It's been nearly six years since the Avengers disbanded after the monumental defeat of Thanos and the tragic loss of Tony Stark. Yet, as the world continues to face new threats, the need for Earth's mightiest heroes has resurfaced. With new Avengers movies slated for 2026 and 2027, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is gearing up to reassemble its iconic team. The journey to this new Avengers lineup kicks off in the upcoming film, *Captain America: Brave New World*.
"We know people miss the Avengers, and we miss the Avengers," says Nate Moore, a seasoned producer at Marvel Studios and a key figure behind the fourth Captain America installment. "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 successful Avengers teams in Marvel comics have always been anchored by Captain America. Following Steve Rogers' decision to pass the shield to Sam Wilson at the end of *Avengers: Endgame*, the MCU has taken its time to develop Wilson into the leader he needs to be. This transformation has not been easy for Wilson, as depicted in the six-part Disney+ series, *The Falcon and the Winter Soldier*, which delved into his struggles with the new role. By the time *Brave New World* rolls around, Wilson has fully embraced the mantle of Captain America, but he now faces the formidable challenge of leading a new Avengers team.
In the opening scenes of *Brave New World*, President Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford following the passing of William Hurt, approaches Wilson with a proposal to restart the Avengers project. This may puzzle long-term fans, considering Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross was behind the Sokovia Accords, which led to the Avengers' division. So, why would he now want to bring them back together?
"He was a guy who had this real legacy that could maybe be defined by his anger," explains Julius Onah, the director of *Brave New World*. "But the man that we're meeting now is an elder statesman, a diplomat turning a new leaf, who sees and understands the errors of his past and wants to do better. He wants to initiate the Avengers because they could be a benefit to the world."
As a general, Ross understands the tactical advantage of having superheroes under his command. However, he doesn't plan to recreate the Avengers exactly as they were. With Captain America now an official role within the U.S. government, Wilson works directly with the President, meaning a Captain America-led Avengers team would effectively be a branch of the U.S. defense department.
"Ross is the man who passed the Sokovia Accords," Moore notes. "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 rise to the ultimate challenge of leading the Avengers. | Image credit: Disney / Marvel Studios
President Ross's renewed interest in the Avengers likely stems from the discovery of a world-altering substance. At the end of *Eternals*, a Celestial turned to stone, and as revealed at San Diego Comic Con 2024, MCU scientists have discovered it's a source of Adamantium, Marvel's renowned super metal and a valuable alternative to Wakanda's Vibranium. With this metal available in the ocean, an Adamantium arms race looms, making it strategic to have superheroes on your side.
"I think certainly any nation that has a group of Avengers has a leg up over anyone else," Moore asserts. "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 motive for this new Avengers team suggests that the working relationship between President Ross and Sam Wilson's Captain America may not be straightforward. 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 complexities, it's possible that Sam Wilson may not be the leader President Ross envisions. The upcoming MCU project, *Thunderbolts*, set for release just months after *Brave New World*, might hold the answer. *Thunderbolts* features a team of anti-heroes, including John Walker, who briefly took up the Captain America mantle in *The Falcon and the Winter Soldier* but disgraced it. Perhaps Walker and his morally ambiguous allies will become the President's Avengers, fitting with Ross's nickname, Thunderbolt.
If that scenario unfolds, Wilson could form his own independent team of superheroes, 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 phase of Wilson's journey since he took up the shield, leading him inevitably to the leadership of the Avengers.
"Historically, the Avengers have been led by a Captain America, and Sam Wilson is very much so a worthy one," Onah states. "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, embodying the values it represents.
"I think that's what makes him a Captain America of this moment," Onah adds.
"I don't think Sam would be prepared to lead the Avengers until he truly believed that he was Captain America," Moore concludes. "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 movies separating *Brave New World* from *Avengers: Doomsday*, Wilson must act swiftly. It's likely that Captain America will appear in both *Thunderbolts* and *Fantastic Four: First Steps* to recruit his team before the 2026 blockbuster. While the road to the original Avengers took five films, the MCU's heroes like Spider-Man, Thor, and Bruce Banner may already be ready to answer the call. The assembly of Avengers 2.0 begins with *Captain America: Brave New World*.
