It has been almost six years since the Avengers disbanded after defeating Thanos and losing Tony Stark. However, the world's need for its mightiest heroes is undeniable, and with new Avengers movies slated for 2026 and 2027, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) must expedite the team's reassembly. The journey begins in *Captain America: Brave New World*, setting the stage for the next generation of Avengers.
"We know people miss the Avengers and we miss the Avengers," says Nate Moore, a veteran producer at Marvel Studios and a key figure in the fourth Captain America film. "But we knew if we jumped right back into the Avengers after *Endgame*, we wouldn't give people a chance to miss it."
Moore emphasizes that the most iconic Avengers teams in Marvel comics have always been led by Captain America. Following Steve Rogers' decision to pass his shield to Sam Wilson at the end of *Avengers: Endgame*, the MCU needed time to develop Wilson into the leader required for this role. Wilson's transition to Captain America was not immediate or easy, as explored in the six-part Disney+ series, *The Falcon and the Winter Soldier*. By the time of *Brave New World*, Wilson proudly dons the iconic red, white, and blue. Yet, his journey continues as he faces the daunting challenge of leading a new Avengers team.
A pre-release marketing clip reveals that *Brave New World* opens with President Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford succeeding the late William Hurt, requesting Wilson to revive the Avengers project. This may puzzle fans, given Ross's history with the Sokovia Accords, which led to the Avengers' split. However, as *Brave New World*'s director Julius Onah explains, "He was a guy who had this real legacy that could maybe be defined by his anger. But the man that we're meeting now is an elder statesman, a diplomat, turning a new leaf, understanding the errors of his past, and wanting to do better. He wants to initiate the Avengers because they could be a benefit to the world."
As a general, Ross recognizes the tactical advantage of having the Avengers under his command. "Of course, President Ross doesn’t plan to recreate the Avengers exactly as they once were," Moore adds. "As we saw in *The Falcon and the Winter Soldier*, Captain America is now an official United States government role. And in the opening of *Brave New World*, Wilson is working directly with the President. This means that a Captain America-led Avengers team would effectively be a branch of the US defense department."
"Ross is the man who passed the Sokovia Accords," Moore continues. "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."
Sam Wilson must now embrace Captain America's ultimate responsibility: leading the Avengers. | Image credit: Disney / Marvel Studios
Ross's interest in reassembling the Avengers likely stems from the discovery of a world-changing substance: Adamantium. Revealed at San Diego Comic Con 2024, this super metal, found in the remains of the Celestial from *Eternals*, offers a precious alternative to Wakanda's Vibranium. With nations potentially racing to harness Adamantium, having a superhero team becomes a strategic necessity.
"I think certainly any nation that has a group of Avengers has a leg up over anyone else," Moore notes. "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 underlying motives behind the new Avengers team suggest a rocky relationship between President Ross and Sam Wilson's Captain America. Steve Rogers was staunchly against government control, and Wilson has strived to uphold his predecessor's values throughout his superhero career.
"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."
Given these dynamics, it's possible that Sam Wilson may not be the leader Ross envisions for the government-operated Avengers team. Instead, the answer might come from 2025's *Thunderbolts*, featuring a team of anti-heroes including John Walker, who briefly assumed the Captain America mantle in *The Falcon and the Winter Soldier* but tarnished Steve Rogers' legacy. Perhaps Walker and his morally-flexible team will become the President's Avengers, fittingly given Ross's nickname, Thunderbolt.
If that scenario unfolds, Wilson could establish his own independent team of superheroes, just in time for Robert Downey Jr.'s return as Doctor Doom in 2026's *Avengers: Doomsday*. Regardless of the specifics, *Brave New World* marks a crucial step in Wilson's journey since taking up the shield, paving the way for him to lead the Avengers.
"Historically the Avengers have been led by a Captain America, and Sam Wilson is very much so a worthy one," Onah affirms. "But part of telling this story is also reinforcing, illustrating, and dramatizing for an audience: why is he worthy?"
Wilson's worthiness stems from his empathy, which Onah describes as his superpower. Despite being just a man with a shield and mechanical wings, Wilson's ability to understand the perspectives of both allies and enemies enables him to wield the shield effectively. "I think that's what makes him a Captain America of this moment," Onah states.
"I don't think Sam would be prepared to lead the Avengers until he truly believed that he was Captain America," Moore adds. "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."
Wilson must act quickly. Following *Brave New World*, only two movies stand between us and *Avengers: Doomsday*. It's likely that Captain America will appear in both *Thunderbolts* and *Fantastic Four: First Steps* to recruit his team before the 2026 event. While this path is shorter than the five films leading to 2012's *The Avengers*, characters like Spider-Man, Thor, and Bruce Banner might be ready to answer the call. The assembly of Avengers 2.0 begins here.
