**SPOILERS AHEAD!!!! PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK**
The battle lines are redrawn in Captain America: Brave New World, but for every answer the film delivers in the latest chapter (35 if you’re counting) of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it leaves behind even more questions. Sam Wilson’s (Anthony Mackie, 8 Mile) first big screen solo outing as Captain America throws him into a world teetering on the edge of chaos complete with political conspiracies, power struggles, and the return of old enemies. From the revelation of adamantium to Thaddeus Ross’ (Harrison Ford, Blade Runner) monstrous transformation, the film expands the MCU’s scope while hinting at conflicts still to come.
With adamantium now in play and new alliances forming, the stakes for Earth’s defenders have never been higher. But some choices, from Sam’s lack of advanced armour to the absence of Earth’s heroes, leave us wondering where the MCU is headed next. Here are 10 questions we can’t stop asking after watching Captain America: Brave New World.
1) The film serves as an indirect sequel to The Incredible Hulk (2008) as it includes key characters such as Samuel Sterns and Thaddeus Ross, so why is Bruce Banner/Smart Hulk completely absent from the story?
Captain America: Brave New World finally brings back key characters from The Incredible Hulk (2008), but one major figure is glaringly absent – Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo, 13 Going on 30). The film revisits long-dormant threads from Hulk’s one and only solo outing, resolving the fate of Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson, Holes) after his gamma exposure and showing Thaddeus Ross, now President of the United States, facing the consequences of his actions. Betty Ross (Liv Tyler, Armageddon) even returns, marking her first MCU appearance since The Incredible Hulk.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) confirmed Banner was still active post-Endgame (2019), keeping watch alongside Captain Marvel. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022) even showed him balancing research with raising his son, Skaar (Wil Deusner, Stargirl) so wouldn’t he have something to say about his old nemesis sitting in the Oval Office, or about the sudden appearance of a Red Hulk smashing through Washington, D.C.? The film is all about Sam Wilson stepping into his role and rebuilding the Avengers, but it barely acknowledges another founding Avenger with every reason to show up.
2) Given his past as a brainwashed assassin, how can and why would a former Winter Solider run for office as a Congressman? And why didn’t Bucky help Sam Wilson more?
In a brief but surprising reunion with Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice) reveals he’s running for Congress, an unexpected pivot especially considering his history as a brainwashed assassin tasked with eliminating political figures. The reveal feels jarring, not only because it clashes with his established character arc, but because it sidelines his relationship with Sam in a moment when his support could have mattered most in the larger conflict with the Red Hulk.
With a reputation forged in blood and a century of skeletons in his closet, how does Bucky plan to win over voters – and why would he even want to? Perhaps the upcoming Thunderbolts* movie will shed light on his sudden turn toward politics. Will his time with the Thunderbolts rekindle his love for action, or prove that his evolution from soldier to statesman is more than just a plot twist?
3) What is the root of Sidewinder’s intense hatred for the new Captain America, and will this animosity be explored further in future MCU projects? Perhaps the Serpent Society will be introduced as well?
Giancarlo Esposito’s (Better Call Saul) Sidewinder injects Captain America: Brave New World with a sense of menace, but his motivations remain frustratingly murky. As the ruthless leader of the terrorist group Serpent Society, he’s hired to steal adamantium but makes it clear his hatred for Sam Wilson runs deeper than business. “I would have killed you for free,” he sneers at Sam, a chilling confession that suggests a personal grudge. Even after his capture, Sidewinder vows to finish the job, leaving audiences to wonder: What’s driving this vendetta?
It’s hard not to suspect that reshoots (Esposito joined production after it initially wrapped) stripped away crucial context. Early rumours hinted that WWE star Seth Rollins would appear as another Serpent member and actress Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel) would star as Diamondback, but their scenes were cut entirely, leaving the Serpent Society largely undefined. It feels like a piece of the puzzle is missing – one that could explain Sidewinder’s personal stake in Sam’s downfall.
4) Adamantium is now readily available on a massive Celestial Island – how will it impact the future of the MCU (beyond its obvious connection to Wolverine and mutants), and will it become as significant to the world as vibranium?
