Warning: This article contains spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World.

Like many MCU movies, Captain America: Brave New World kept some cameos under wraps until the film hit theaters, and now we break down who they are and what they mean. One of the exciting aspects of there being nearly two decades of MCU movies and TV shows as part of Marvel Studios’ mᴀssively successful franchise is the prospect of cameos from actors who have previously appeared. Last year’s lone MCU release, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, included a mᴀssive number of cameos, and while Brave New World has significantly fewer, it’s not without some fun surprises.

For the most part, Captain America: Brave New World focuses on Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as the new Star-Spangled Man, but there’s also plenty of screentime devoted to President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford). The rest of the Captain America: Brave New World cast is rounded out by a mixture of returning characters, like Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) and Samuel Sterns aka the Leader (Tim Blake Nelson), and new stars, like Giancarlo Esposito as Sidewinder. Now, here are the major cameos featured in Captain America: Brave New World.

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Sebastian Stan As Bucky Barnes

Last Seen: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)

A little more than halfway through Captain America: Brave New World, after Joaquin is injured during the battle beside Celestial Island, Sam is standing outside the operating room, and he’s approached by someone off-camera. It’s quickly revealed to be Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, who gives Sam a hug and tells him he heard about Joaquin’s injury on the news. The two proceed to have a conversation about Sam being Captain America and whether he should’ve taken the super soldier serum to be able to fight threats like the Leader. The scene ends with Bucky leaving for a fundraiser because he’s campaigning for congress.

The Bucky cameo serves to continue the character dynamic from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, as well as past Captain America movies, between Bucky and Sam. Much of the conversation is a rehash of discussions Bucky and Sam had during the Disney+ show, but since they’re the two characters who were closest to Steve Rogers in the MCU, it makes sense for Sam to confide in Bucky about his struggles as Captain America. Further, the cameo sets up Bucky’s role in Marvel’s Thunderbolts* movie, in which he’ll be a congressman.

1

Liv Tyler As Betty Ross

Last Seen: The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Perhaps the more surprising of the MCU cameos in Captain America: Brave New World is Liv Tyler returning as Betty Ross for the first time in 17 years. The character was introduced as Bruce Banner’s love interest in The Incredible Hulk, but despite a few mentions throughout the years, the actress hasn’t returned since the 2008 movie. For Brave New World, she returned as part of Ross’s character arc, since he spends much of the movie trying to be a better person to hopefully repair his relationship with Betty, from whom he’s been estranged for many years.

At the end of the movie, after Ross goes on a rampage as Red Hulk, he’s imprisoned in the Raft. There, Sam visits him to tell him his treaty was ratified, and then Betty appears and talks to her father in the Raft cell. This comes after a voice cameo from Tyler, in the scene before Ross transforms into the Red Hulk, when he calls Betty and the two have a short phone conversation where they make plans to walk through the cherry blossoms together. Ross’s memories of looking at the cherry blossoms with his daughter are a recurring theme in the movie and ultimately end his Red Hulk rampage.

It’s unclear if Tyler has an MCU future after her brief appearance in Captain America: Brave New World, but it’s possible she could return again. After all, she’s reconnected with her father, and he’s still alive in the franchise. If Ford returns as Red Hulk, it’s possible Tyler could make another appearance as well. Whether that happens after Captain America: Brave New World, though, remains to be seen.

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