Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Captain America: Brave New World.Captain America: Brave New World is an ambitious Marvel Cinematic Universe entry that presents many twists within its globe-trotting story. Sam Wilson’s first film as Captain America hits the ground running with fast-paced action sequences. The movie then goes on a long journey that features elements from all the Captain America movies that came before it. However, this MCU film’s focus is on using elements from the past to set up the franchise’s future.

There are many Marvel Easter eggs in Captain America: Brave New World. Before the movie was released, its connections with 2008’s The Incredible Hulk had already been established. However, there were still quite a few surprises in store for Sam Wilson’s biggest moment yet in the franchise. Exciting cameos, Avengers teases, shocking story beats, and more contributed to Captain America: Brave New World‘s ending leaving many questions about what the MCU has in store after its latest entry, which come from some major spoilers.

10

Bucky Barnes Returns And His New MCU Role Is Revealed

Sebastian Stan Will Next Be Seen In Thunderbolts*

Bucky Barnes’ role in Captain America: Brave New World is one of the movie’s biggest secrets. Despite his friendship with Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson having been solidified in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sebastian Stan claimed he would not appear in the new Captain America film. However, he was lying, as Bucky Barnes showed up just when Sam needed him the most, as friends are known to do.

After Sam claims he might be in way over his head, as he does not have the super-soldier serum Chris Evans’ Captain America did, Bucky reᴀssures him, saying that Sam’s power was in helping others and being a good person, which is what matters to his heroic тιтle. Bucky’s cameo also revealed that he is running for Congress. He will be successful, as Thunderbolts*‘s trailers confirmed Bucky becomes a congressman.

9

The Leader Gave Ross Gamma-Infused Pills As He Was Dying

Harrison Ford’s Marvel Character Was One Of The Film’s Main Stars

The new Captain America movie focused quite a bit on Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross, peeling back the curtains on the character’s past. In doing so, the movie revealed that Ross had been having health issues for quite some time. More than that, he was getting help for his heart condition from none other than Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns, aka the Leader, who returned to the MCU for the first time since The Incredible Hulk.

To control his condition and keep him alive, the Leader gave Ross pills and told him to take three every day. However, he did not reveal that the pills were infused with gamma radiation. Due to that, consumption over a long period of time meant that Ross would eventually turn into Red Hulk when he lost control and became too angry.

8

Adamantium Is Introduced In The MCU And Comes From Eternals’ Celestial

The MCU Takes Steps Towards The X-Men

Up until now, the rarest and strongest form of metal in the MCU was Vibranium. Since the world’s largest reserve of Vibranium is located in Wakanda, which is an isolationist nation, the metal is not available to everyone. Captain America: Brave New World just changed the game in a major way. Instead of making Vibranium more readily available in the MCU, a new rare metal was introduced, Adamantium.

Marvel Comics and X-Men fans will know that Adamantium is connected to the franchise in a key way. After all, it is the metal that gives Wolverine his claws and skeleton. The new Captain America movie is a huge step in the direction of the X-Men’s MCU arrival. Interestingly, Marvel connected Adamantium to Eternals, with the deceased Celestial, Tiamut, being the source of the metal. After fighting for it, multiple nations agreed to share Adamantium and establish research facilities on Celestial Island.

7

The MCU’s New Falcon Nearly Dies

Joaquin Torres Looks Up To Sam Wilson

Joaquin Torres is easily the most charismatic character in Captain America: Brave New World. Danny Ramirez’s Marvel hero is on a journey of his own in the film. After working with and befriending Sam Wilson in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it is revealed that Joaquin and Sam have been working together for three years. With Sam as Captain America, Joaquin becomes the MCU’s new Falcon.

The character’s journey in Captain America: Brave New World revolves around Joaquin trying to prove he is worthy of being Sam’s successor. Thematically, it fits with Sam’s own journey as Captain America. After doing great work as the Falcon in a few missions alongside Sam, Joaquin is sH๏τ out of the sky when the duo try to stop American fighter jet pilots mind-controlled by the Leader from attacking Japanese vessels. Joaquin nearly dies, with his heart stopping, but he is resurrected by doctors and will be okay.

6

Thaddeus Ross Doubled Samuel Sterns’ Gamma Radiation To Make Him His Secret Weapon

Thunderbolt Ross’ Past Is Full Of Nasty Secrets

The relationship between Thaddeus Ross and the Leader is one of the most interesting parts of Captain America: Brave New World. After learning that Samuel Sterns had been exposed to Bruce Banner’s blood in The Incredible Hulk, Ross decided to exploit that opportunity. Sterns’ mental capabilities were elevated by the gamma radiation in his blood, and Ross contributed to that by upping the radiation to make Sterns his personal think tank.