Adamantium has finally entered the MCU, and its impact could be seismic. Captain America: Brave New World introduces the rare metal through a global race to mine Tiamut, the frozen Celestial from Eternals (2021). Yet, despite the film’s high-stakes showdown and the rushed Ozaki-Ross Accords, it feels like the fight for adamantium is far from over.
Fans know adamantium as the material bonded to Wolverine’s (Hugh Jackman, Logan) skeleton, making him one of the toughest mutants in Marvel lore. Will it become as vital to the MCU as vibranium, the metal with energy-absorbing properties that have defined Wakanda’s power and reshaped warfare? Whether it leads to the rise of mutants and the X-Men or a broader arms race, the arrival of adamantium promises to reshape the power struggles of the MCU – because nothing stays buried, especially not something this valuable.
5) America definitely loves its former Russian assassins, with former Black Widow Ruth Bat-Seraph serving as President Ross’ security adviser. How many more active Black Widows are in the MCU?
Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh, Midsommar) has carried on Natasha Romanoff’s (Scarlett Johansson, Lucy) legacy, but Ruth Bat-Seraph’s (Shira Haas, Bodies) sudden appearance as President Ross’ no-nonsense security adviser begs the question: how many more Widows are still active? With her Red Room ties left largely unexplored, the film misses an opportunity to connect Ruth’s history with Yelena or Natasha’s, leaving her presence feeling more like a nod to the Widow legacy than a meaningful expansion of it.
Marvel’s decision to adapt the Sabra character from the comics only adds to the confusion. Ruth retains almost none of her comic counterpart’s traits (no Israeli background due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, no mutant powers…) so why not introduce an entirely new character instead?
6) The Wakandans gave Sam Wilson vibranium wings – why didn’t Stark Industries contribute and give Sam a special armoured suit to protect him – even one with a retractable helmet? They know that Sam doesn’t have the serum and is basically a human, so he needs some protection.
Sam Wilson may have vibranium wings from Wakanda, but one glaring question remains: why didn’t Stark Industries step up with a fully armoured suit to better protect the new Captain America? Given that Sam is one of the few Avengers without enhanced abilities or a super-soldier serum, it seems like a natural move for Stark’s legacy to ensure he has more protection in the field. A retractable helmet or additional armour could make all the difference in a fight, especially for a hero relying on skill and resilience rather than superhuman strength.
Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer) was known for outfitting his allies with advanced tech, from Spider-Man’s (Tom Holland, Uncharted) Iron Spider suit to War Machine’s (Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda) heavily armed armour. Even after Stark’s death, his technology remains in the hands of trusted figures like Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow, Se7en) and Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau, Chef), so why hasn’t that innovation been extended to Sam? The world is on the brink of chaos with new enemies emerging, so a little extra protection from Stark’s legacy could be exactly what Sam needs to survive what’s coming.
7) At a time of potential global conflict, where are the rest of Earth’s heroes? Was Captain America the only one available?
A global assassination attempt targeting world leaders should have drawn more than just two heroes to the front lines. But when chaos erupted during the Celestial Island Summit, only Sam Wilson and Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez, Look Both Ways) were on hand to confront the threat. With the world on the brink of war, their lone response highlights a glaring issue: where are the rest of Earth’s heroes? Once brimming with Avengers and enhanced individuals, the MCU’s hero roster suddenly feels alarmingly thin.
It’s not like every hero was expected to drop everything. Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock) remains preoccupied with multiversal incursions, and Carol Danvers (Brie Larson, The Marvels) is off-world. The Wakandans, still at odds with Ross’s administration, are staying out of U.S. affairs. Even former Avengers like Bruce Banner and James Rhodes (both prime candidates for a national emergency) are nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, younger heroes like Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani, Ms. Marvel) and Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld, Bumblebee) are still too green for a crisis of this scale. Sam’s battle proves Earth needs a new Avengers team, but it’s unclear who will stand beside him. The Thunderbolts* may introduce new players, but can they be trusted? The Fantastic Four could also bring reinforcements, but their arrival remains on the horizon.
8) How has The Leader only been incarcerated for 16 years, given the 5-year Snap?
Samuel Sterns, now known as The Leader, claims he has spent 16 years behind bars since his capture in The Incredible Hulk, but the math doesn’t add up. The events of that film took place in 2008, and with Captain America: Brave New World set in 2027, nearly 19 years should have passed. Sterns’ timeline comes up short when you account for the five-year time jump after Avengers: Endgame, unless he wisely took refuge in some Quantum Realm-like reality where time flows differently?
