After getting a look at Sam Wilson’s first movie as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s new Captain America, I couldn’t be more excited for Captain America: Brave New World, as it seems to be the answer to my calls for a Captain America: The Winter Soldier sequel. Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers is my favorite MCU character, with his Captain America trilogy being the franchise’s best for a solo hero. With three great movies, all of which brought unique elements to the MCU, Evans’ second solo entry still stands as my favorite of his.

While The First Avenger beautifully brought Captain America’s origin story to the big screen and Civil War was an exciting affair full of heroes that had lasting consequences for the franchise, Captain America: The Winter Soldier just felt like the perfect mix of those movies’ best aspects. It had a unique atmosphere to it, full of intrigue, action, character interactions, twists, and a more serious/realistic tone. With Evans’ Steve Rogers out of Marvel’s upcoming projects, at least for now, Captain America: Brave New World‘s trailer teases the movie will bring back The Winter Soldier‘s tone to the MCU.

Captain America: Brave New World Grounds The MCU In Espionage & Politics

A Return To Form For The Franchise

Captain America: Brave New World feels different from the usual MCU fare, with the 2025 Marvel film’s trailer teasing a darker, grounded story of political intrigue. This movie will finally do something I have wanted to see in the MCU for years, which is to explore what kind of relationship Captain America could have with the President of the United States. It’s very exciting that Marvel has picked Harrison Ford to continue Thunderbolt Ross’ MCU legacy, with the star having the acting skills and gravitas to make this new work relationship meaningful.

As Ross tells Sam Wilson in Brave New World‘s first trailer, Ford’s character intends to make Captain America a government position. That alone would be an exciting focus point for the film, but there is a lot more that excites me in Captain America: Brave New World. Isaiah Bradley attempted to kill Ross in the movie’s trailer, which Captain America: Brave New World CinemaCon footage revealed is due to him being mind-controlled in some way. With the genius intellect of the Leader and Ross being a target, we could have a fair share of characters working in the shadows.

Why No MCU Movie Or Show Has Been As Much Of A Winter Soldier Sequel As Brave New World

Some Have Tried to Walk That Line

Despite being a superhero movie, Captain America: The Winter Soldier was a grounded affair, as best as it could be, that focused on the mysteries in S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA’s past and present. The movie’s fights were raw and powerful, with impeccable character work and a more serious tone that I thought was perfect for a Captain America movie. While the MCU has tried to get close to that with a few releases — Black Widow and Secret Invasion hitting some of those aspects — no other project has quite gotten there.

Brave New World finally feels like the sequel to The Winter Soldier that I have waited ten years for. Captain America is the perfect character to explore the political aspects of the MCU, with the hero being a symbol of what America should strive to be. With Sam Wilson stepping up as Captain America without being a super soldier like Steve Rogers, it made perfect sense to have Captain America: Brave New World thrust him into a story full of mystery and gray characters. The new Captain America is uniquely equipped for a more grounded and realistic MCU tale.

Captain America: Brave New World Is A Perfect Reset Chance For The MCU

The Franchise Needs To Have Different Tones

To this day, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is regarded by many as one of the best MCU movies, something I firmly believe to be the case. The MCU has a clear formula of how to work, and while that has led to several exciting films, the fact that The Winter Soldier went for a darker and more grounded tone did wonders for it. With multiple projects in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga underperforming, I think now is the perfect time to break the Marvel cycle and reset the tone with Captain America: Brave New World.

The MCU needs a plurality of tones if it wishes to continue being relevant and fresh for audiences. Captain America: Brave New World could be the first step in getting some of Marvel’s grit back. While I like the MCU’s style of comedy, I thought the new Captain America film trailer’s more serious tone was refreshing. We need to have high stakes and a sense of danger in more MCU movies, and I think Captain America: Brave New World can bring a more mature storyline that paves the way for other projects like that in the MCU’s future.

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  Captain America: Brave New World

  Captain America: Brave New World (formerly titled New 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.

  Director

  Julius Onah

  Release Date

  
  February 14, 2025
  

  Writers

  Dalan Musson
  , Malcolm Spellman

  Cast

  Anthony Mackie
  , Harrison Ford
  , Tim Blake Nelson
  , Carl Lumby
  , Danny Ramirez
  , shira haas

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  Captain America: The Winter Soldier

  Where to Watch

  *Availability in US

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  Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the ninth entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After being awoken from cryosleep in the previous film, Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world. As he adjusts, he must battle a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.

  Director

  Joe Russo
  , Anthony Russo

  Release Date

  
  April 4, 2014
  

  Writers

  Stephen McFeely
  , Christopher Markus

  Cast

  Chris Evans
  , Hayley Atwell
  , Scarlett Johansson
  , Samuel L. Jackson
  , Robert Redford
  , Anthony Mackie
  , Cobie Smulders
  , Frank Grillo
  , Sebastian Stan