"Captain America: Brave New World Launches Avengers 2.0"

It has been nearly 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 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is poised to 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 veteran 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 led by Captain America. Following Steve Rogers' decision to pass the shield to Sam Wilson in "Avengers: Endgame," the MCU has been focused on developing Wilson into the leader the team needs. This transition was not easy for Wilson, as explored in the six-part Disney+ series, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier." By the time "Brave New World" rolls around, Wilson has embraced his role as Captain America. Yet, he faces a new challenge: leading the Avengers.

In a pre-release marketing clip for "Brave New World," President Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford, who steps into the role previously held by the late William Hurt, asks Wilson to revive the Avengers initiative. This request might surprise long-term fans, given Ross's history with the Sokovia Accords, which led to the Avengers' division. However, as Julius Onah, the director of "Brave New World," explains, Ross has evolved into an elder statesman and diplomat, recognizing past mistakes and seeing the potential benefits of a reformed Avengers team.

"He was a guy who had this real legacy that could maybe be defined by his anger," Onah notes. "But the man that we're meeting now is a man who is an elder statesman, who's a diplomat, who's turning a new leaf, who sees and understands the errors of his past and wants 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 under his command. Moore points out that Ross aims to control the power of the Avengers, ensuring it aligns with his vision. "Ross is the man who passed the Sokovia Accords," Moore says. "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."

Ross's interest in reassembling the Avengers may be driven by the discovery of Adamantium, a super metal introduced in the MCU after the Celestial turned to stone at the end of "Eternals." Revealed at San Diego Comic Con 2024, Adamantium could spark an arms race, making a superhero team a strategic necessity.

"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

11 Images

The dynamic between President Ross and Sam Wilson's Captain America is likely to be fraught with tension, given their conflicting histories. Steve Rogers was staunchly against government control, and Wilson has strived to uphold those values. "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."

There's a possibility that Ross might not see Wilson as the ideal leader for his envisioned Avengers team. Instead, he might turn to John Walker and his morally ambiguous allies, as seen in the upcoming "Thunderbolts" film in 2025. This could pave the way for Wilson to form his own independent team, especially with the looming threat of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in "Avengers: Doomsday" in 2026.

Onah highlights Wilson's empathy as his superpower, which is crucial for leading the Avengers. "Historically the Avengers have been led by a Captain America, and Sam Wilson is very much so a worthy one," Onah says. "But part of telling this story is also reinforcing, illustrating, and dramatizing for an audience: why [is he worthy]?"

Moore adds, "I don't think Sam would be prepared to lead the Avengers until he truly believed that he was Captain America. 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 separating "Brave New World" from "Avengers: Doomsday," Wilson's journey to assemble the new Avengers team is set to accelerate. He is expected to appear in "Thunderbolts" and "Fantastic Four: First Steps" as he recruits members for the upcoming battle. While the path to the next Avengers film is shorter than the buildup to 2012's "The Avengers," familiar faces like Spider-Man, Thor, and Bruce Banner may be ready to join the cause. The reassembly of Avengers 2.0 begins with "Captain America: Brave New World."