Sam Wilson may be stepping up as Captain America in the MCU, but he’ll need to stay true to himself in order for the biggest fight of Captain America: Brave New World to work. Ever since Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers pᴀssed the shield to Anthony Mackie’s character at the end of Avengers: Endgame, what the MCU Captain America story will be like going forward has been a popular point of discussion. The two characters to hold the mantle share the same values – which is why Steve entrusted Sam with the position in the first place – but Sam will definitely bring his own style to the trusted hero тιтle.

We already got a taste of how Sam will fare as Captain America in the MCU timeline via The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, which proved that, despite not being a super soldier like Steve was, he’s fueled by his desire to seek justice and protect people. He’ll face his first official challenges as Captain America in the MCU’s upcoming release, including a dispute between himself and Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross. From the trailers, we know that the now-president Ross will take on the Red Hulk persona, and that Sam Wilson will fight him, raising a unique obstacle for Captain America.

2025’s Captain America Vs Red Hulk Fight Has Sam Wilson At A Major Disadvantage

Sam Wilson Has No Genetic Enhancements

The obvious question amongst many fans when Ross’ Red Hulk was initially confirmed was how Captain America could possibly take him on. Sam Wilson is a trained soldier who has held his own alongside Steve and the rest of the Avengers, but he is ultimately still a regular human with no genetic enhancements. The enhanced abilities that he can consider his powers come from his suit, not from his actual physiology, unlike Ross and the Red Hulk.

I don’t need to see Captain America: Brave World yet to know that Sam Wilson is starting off his fight against Red Hulk at a major disadvantage. Both Bruce Banner and Jennifer Walters have shown off their incredible strength in their respective Hulk forms, and Ross should be no different. With the trailers for the movie depicting Red Hulk as similarly powerful, it seems Sam has his work cut out for him as Captain America.

Giving Sam Wilson Powers In His First Captain America Movie Debut Would’ve Weakened The Impact Of Him Facing The Red Hulk

It’s Better If Sam Is At A Disadvantage

Despite his impending fight against Red Hulk feeling like an uphill battle, I think it’ll be crucial for Sam Wilson to remain unpowered for it. In the world of the MCU, it wouldn’t be hard for the studio to come up with a way to give him enhanced powers. However, if he does receive powers at some point in Captain America: Brave New World before his fight against Ross, then it’ll just feel like he got them to justify the face-off.

What I’m looking forward to seeing in Brave New World is how Sam Wilson will step up versus Red Hulk despite being at a disadvantage, and I don’t want him to become unrealistically stronger for the sake of plot armor. The fight brings an interesting David vs Goliath narrative to the film that would be undermined if they were equal strength-wise. Of course, Sam is ridiculously strong in his own right. However, his fight with Red Hulk is more interesting because he’s at a physical disadvantage, and because he’ll seemingly find a way to make up for it with his mental forтιтude and determination.

I’m Convinced Captain America: Brave New World’s Red Hulk Fight Works Better Because Sam Wilson Doesn’t Have Steve Rogers’ Powers

The Two Are Ultimately Different Iterations Of The Same Hero

When Steve pᴀssed the Captain America mantle on to Sam, he was entrusting someone who he believed to be fully capable. That version of Sam was an ordinary person with no powers, simply a skilled fighter with a hero’s mentality. Steve knew Sam was ready for the task as he was and wouldn’t have given him the shield if he didn’t think he could hold his own. The fact that Sam doesn’t have Steve’s exact powers is what makes this new iteration of Captain America work so well, as it’ll help differentiate the two separate characters behind the shield.

Sam and Steve have lots of similarities, which is why they got along so well as partners and friends. They’ll both always do what’s right, even when the odds seem stacked against them. Sam Wilson taking on Red Hulk despite being at a disadvantage is reminiscent of Steve Rogers standing up to Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, reinforcing their similarities. Steve obviously wasn’t a match on his own, but he still put up a fight. Sam has the opportunity to do the same in Captain America: Brave New World, carrying on the hero mentality that defines the Captain America role.

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