Captain America: Brave New World debuts in theaters on February 14, 2025, and is set to become the fourth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s prolific Captain America franchise. However, this is the first film featuring Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) taking over the mantle from Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). In addition to Mackie in the lead role, Harrison Ford headlines an impeccable cast that also includes Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Blake Nelson, Carl Lumbly, and Liv Tyler.
Agents of Fandom Editor-in-Chief TJ Zwarych got a chance to sit down with Captain America: Brave New World Director Julius Onah, who raved about the top-tier cast, balancing the film’s emotional storylines, and his excitement to bring Red Hulk and the Serpent Society to the MCU.
Julius Onah Brings Empathy and Authenticity to ‘Captain America: Brave New World’
Agents of Fandom: Isaiah Bradley’s story represents America’s failure to support and protect its own people, while Sam Wilson’s Captain America functions as a symbol of hope for a better future. What was it like for you to have to balance both of those contrasting stories in the film?
Julius Onah: It was really, really satisfying. You know, as a filmmaker, a director, and a writer, you’re trying to find rich, dramatic terrain. And, you know, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the TV series, explores a lot of what you were describing. This movie was about moving forward in a new direction while honoring what came in the past.
So there’s a different dynamic between them in this film, yet that doesn’t mean the history doesn’t inform it. Sam has cemented himself as Captain America, where, despite what has happened in the past with Isaiah Bradley, he has moved beyond it. [Bradley] is embracing Sam as our new Captain America and is really protective of him. So, that love between them becomes a real emotional fuel for Sam’s journey in this film to exonerate [Bradley]. So it’s always great when you have a rich history and texture like that, but the story of this film is about empathy and moving forward in a fresh new direction.
Captain America films have been some of the most successful entries in the MCU. Did you feel like you were taking on the mantle from the Russo Brothers, similar to how Steve passed it on to Sam?
Onah: Yeah, you know, it’s a huge honor. This character, both in publishing and also certainly now in the MCU, is one that a lot of people have made really incredible contributions to. So, more so than anything, I’m just grateful that I had the opportunity to contribute. When I first started to speak with the great team at Marvel, Nate Moore, Kyana Davidson, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, it was just about being able to offer an honest and authentic point of view.
I try to be as honest and authentic as I can, and I wanted to offer, in terms of the themes, the notion of empathy was something that they embraced [with Captain America]. And, you know, it’s been a really, really special experience. So I’m grateful for the foundation of the filmmakers that came before me, and I’m really proud of what we are able to do with this movie.
Captain America movies have a history of adding a very rich supporting cast. Captain America: Winter Soldier introduces Sam Wilson and heavily features the Winter Soldier, Black Widow, and Nick Fury. While Civil War was a full-on ensemble film, and now Brave New World features Red Hulk and the return of The Leader, among other characters from previous Marvel movies as well. Were there any characters that you wanted to include in this film, but Kevin or someone else was like, uh-uh, nope, nope, can’t do?
Onah: You know, it’s funny because one of the characters that was teased when Civil War was first being announced was the Serpent Society. Obviously, that was a fun little joke from Kevin [Feige] and the team at Marvel when the real title was revealed to be Civil War. And, you know, as we were starting to develop this, there was a question of whether or not this was the right moment for Serpent Society. Certainly, it is the right moment and we have the great Giancarlo Esposito playing Sidewinder. So, I got spoiled, my friend, TJ. I got to put in everybody I wanted to in this movie, and it’s a real thrill.
We’re seeing a new Falcon played by Danny Ramirez, introducing the wide cinematic audience to Joaquin Torres. You know, we’re carrying on a bit of the story of Isaiah Bradley with Carl Lumbly. The incredible Tim Blake Nelson brings Samuel Sterns to life in a way that I think will surprise audiences. So, as you said, there’s a rich, rich, rich history of great supporting characters in Cap movies. This one has its own amazing ensemble, and it was a treat to work with them. I think the audience is going to love going on this ride with them.
‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Features a Rageful Red Hulk
Some of my favorite Marvel stories are “Hulk vs.” stories against characters like Thor or Wolverine in an epic fight. If we had a “Red Hulk vs.” type of series, how would he stand up compared to the Abominations, the She-Hulks, and the Smart Hulks of the world?
Onah: Well, you know, the thing that is so great about Red Hulk is that the history of Thaddeus is somebody who, at one point, pursued Hulks, right? Even in this movie, we lean into that. This notion of him being a Hulk-hunter in the past. So he has his own very specific relationship with Hulkdom that I think creates a lot of really great drama.
Yet, he also has his own very cool, unique skill sets and powers relating to heat and healing and whatnot. So not only is he this fresh, exciting version of a Hulk, but he’s also somebody with a really great, dramatic dilemma at the core of who he is.
So that’s something that I think is really exciting, that whoever he was facing, and in this case, it’s him facing Sam Wilson, who Thaddeus has a very specific history with going back to Civil War. He had imprisoned him and he broke apart the Avengers with the Sokovia Accords. You’re just looking for action that is fun and thrilling but with great dramatic and emotional stakes, and that is what we have here. Then the last thing I would say is, it’s fun to have a rage Hulk. It’s fun to have a Hulk who is really this expression of pure anger, and we get to see him wreck some incredible, incredible carnage in this film.
Check out the full interview below.
Subscribe to the Agents of Fandom podcast and YouTube channel for more Captain America: Brave New World coverage! Make sure to follow the Agents of Fandom socials for the latest entertainment news and reviews.
