Captain America: Brave New World Is the Start of Avengers 2.0

Six years after the Avengers disbanded following Thanos' defeat and Tony Stark's sacrifice, the world once again needs its mightiest heroes. With new Avengers films slated for 2026 and 2027, the MCU is gearing up for a team reassembly, starting with Captain America: Brave New World.

"We know people miss the Avengers, and we miss them too," says Nate Moore, a Marvel Studios producer. "But jumping straight back after Endgame wouldn't let people truly appreciate their absence."

Moore emphasizes Captain America's central role in successful Avengers teams throughout Marvel comics. Following Steve Rogers' passing of the shield to Sam Wilson in Avengers: Endgame, the MCU focused on developing Wilson into a capable leader. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier depicted his struggles, culminating in Brave New World, where he proudly carries the mantle. However, a new challenge awaits: leading a new Avengers team.

A marketing clip reveals President Ross (Harrison Ford, succeeding the late William Hurt) tasks Wilson with restarting the Avengers initiative. This might surprise long-time fans, considering Ross's role in establishing the Sokovia Accords, which fractured the team.

"He had a legacy defined by anger," explains director Julius Onah. "But now, he's an elder statesman, a diplomat, acknowledging past mistakes and seeking amends. He wants to initiate the Avengers because they could benefit the world."

Ross, a general, understands tactical advantages. This new Avengers team will differ from its predecessor. Captain America is now an official US government role, with Wilson directly reporting to the President. This makes an Avengers team effectively a branch of the US defense department.

"Ross passed the Sokovia Accords," says Moore. "He realized unchecked Avengers might not be ideal. He understands that controlled power benefits him, so he aims to control it before someone else does."

Ross's interest isn't solely about future film needs. The discovery of a world-altering substance—the petrified Celestial from Eternals—revealed a source of Adamantium, a super metal rivaling Wakanda's Vibranium. This potential Adamantium arms race necessitates a superhero advantage.

"Any nation with Avengers has a significant advantage," Moore notes. "Ross, as a general, understands this."

How Sam Wilson/Falcon Became Captain America in the Comics

11 ImagesThis new Avengers team's underlying motives suggest a strained relationship between Ross and Wilson's Captain America. Their partnership is inherently complex. Rogers was anti-government, and Wilson strives to uphold his predecessor's values.

"I focused on Sam's emotional journey," says Onah. "Contrasting him with someone who previously divided the Avengers creates palpable tension. Ross's actions, including the Sokovia Accords and Sam's imprisonment, fuel this tension."

Perhaps Walker and his morally ambiguous Thunderbolts team will become Ross's Avengers. Ross's nickname, "Thunderbolt," is suggestive.

Wilson might not be Ross's ideal choice. Thunderbolts, arriving shortly after Brave New World, features anti-heroes including John Walker, who briefly held the Captain America mantle. Walker's team might become Ross's Avengers.

This leaves Wilson free to assemble his own independent team, aligning with Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom's arrival in 2026's Avengers: Doomsday. Brave New World sets Wilson on the path to Avengers leadership. Onah aimed to showcase Wilson's readiness.

Wilson's empathy is highlighted as his superpower. He's a man with a shield and wings, capable of fighting, but his understanding of allies and enemies allows him to effectively wield the shield's values. "That's what makes him a Captain America for this time," Onah says.

"Sam wouldn't lead the Avengers until he truly believed he was Captain America," adds Moore. "We showed his questioning, aiming to convince him and the audience of his worthiness. He is Captain America, ready to lead."

Wilson must act quickly. Only two films separate Brave New World from Avengers: Doomsday. He'll likely recruit in Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four: First Steps. While the path is shorter than the five films leading to 2012's The Avengers, Spider-Man, Thor, and Banner might await his call. The assembly of Avengers 2.0 begins here.