Could this be a rare miscalculation from the self-proclaimed genius, or is there something more to the story? Sterns is known for his intellect and meticulous nature, making it unlikely he would slip up on such a personal detail. It’s possible his imprisonment didn’t begin immediately after his capture or that he spent part of his time in another facility perhaps under Ross’ watch, before officially entering the prison system. Alternatively, this could be a simple continuity error rather than a plotline waiting to unravel.
9) Why does the MCU’s Red Hulk deviate so significantly from his comic book counterpart, lacking the intelligence and strategic mind that define the character in the comics?
President Ross’ transformation into Red Hulk delivers a brutal showdown with Sam Wilson, but his portrayal leaves comic book fans puzzled. In Captain America: Brave New World, Ross becomes a mindless engine of destruction driven only by rage, a far cry from his comic book counterpart. On the page, Red Hulk is a cunning and strategic powerhouse, retaining Ross’ military intellect and tactical prowess, making him a more dangerous threat than Bruce Banner’s Hulk. It’s a stark contrast to the scenes in Captain America: Brave New World where Ross rampages blindly, ultimately subdued by thoughts of Betty, mirroring the same vulnerabilities that defined Banner’s earliest struggles.
Whether or not Ross returns, his debut leaves room for evolution. If Red Hulk resurfaces in future MCU projects, the hope is that his comic book roots will finally emerge, because a Red Hulk who thinks, plots, and fights with precision could be an enemy unlike anything the Avengers have faced before.
10) The Falcon’s suit started as a military invention and Sam showed that it worked – why didn’t the Air Force develop more suits and have a squadron of Falcons? Joaquin Torres used a version that wasn’t too different from Sam’s original.
Sam Wilson’s Falcon suit, originally a product of U.S. military engineering, proved its effectiveness long before he became Captain America. Now, with Joaquin Torres donning a similar version of the wings, it begs the question: why hasn’t the Air Force mass-produced more Falcon suits for a dedicated squadron?
The technology has already demonstrated its value in high-stakes operations, and Torres’ use of an upgraded model only reinforces its combat viability. Bureaucratic hurdles or budgetary constraints could be factors, but there’s also the possibility that the suit’s full potential lies in its Wakandan enhancements. Without access to vibranium or advanced Wakandan technology, the U.S. military may struggle to replicate Sam’s current suit, leaving Torres’ prototype as the closest alternative.
Joaquin’s request for an upgrade from the Wakandans before the credits roll hints that a new era of aerial combat could be on the horizon. Will he fly alone, or will a squadron of adamantium Falcons eventually take to the skies?
Bonus: Ross has been fed with gamma radiation for years – why didn’t the doctors ever detect it? And now that he’s in The Raft, is he still taking the pills, or will exit the MCU by dying? What will happen to the Red Hulk?
Ross’s transformation into the Red Hulk raises serious questions about how he managed to conceal the effects of gamma exposure for so long. For a man with such a public and heavily monitored career, it seems implausible that routine medical checkups never flagged any abnormalities. Was he suppressing the radiation with medication, or did his power come from a more carefully engineered source?
Now imprisoned in The Raft, Ross faces an uncertain fate. Without access to the treatments that may have saved his heart but maintained his gamma-fueled transformation, his condition could spiral into something more permanent or more destructive. Is he continuing to take his mysterious pills behind bars, or is his story building toward a catastrophic end? The question now is whether anyone – from Sam Wilson to Earth’s remaining heroes – is ready to face the consequences if the Red Hulk isn’t around the save the day should there be a need for him.
Captain America: Brave New World leaves audiences with plenty to ponder about the future of the MCU. From the mystery of Ross’s future as Red Hulk to the lingering threat of the Serpent Society, the MCU seems poised for seismic shifts. The film’s political tensions, new power players, and unanswered questions leave plenty of room for exploration in upcoming projects like Thunderbolts* and beyond.
Sam now firmly carries the shield, and his version of the Avengers must take shape before the next major crisis. But as the film reminds us, others are coming… and this time, Captain America won’t be able to stop them alone.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Sylus from Love and Deepspace.
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