The MCU’s Latest Avengers Team Set-Up Makes A Captain America 4 Cast Omission Even Weirder

The fact that one Phase 4 character isn’t returning in Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World is even weirder after recent teases hinting at the formation of the Young Avengers in the MCU. After Steve Rogers retired as Captain America in Avengers: Endgame, and gifted Sam Wilson the iconic shield and responsibilities of Captain America, 2021’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier explored his evolution into the star-spangled man-with-a-plan. In his Phase 4 adventure, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson took on the Flag Smashers, but the MCU’s new Captain America is set to face an even bigger threat in 2025.

Marvel Studios’ upcoming Captain America: Brave New World will mark Sam Wilson’s theatrical debut as Captain America, and he’ll be joined by the likes of Tim Blake Nelson’s Leader, Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross, Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross and Shira Haas’ mutant Sabra. Brave New World will also feature returning cast members from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, including Danny Ramirez’s Joaquín Torres, the MCU’s new Falcon, and Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley, a super soldier who fought during the Korean War. However, one character hasn’t been confirmed to return, even though he could help the MCU’s new superhero team set-up.

The Young Avengers Team’s Future Is Uncertain After The Marvels

Marvel Studios has recently been setting up the formation of the Young Avengers in the MCU. Prior to The Marvels, this only involved introducing potential members of the young superhero team, such as Billy and Tommy Maximoff, Riri Williams, Kid Loki, America Chavez and more, but 2023’s Captain Marvel sequel changed the game completely. The Marvels’ ending saw Kamala Khan approach Kate Bishop, and name-dropped Cassie Lang, with the prospect of bringing together a new superhero team, providing the first direct tease to the formation of the Young Avengers, but it’s unclear exactly when this team will actually come together.

The MCU’s Young Avengers will probably join forces in Phase 6, but this hasn’t yet been confirmed by Marvel Studios. If this is the case, it’s unclear which upcoming projects could set the team up even further, as projects such as Deadpool & Wolverine, Thunderbolts, Daredevil: Born Again and The Fantastic Four don’t seem to have clear connections to any members of the Young Avengers. There was, in fact, one upcoming project that could have easily added another character to the Young Avengers’ roster, but the character in question has seemingly been omitted from Captain America: Brave New World’s cast.

Captain America: Brave New World Reportedly Won’t Feature Eli Bradley

Despite following on from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and marking the return of Isaiah Bradley, Captain America: Brave New World will reportedly not include Elijah Richardson as Isaiah’s grandson, Eli Bradley. It’s a shame that Eli Bradley likely won’t be returning in Captain America: Brave New World, as his inclusion could have created the opportunity for Marvel Studios to provide the next tease towards the MCU’s Young Avengers. Eli Bradley is a prominent Young Avengers member in Marvel Comics, operating as Patriot, but Marvel Studios currently seems to be neglecting to set him up as the complicated hero.

Why Eli Bradley Makes Sense For The MCU’s Young Avengers

Eli Bradley’s story in the MCU makes him a clear candidate for the Young Avengers, as the grandson of super soldier Isaiah Bradley already has his foot in the door with Sam Wilson’s Captain America. This makes his omission from Brave New World even stranger, as not only could Eli Bradley tease the MCU’s Young Avengers, but he could also have a hand in expanding mutant storylines, should his story be kept faithful to Marvel Comics, as he didn’t have any innate superpowers, but used the illegal street drug, Mutant Growth Hormone (MGH), to gift him temporary bursts of power.

Eli Bradley’s drug use would be an important story to tell in live-action, and the debut of MGH could tease more mutants in the MCU. While Eli left the team after the truth was revealed, he was invited back after Hulkling’s kidnapping, and he protected others even without abilities, showing the true power of the human spirit. After being wounded, he received a blood transfusion from his grandfather, finally giving him powers of his own, which could have been an impactful story to tell in Captain America: Brave New World, but it’s unclear what the future holds for Eli Bradley.