Who Are the Returning Characters of Captain America: Brave New World?

Captain America is finally gearing up to make a return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. However, this isn’t the same Captain America audiences are used to. As made clear by the end of Avengers: Endgame and throughout the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, MCU fans will be treated to a brand-new take on Cap — that is, in the form of Sam Wilson.

There has been a slew of rumors circling the production of Captain America: Brave New World that audiences are eager to see pan out one way or the other. What is known for certain, however, are some of the key players who will be appearing in the film. Captain America: Brave New World looks to be honoring the past, present, and future with its ensemble cast — with several long-awaited characters confirmed to be joining Sam for his first feature-length outing as the iconic Captain America.

Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America

MCU appearances:

• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
• Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
• Ant-Man (2015)
• Captain America: Civil War (2016)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
• Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

Sam Wilson first appeared in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, becoming a trusted friend of the original Captain America, Steve Rogers. After acquiring the EXO-7 Falcon wingsuit, Sam became the hero known as Falcon before officially joining the Avengers in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, a retired — and elderly — Steve Rogers opted to pass his iconic vibranium shield to Sam, strongly suggesting to his friend that he should take up the mantle of Captain America himself.

Despite promising Steve that he’d do his best, Sam went through an intense period of guilt where he questioned whether he really should continue as Captain America. Mirroring a segment of the Marvel fandom — many of whom believed Bucky Barnes should have become the second Captain America first — the MCU released The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+, which fueled whether Sam was a worthy successor. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier centered around Sam coming to terms with the fact that he is the epitome of a person who should represent America. After going toe-to-toe with Johnny Walker — an unhinged super soldier who usurped the Captain America persona during Sam’s hiatus — the man once known as Falcon finally learned that he was the only guy for the job. In Captain America: Brave New World, Sam will finally become Captain America proper as he faces a brand-new threat in the MCU.

Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres/Falcon

MCU appearances:

• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
• Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier introduced Joaquin Torres as a United States Air Force lieutenant and intelligence officer whom Sam entrusts to help him on his missions. Joaquin looks up to Sam as the Avenger that he is and is extremely interested in anything to do with Captain America. When audiences first got a chance to get to know his personality, Joaquin was pressing Sam about the possibility of Steve Rogers having been flown to the moon and hidden away from the public eye. Sam denies this outrageous theory but playfully teases that it may be true before walking off. The immediate sense of camaraderie between the two makes Joaquin a perfect candidate to take over the Falcon role now that Sam has vacated it.

In the comics, Joaquin is infused with the DNA of Sam’s bird sidekick, Redwing, by the infamous Serpent Society. This transforms Joaquin into a hybrid creature and he grows giant falcon wings out of his shoulder blades. It has strongly been rumored that the Serpent Society will play some role in Captain America: Brave New World, with WWE superstar Seth Rollins possibly being cast as a member of the group. With the confirmation that Danny Ramirez would be returning to play Falcon, Torres’ comic book arc may be adapted in some form for the big screen. As with most adaptations in the MCU, however, it will need to come with heavy changes — as Redwing is no longer a real bird in the films but, instead, a combat drone operated by Sam himself.

Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley

MCU appearances:

• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
• Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

Isaiah Bradley is a veteran of the Korean War who was forced to undergo testing of the Super Soldier Serum in the 1950s. With his new abilities, Isaiah was tasked with taking out the Winter Soldier but failed to do so. After being used as a test subject and then thrown to the wolves of war, Isaiah was cast aside by the US government due to their fear of receiving backlash for creating an African-American super soldier. For three decades, Isaiah was imprisoned and experimented on — not just by the US government themselves, but also by HYDRA. In the 1980s, Isaiah’s death was faked, and he was relocated to Baltimore — where he raised a grandson.

Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes visit Isaiah in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to learn about the possibility of more supersoldiers existing in the world. While Isaiah gave them the information they were seeking in the form of his own history, he was still rightfully jaded by his past and wished to remain under the radar. However, once Sam realized his true purpose as the next Captain America, he collaborated with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to commemorate Isaiah’s contributions and bravery. Details for Isaiah’s role in Captain America: Brave New World are scarce — but MCU fans would certainly love to see one of the original super soldiers in action, should Carl Lumbly be up for the task.

Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns/Leader

MCU appearances:

• The Incredible Hulk (2008)
• Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

One of the most exciting aspects of Captain America: Brave New World is the return of Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns. The emergence of Leader is something MCU fans have been looking forward to ever since The Incredible Hulk teased it way back in 2008. After an open wound on his forehead got infected with Bruce Banner’s blood, Samuel’s head began expanding — which suggested to most comic fans that he’d soon become Leader, one of Hulk’s archenemies. This seemed like it would be an easy thread to pick back up on in future films, but a lengthy rights issue between Marvel Studios and Universal ensured that no more solo Hulk movies would be made. Instead, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk went on to become a major player in the Avengers franchise before being featured prominently in Thor: Ragnarok and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, but Samuel Sterns was placed on the back burner.

It’d be a safe bet that in Captain America: Brave New World, the MCU will finally pay off the tease from The Incredible Hulk and bring Leader to the forefront. The most prominent rumor spreading is that Leader will indeed be the primary antagonist of the film, which would definitely present Sam Wilson with quite the challenge for his first run as Captain America.

Shira Haas as Sabra

MCU appearances:

• Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

Shira Haas has been cast as Sabra, who has been cited as the first Israeli superheroine in Marvel Comics. Sabra will be a new addition to the MCU, but it is unknown if the origin of her superhuman powers will be due to her status as a mutant. It’s unknown what her larger role in Captain America: Brave New World will be, but movie-goers should expect the character to debut in the film.

Originally portrayed in the comics as an Israeli police officer and government agent, Sabra has already attracted a divisive response for being included in the film. In the wake of ongoing struggles between Israel and Palestine, many Palestinians and supporters have criticized Marvel for their plans to feature the character in such a large-scale film. The MCU has responded to the backlash by assuring that their version of Sabra will be reinterpreted — as so many other Marvel characters had been previously. Hopefully, the character is handled with grace and none of the poor reaction to her inclusion carries over to Shira Haas herself.

Harrison Ford as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross

MCU appearances:

• The Incredible Hulk (2008)
• Captain America: Civil War (2016)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Black Widow (2021)
• Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

Captain America: Brave New World marks the first appearance of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross as portrayed by Harrison Ford following William Hurt’s untimely death in 2022. With rumors running rampant that this film will also mark the first appearance of Red Hulk, Thunderbolt’s possible role has been placed under the microscope by MCU fans. Other than the recasting, not much is known about what exactly Thunderbolts will do in Captain America: Brave New World, but with so many throwbacks to the Incredible Hulk mythos in the form of Leader, Sabra, and Betty Ross, MCU audiences wouldn’t be wrong to expect something major from this character in particular.

Following the events that opened Captain America: Civil War — as well as his own history dealing with superhumans like The Hulk — Thunderbolt Ross was integral in the writing of the Sokovia Accords. The Sokovia Accords pushed for a regulation of superheroes, with the intent being to have anyone using superpowers register with the government. While this never really panned out in his favor, it’s safe to assume Ross is still towing that line. It’ll be interesting, then, to see how he feels about the concept of registration if he does indeed become the Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World if he can’t control the very power he seeks to regulate.

Liv Tyler as Betty Ross

MCU appearances:

• The Incredible Hulk (2008)
• Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

In an announcement that surely came as a surprise to most MCU fans, Betty Ross was revealed to also be returning in Captain America: Brave New World for the first time since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. With Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk reportedly not appearing – despite early rumors that he would be – it’ll be interesting to see what role Ross plays without her traditional love interest around.

Betty’s father is Thunderbolt Ross and, while their relationship was certainly strained in The Incredible Hulk, she may need to play a calming voice should a certain Red Hulk show up in any form. She does have experience in the art of calming Hulks, after all. Betty was able to talk Banner — who was in complete Hulk form at the time — out of killing the Abomination before Hulk wiped her tears away and fled. Liv Tyler brought a true sense of determination to her portrayal of Betty Ross, and it’ll be very interesting to see how she asserts herself as these MCU-changing events play out throughout Captain America: Brave New World.