It's 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, prompting Marvel Studios to plan new Avengers films for 2026 and 2027. The process of reassembling the team kicks off in the upcoming film, *Captain America: Brave New World*.
Nate Moore, a seasoned producer at Marvel Studios and a key figure in the fourth Captain America movie, emphasized the importance of giving fans a chance to miss the Avengers before bringing them back. "We know people miss the Avengers and we miss the Avengers," Moore stated. "But we knew if we jumped right back into the Avengers after Endgame, we wouldn't give people a chance to miss it."
Historically, the best Avengers teams in Marvel comics have been led by Captain America. After Steve Rogers passed the shield to Sam Wilson in *Avengers: Endgame*, the MCU has been focused on developing Wilson into the leader he needs to be. This transformation was not easy for Wilson, as explored in the Disney+ series *The Falcon and the Winter Soldier*. By the time *Brave New World* rolls around, Wilson confidently embraces his role as Captain America. Yet, he faces a new challenge: leading a new Avengers team.
In a marketing clip for *Brave New World*, President Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford, asks Wilson to restart the Avengers initiative. Fans might find this surprising, given Ross's history with the Sokovia Accords, which led to the Avengers' division. However, as director Julius Onah explains, Ross has evolved into an elder statesman and diplomat who acknowledges past mistakes and sees the potential benefit 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."
Ross, being a general, understands the tactical advantage of having the Avengers. However, he plans to align the team more closely with the U.S. government, especially since Captain America is now an official role within the U.S. defense department. "Ross is the man who passed the Sokovia Accords," Moore explains. "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."
The urgency to reassemble the Avengers is driven by the discovery of Adamantium, a super metal derived from the Celestial turned to stone at the end of Eternals. Revealed at San Diego Comic Con 2024, Adamantium could spark an international 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
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The dynamic between President Ross and Sam Wilson's Captain America is expected to be fraught with tension due to their conflicting histories. Steve Rogers opposed 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 look elsewhere for his Avengers team, potentially turning to John Walker and his morally ambiguous allies from *Thunderbolts*, due out in 2025. This could leave Wilson free to form his own independent team, perfectly timed for the arrival of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in *Avengers: Doomsday* in 2026. Regardless of the specifics, *Brave New World* marks the next step in Wilson's journey to becoming the Avengers' leader.
Director Julius Onah highlights Wilson's empathy as his superpower, which sets him apart as a worthy Captain America. "Historically the Avengers have been led by a Captain America, and Sam Wilson is very much so a worthy one," Onah asserts. "But part of telling this story is also reinforcing, illustrating, and dramatizing for an audience: why [is he worthy]?"
Moore adds that Wilson needed to fully embrace his identity as Captain America before leading the Avengers. "I don't think Sam would be prepared to lead the Avengers until he truly believed that he was Captain America," Moore says. "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 must act quickly. He is likely to appear in *Thunderbolts* and *Fantastic Four: First Steps* as he recruits his team. While this path is shorter than the five films leading to the 2012 *The Avengers*, familiar faces like Spider-Man, Thor, and Bruce Banner might be ready to answer the call. The journey to assemble Avengers 2.0 begins in *Captain America: Brave New World*.
