Marvel Studios‘ Kevin Feige, over the weekend, participated in a press roundtable to help promote the release of their “Fantastic Four” reboot and talked on various topics, one of which was why he thinks that “Captain America: Brave New World” wasn’t as big as they had imagined.
Deadline relayed Feige’s brief implication that maybe audiences weren’t as enthusiastic about “Captain America: Brave New World” because this was “the first without Chris Evans,” as Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson took on the mantle after the shield was passed down (a move echoed in the comic books, despite bizarre racist outrage toward the project for that creative choice).
“Brave New World” was hardly an embarrassing flop, but the movie still only ended up making $415 million, which makes it the third-grossing “solo” Captain America adventure, as “Captain America: The First Avenger” made $370.5 million back in 2011. Then again, it still came in much lower than “Captain America: Civil War” (a de facto “Avengers” installment) amassed an impressive $1.155 billion, and the $714.4 million made by “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
The bridge of events between “Avengers: Endgame” and “Brave New World” was explored in the Disney+ series “The Falcon & The Winter Soldier,” which may have tapped into the “homework” aspect that has been an issue with the modern era of the MCU as that may have contributed a bit more than simply not having Evans involved. As the perception that audiences would need to watch 4-5 hours worth of a television show to understand what is going on in the fourth installment had been looming around it.
Another potential issue was the wonky villains, as Harrison Ford‘s President Ross (who becomes The Red Hulk and is in conflict with Wilson at various points) and Tim Blake Nelson‘s The Leader (rehashing a mind control threat seen in the last two Cap movies) didn’t have the kind of impact we’ve seen in the past with other character-driven foes. Feeling more like Marvel was obligated to circle back to those characters first introduced in “The Incredible Hulk” back in 2008 and many audiences likely forget Dr. Samuel Sterns was even a thing.
That said, Mackie is back as the new Cap in The Russo Brothers‘ “Avengers: Doomsday” and is expected to appear in “Avengers: Secret Wars” as well. What’ll happen with “Captain America 5” (Mackie is game for it) remains to be seen, but after establishing the villainous collective, The Serpent Society, allows them to have a replacement for H.Y.D.R.A., without the connections to being an off-shoot of WWII Nazis, and we very well could see the return of Giancarlo Esposito as the group’s leader, Sidewinder while finally bringing in characters like the femme fatale Ophelia Sarkissian (Viper/Madame Hydra, who also had connections to Wolverine) making their way to the MCU.
Fans will likely have to wait before Marvel ultimately comments on the fate of “Captain America 5” as they’re currently focused on those “Avengers” sequels, and Mackie is also leading the video game series “Twisted Metal,” which is also taking up his time.
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
