Marvel Already Has The Perfect In-Universe Excuse For Captain America: Brave New World's Controversial MCU Villain Design Choice

Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World.

The change in the Leader’s head design in Captain America: Brave New World actually has an in-universe explanation thanks to Marvel Comics and an off-hand comment in the movie. The MCU timeline has always taken creative liberties with character designs, often reinterpreting comic book visuals to fit its live-action aesthetic. However, Captain America: Brave New World is making waves for significantly redesigning The Leader (Samuel Sterns), a villain long teased since The Incredible Hulk (2008). The character looks very different from what was teased at the time, which can be explained with established lore.

In The Incredible Hulk, Samuel Sterns (played by Tim Blake Nelson) was a scientist obsessed with the potential of gamma mutation. During the film’s climax, Sterns was exposed to Bruce Banner’s irradiated blood, causing his cranium to expand and his intelligence to surge. This brief moment seemed to tease his transformation into The Leader, one of the Hulk’s most formidable adversaries in the comics. However, the character was left in limbo for over a decade, with no official confirmation of his fate – until Captain America: Brave New World.

The Leader In Captain America: Brave New World Looks Different Than Expected

The Leader’s Transformation Was Teased In The Incredible Hulk

The original scene in The Incredible Hulk hinted at The Leader’s emergence, showing Sterns’ head beginning to mutate. At the time, this visual was reminiscent of his classic Silver Age comic book appearance, in which The Leader’s skull was elongated but not overtly grotesque. The Incredible Hulk reflected this, with Sterns’ skull growing larger, but not becoming as grotesque as seen in Brave New World.

Early leaked artwork and promotional material for Captain America: Brave New World suggested that this design was initially retained, with Sterns sporting an expanded, tall, and smooth head. In fact, some early Brave New World merchandise was released using these designs. However, following the film’s reshoots, the Leader was revealed with a drastically different take.

Like most Marvel movies, Captain America: Brave New World was subject to reshoots, the extent of which has been debated. While details are unclear, Tim Blake Nelson has hinted that all of his scenes were redone, suggesting that the Leader’s design was changed. This change may have moved the villain away from his comic book origin, and closer to a subsequent redesign.

The Leader’s Design In Captain America: Brave New World Recalls His 1980s Comic Redesign

The Leader Looks Terrifying In Captain America: Brave New World

Samuel Sterns transforming into the Leader in Marvel Comics

In the comics, The Leader first appeared in Tales to Astonish #62 (1964) with a tall, elongated head, symbolizing his gamma-enhanced intellect. However, in the 1980s, his design underwent a major transformation when he experimented with siphoning gamma radiation from Rick Jones, leading to a grotesque, swollen, and veined cranium. This redesign made him look even more alien and sinister, reinforcing his status as one of the Hulk’s most dangerous foes.

This design featured a more exaggerated, bulbous cranium with visible deformities. His head appears ridged, like a giant brain, with other lumps and bumps stretching down his head and neck – all complete with a sickly green complexion. This is the design used for Captain America: Brave New World. Interestingly, this comic book context, combined with some Brave New World details, could explain the change in Sterns’ MCU design.

How The MCU’s Leader Could Have Changed Appearance By Brave New World

The Leader Was Subject To Continued Experimentation

It was established in Brave New World that President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross played a role in The Leader’s transformation. It is revealed that Ross provided Sterns with additional gamma exposure after The Incredible Hulk in order to keep building his intellect, which Ross would then exploit to become president. Much like the Leader’s siphoned gamma in the comics, this could have caused a second mutation and deformed Sterns further.

The similarities between the Leader’s second design and the MCU version would support this theory. It seemingly follows the same trajectory, despite occurring between movies. Though it was likely spurned by behind-the-scenes factors, the fact that Marvel remained faithful to the comics allows for an in-universe explanation. It suggests that, as in the comics, Sterns may have undergone an additional transformation after his initial exposure, leading to his more monstrous and deformed appearance in Captain America: Brave New World.

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