Caution: Superhero-sized spoilers below
It’s time to grab your infinity gauntlets, capes, hammers and shields, because Marvel movie days are back, and this time they come in the form of Captain America: Brave New World—in theaters starting today, Friday, February 14
In the film, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) deals with both his new position as Captain America and the United States of America’s newest President, Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford). Filled with thrilling battle scenes and an unlikely superhero, this new Marvel film is a can’t-miss.
First for Women recently got to attend an exclusive film screening, thanks to its official partnership with Tide Laundry, and found out every little thing you might have missed, including which former superheroes got shoutouts. Read on for more.
Not only do we get a new Captain America, but we also get a new Falcon
When Captain America: Brave New World was first announced, people were so excited to see Sam Wilson (Mackie) switch from The Falcon to the beloved Captain America—however, it turns out that he is now both! Throughout the film, Wilson can be seen flying around, slicing things with his wings and throwing around the Captain America shield. He is also called “Captain America” by various other cast members.
Along with Sam’s new title, we also got a new Falcon! His name is Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez, who co-starred in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), and throughout the film he can be seen training alongside the original Falcon in a brand-new green suit.
Viewers get some much-needed answers about The Super Serum
A big question for a lot of Marvel fans is, if there is a Super Serum that can make normal people extremely strong, why have only the original Captain America (Evans), Bucky Barnes—aka The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) and John Walker (Wyatt Rusell, also a part of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) taken it? Well, in the new movie, we finally have our answer! It turns out that the government has given the serum out to other people before, including newcomer Isiah Bradley—aka The Forgotten Captain America (Carl Lumbly). This one didn’t go as well, though, seeing as Bradley was put into solitary confinement for 30 years after coming home from the Korean War and was considered to be an enemy of the state before, as chronicled in the Disney+ series.
President Thaddeus Ross isn’t who he says he is
A large part of the film revolves around the newly elected president, Thaddeus Ross (Ford), who has some shocking connections to The Avengers. Early on, viewers are reminded that his daughter, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler), once dated Dr. Bruce Banner—aka The Incredible Hulk—(Mark Ruffalo), sending the President into a fit of rage that earned him the title of “Hulk Hunter.”
Furthermore, Ross slowly begins to lose control as the plot progresses, and his hidden alter ego, The Red Hulk, is revealed. And while that part wasn’t shocking—since it was revealed in the trailer—what was, was learning that Ross didn’t know that Hulk was inside of him, he was instead slowly being poisoned by Gamma Pills.
Also, a fun little detail is that Ross’s ties are either blue or red and blue before he turns into Hulk, but in the scene where he transforms, it switches to solid red.
The Eternals are finally in the film
Ever since The Eternals released in theaters in 2021, Marvel lovers have anxiously waited for them to connect it to something. And now, four years later, that day has finally come!
The film’s main conflict revolves around various world leaders wanting the newly discovered element adamantium—which came from a defeated Celestial partially sticking out of the Indian Ocean.
Moviegoers previously saw The Celestial in the film The Eternals. While none of the superheroes from that film are in Captain America: Brave New World, its acknowledgment officially paves the way for a crossover.
There are several nods to former Avengers
Speaking of crossovers, there are several nods to previous Avengers throughout the film. Obviously, there are references to The Eternals, Steve Rogers and Dr. Bruce Banner, but there is also a call out to The Red Room—where The Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) trained—as well as Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and the Wakandan’s.
Who is your favorite Avenger?
Sebastian Stan did make an appearance
Since Stan’s character Bucky is both Steve Rogers’s and Sam Wilson’s best friend, it makes total sense why he had a small role in the film.
During his short exchange with Sam, it’s revealed that Bucky is running for Congress and doesn’t regret taking The Super Serum. Bucky also tells Sam that he loves him, which is super cute, considering Sam has several pictures of him in his office.
The Avengers are getting back together!
At the very end of the film, Sam tells Joaquin that he needs to get The Avengers back together. However, it’s unclear who exactly will be there.
Out of the original group—Captain America, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Black Widow, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Dr. Bruce Banner and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner)—Thor, Dr. Bruce Banner and Hawkeye remain.
Throughout Marvel’s other movies, they have added others like Spiderman (Tom Holland), the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), the Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), War Machine (Don Cheadle) and, of course, The Falcon, but as of publication it remains unclear who will be joining the new Avengers (Avengers: Doomsday will release in May 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars will release in May 2026). Especially since people like Bucky and Yelena—the new Black Widow—have already committed to joining The Thunderbolts, which releases in May 2025.