One of the most surprising things about Captain America: Brave New World is the fact Sam Wilson will have to match wits with The Leader.
We first met Samuel Sterns in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk and learned Bruce Banner’s apparent ally had some questionable beliefs when it came to science. That included creating the Abomination and, when Emil Blonsky went on a rampage in Harlem, Sterns got his own dose of Gamma poisoning after a sample of Banner’s blood contaminated a wound on his head.
His head started growing and that was the last we saw of Sterns until a tie-in comic (which may or may not be considered “canon”) revealed that Black Widow took him into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.
Talking to Screen Rant, actor Tim Blake Nelson confirmed he’s part of Captain America: Brave New World‘s reshoots and that we’ll get an explanation for The Leader’s 16-year absence from the MCU.
“[I’m] very excited about it. I’m headed to Atlanta tomorrow to continue working on that. It’s been very exciting to bring back a character from 16 years ago and imagine how he has aged with me and how that has manifested.”
“The Marvel team has come up with a really interesting explanation – revelation, I should say, as to what he’s been up to for 16 years and why,” the actor teased.
We’re intrigued by what that might be and wouldn’t be shocked if he’s been working for the U.S. Government in secret. If so, it could explain how President Ross becomes the rampaging Red Hulk!
“I had a great time filming it,” Nelson recently told us about his role in the movie. “And [I] worked with the Marvel team and this wonderful makeup artist named David Atherton with whom I’ve collaborated on a dozen movies now.”
“I think people are going to be pretty excited about what this guy looks like. And what he has to say and what he does,” he teased. “All power to the amazing team over there at Marvel.”
Captain America: Brave New World‘s cast includes Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly, Tim Blake Nelson, Shira Haas, Liv Tyler, Xosha Roquemore, Giancarlo Esposito, and WWE Superstar Seth Rollins.
Julius Onah helms the movie from a screenplay by Malcolm Spellman and Dalan Musson, though the director is believed to have also taken a pass at it. Matthew Orton, meanwhile, has written new scenes for the additional photography which is now taking place in Atlanta, Georgia.
Captain America: Brave New World is set to arrive in theaters on February 14, 2025.