The reveal is quite dark. Sterns spent years locked away by Ross, who promised him that they would research his condition and try to find a way to give him his life back and send him back home, but he had to keep helping Ross throughout all of that. Harrison Ford’s character never made good on his word, which led to the Leader breaking out of his prison and destroying what Ross had fought to build.

5

Sam Wilson Will Restart The Avengers

Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Team Up Again In 2026

Early in the movie, Thunderbolt Ross asks to speak with Sam Wilson alone in the White House. During their conversation, Ross tells Sam that not only does he want them to work together, but asks Captain America to restart the Avengers. Anthony Mackie’s Marvel hero is not too excited about that idea, as he does not like the thought of the Avengers having to answer to Ross.

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However, by the end of the film, it would all change. With Ross now out of the picture, Sam Wilson sees the value in bringing back the Avengers. As such, he tells Joaquin Torres that he will do just that, which teases that Captain America will be responsible for ᴀssembling Earth’s Mightiest Heroes again. With Mackie confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, that will happen soon, in 2026.

4

The Leader Has Calculated The Odds And Predicted The Next Avengers Movies

An Unexpected Post-Credits Scene

Captain America: Brave New World‘s post-credits scene was quite shocking. Before the film was released, there was a lot of speculation that it would set up a possible World War Hulk(s) movie adaptation. Based on all the connections to The Incredible Hulk, that is understandable. However, the first MCU movie of 2025 took a different turn. Captain America: Brave New World‘s post-credits scene brought back the Leader.

Tim Blake Nelson’s Marvel villain might have been behind bars, but as he revealed earlier in the film, he had to turn himself in for his plan to be a success. As such, he could escape in the future. The biggest surprise in the post-credits scene was what he had to say to Sam Wilson. The Leader reveals that he had calculated the odds, teasing that a battle involving different universes would be coming soon, and Earth’s heroes would not be ready for it, teasing the multiverse events of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.

3

Sam Wilson Defeats Red Hulk By Talking Ross Down

Captain America Does Not Need Super-Soldier Serum To Succeed

While Captain America: Brave New World‘s trailers spent a lot of time on Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk, Thaddeus Ross only turned into his Hulk form at the very end of the film. Still, there was more than enough time for a huge fight sequence involving Sam Wilson’s Captain America and Red Hulk. Without powers, Sam relied on his Wakanda-made wings and Captain America shield to fight Red Hulk.

As the fight went on, he realized that his efforts were futile. Sam simply could not defeat the beast in a head-on fight, so he decided to go for a different approach. With years of experience helping veterans, Sam Wilson knows how to reach others with words of wisdom. He saw the goodness inside Ross and his desire to change and used the connection between Harrison Ford’s MCU character and his daughter to make Red Hulk transform back into human form.

2

The Leader And President Ross End Up In The Raft

Their Feud Does Not End Well For Either Character

By the end of the movie, both Thunderbolt Ross and the Leader are sent to the Raft for their actions. The MCU has established across multiple movies and TV shows that the Raft is an underwater prison for powered characters. With Ross still needing to control his transformations into Red Hulk, it makes sense for him to have a bout at the location. That setup could eventually have him join the Thunderbolts, Marvel’s new anti-hero team.

As for the Leader, the character’s situation is interesting. Even though he is trapped again, Samuel Sterns seems to be a few steps ahead of everyone. With him knowing that a multiversal war is imminent, who is to say that the character will not be able to escape soon? The Leader turned himself in so that the news of what Ross did to him would break, and he would transform into Red Hulk. That ended up leading to both of them staying in the same prison in the end.

1

Betty Ross Returns To The MCU After 17 Years

One Of The MCU’s First Characters Is Finally Used In An Effective Way Again

The Incredible Hulk is one of the MCU’s most forgotten movies. For years, characters from the film were simply not used by Marvel, aside from Bruce Banner, with Mark Ruffalo replacing Edward Norton in the role. After characters like Thaddeus Ross and the Abomination returned, the question of where Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross was became inevitable. Marvel answered that by showing that Betty had never forgiven her father for hunting Bruce.

Being estranged from his daughter was the key reason why Ross wanted to change. Betty is part of the film in two scenes. First, she talks with her father on the phone, and they set up a future walk by the cherry blossoms she loved as a kid. After Ross is sent to the Raft, Betty appears to talk with her father and show support, with things working out for the duo by the end of Captain America: Brave New World.

All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
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  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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