Captain America will bring back several familiar faces, while also introducing new and exciting characters.
Why Sam Wilson’s Captain America Response Is The Right Move
Marvel’s Captain America Response Is Simple Yet Effective
Despite being relatively understated, Sam Wilson’s response inCaptain America: Brave New Worldis the right move. For one, it works in the context of the story andSam Wilson’s MCU timeline. Sam Wilson accepting that he is not Steve Rogers is a perfect continuation of his character arc fromThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier. That story explored Sam’s unwillingness to take on the shield as he did not believe he could succeed Steve and uphold his legacy. By retorting that he is not Steve Rogers, it proves that Sam is not trying to be.
Sam is not Steve, but is Captain America nonetheless…
Instead,Sam is his own version of Captain America that is worthy of as much respect as Steve received. While this works with Sam’s story, it is also a great way of addressing the criticisms of him becoming Captain America. It is simple in that it conveys this reality; Sam deserves to be Captain America.The Falcon and the Winter Soldierexplored that it was not Steve Rogers alone who could be Cap, and it only matters that whoever takes up the shield fights for what is right.
Sam telling Thunderbolt Ross, and through him the criticizing members of the audience, that he is not Steve Rogers is a subtle point of defiance. The criticisms of Sam do not matter to him or anyone else that supports him. They are rarely even worth addressing or fighting over, because Sam is not Steve, but is Captain America nonetheless. InCaptain America: Brave New World, this will become more evident than ever as Sam embodies the stars and stripes to establish Captain America as the MCU’s focal point once more.
Captain America: Brave New World
Cast
Captain America: Brave New World (formerly titledNew World Order)marks Sam Wilson’s first MCU big-screen appearance as Steve Rogers' successor after receiving the suit and shield in Phase 4’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Anthony Mackie returns as the titular Avenger alongside Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Carl Lumby as Isaiah Bradley, and Tim Blake Nelson as The Incredible Hulk’s former ally Samuel Sterns. Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.After meeting President Thaddeus Ross, Sam is caught in a global crisis. He must expose the mastermind behind a sinister plot before the world descends into turmoil. Captain America: Brave New World marks the big-screen debut of Sam Wilson as Captain America, and Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut, replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.
