One MCU character introduced in Captain America: Brave New World has enough potential for multiple future antagonist appearances, which is why I hope he doesn’t get killed off in the Phase 5 movie. Captain America: Brave New World‘s cast is jam-packed with new and long-established MCU actors. Anthony Mackie’s seasoned Avenger Sam Wilson wields the Captain America shield for the second time, and he’s set to face even bigger threats than Steve Rogers did in his early days as the Star-Spangled Avenger. Captain America: Brave New World‘s plot centers around a global conspiracy that involves international governments, an evil scientist, and at least two Gamma mutates.

Captain America will fight at least three major MCU villains in Captain America: Brave New World. President Ross’ transformation into Red Hulk is evidently the movie’s main spectacle, while Samuel Sterns a.k.a. The Leader is likely to be revealed to be Captain America: Brave New World‘s main villain. Meanwhile, Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder will have his own motivations to oppose Captain America’s crime-fighting efforts. Giancarlo Esposito has voiced his excitement for Sidewinder’s MCU future, hoping he can eventually portray more of the villain’s “serpent persona”:

“Part of the incorporation of Sidewinder’s colors I brought into the costume that I’m wearing. I’m hoping that it gives them inspiration in movies to come that will allow me to take on more of that serpent persona. You’ve never seen me play a character like this. This guy knows how to use a rifle, a pistol, knives, [he is] very, very physical, active with his physicality, punches, kicks, all that.”

Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder Has Potential For Bigger MCU Stories

Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder Is A Captain America Villain Worthy Of Multiple Encounters

Giancarlo Esposito has played a variety of popular roles, two of them famous for their evil nature: the cold-blooded criminal Gustavo Fring in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, as well as the tyrannical Galactic Empire leader Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian. These roles prove Esposito’s talent for playing villains, which the actor will likely manifest as Seth Voelker a.k.a. Sidewinder, the leader of the terrorist group “Serpent Society” in Captain America: Brave New World. Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder doesn’t seem to have as much screentime as President Ross or as much narrative weight as the Leader, which could be a bad omen for the character.

The Serpent Society’s role in Captain America: Brave New World was reduced significantly during the film’s many changes and delays behind-the-scenes, to the point that Seth Rollins’ King Cobra and other members of the villain group were completely cut from the movie. Out of all the members of the Serpent Society, Sidewinder is the most dangerous in the comics. Sidewinder recruited and trained the original team, the Serpent Squad, and helped them get body enhancements. Sidewinder also transformed the squad into the Serpent Society, formed bonds with other villains, and fought heroes like Captain America and Iron Man.

Marvel Has Already Teased A Full-Fledged Serpent Society Twice

The Serpent Society’s Main Antagonist Role Is Long Overdue

Marvel Studios announced Captain America: Civil War at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 with the fakeout announcement of a third Captain America installment тιтled “Captain America: Serpent Society”, which helped make the actual reveal more exciting. Chris Evans’ Captain America starred in two other MCU movies afterward, and he never got to encounter the Serpent Society. In fact, Steve Rogers barely got to fight two other classic Captain America enemies before his retirement: Batroc in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Crossbones in Captain America: Civil War. Rogers met Arnim Zola’s cybernetic form, but he also never got to actually fight him.

Now that Sam Wilson officially begins his journey as Captain America, the Serpent Society only seems to be making a brief appearance in Captain America: Brave New World before all the attention goes to Red Hulk and the Leader — two of Hulk’s most famous enemies. What’s more, the Serpent Society won’t be fully formed in the movie. So, if Sidewinder dies or the Serpent Society is dissolved in Captain America: Brave New World, that would make Captain America: Brave New World another Captain America movie that glosses over classic Captain America antagonists.

Sidewinder And The Serpent Society Could Be The Perfect Villains For Captain America 5

The Serpent Society Could Offer A Fresh MCU Threat To Captain America

After Captain America fights Red Hulk and the Leader in Captain America: Brave New World and participates in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, he could star in another solo movie where he faces an enemy all of his own. Red Hulk and the Leader might help audiences get on board with the idea of a successor to Steve Rogers. Once Sam Wilson stars in his first Captain America solo movie, he deserves a story that doesn’t depend on another character’s antagonists. By then, it could be over twelve years since such a Captain America movie.

Sidewinder’s introduction in Captain America: Brave New World could lay the foundations for a future Captain America sequel where a fully-formed Serpent Society are the main villains. The Serpent Society’s main antagonist role in Captain America 5 would be a fresh change of pace, as Captain America would be facing an organized group of villains. Captain America 5 could even spare the Serpent Society and make them a recurring antagonistic force, transforming them into a modern version of Hydra in the MCU.

Upcoming MCU Movies

• 
  
  

  
  

  Captain America: Brave New World

  
  
  

  Release Date

  
  February 14, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Thunderbolts*

  
  
  

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  
  
  

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  Powered by

  
  

  
  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

  
  
  

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Secret Wars

  
  
  

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse