New "Captain America: Brave New World" Trailer Brings Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson Into Political Crossfire in High-Stakes MCU Return

Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson Faces Political Conflict and a New Government Conspiracy in Marvel’s Latest Chapter

The country needs Captain America, but does the U.S. president need Captain America, or does he simply need another Yes Man to do his bidding? That’s the tension felt in the new trailer for the upcoming MCU film Captain America: Brave New World, featuring Anthony Mackie returning as Sam Wilson.

Marvel Studios kicks off this year with the new Captain America movie, which sees Sam Wilson—formerly known as the Falcon and Steve Rogers’ loyal partner and friend—taking up the mantle of Captain America. It’s a position Sam initially didn’t want to embrace, as shown in the previously released MCU miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. But Sam realized that if he didn’t step up, someone unworthy of his friend Steve Rogers’ shield would. Now, the circle is complete, and Sam must confront the responsibilities that come with the title. To Sam, that doesn’t mean saying yes to everything thrown at him by the White House. And that's where the conflict in the film begins.

Hollywood screen legend Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, the former U.S. general who is now newly elected as President of the United States. This character was previously portrayed by William Hurt in earlier MCU films, who sadly passed away in 2022. Ford’s President Ross is depicted as a leader with a mission to transform his administration into a more superhero-friendly environment. However, these intentions come into conflict when the new Captain America, Sam Wilson, refuses to comply with some of the president's orders, leading to a growing rift with the White House. Sam is then forced to go rogue to investigate a new government conspiracy that urgently needs unraveling.

While there's been plenty of buzz from MCU fans about the first live-action appearance of the Red Hulk, a character from the comics and the super alter ego of Thunderbolt Ross, less attention has been given to how this film might signal the return of the MCU's box office dominance—or perhaps another warning sign that the MCU has lost its hit-making power. However, here's a promising sign: Captain America: Brave New World is projected to open with $86Mil-$95Mil over the Presidents' Day weekend. If the movie performs above expectations and exceeds these numbers, the MCU could be in for a very strong year. But if it falls short and underperforms, it could spell a very long year ahead for the superhero studio.

Directed by Julius Onah and written by Malcolm Spellman, the film features a supporting cast including Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Seth Rollins, Rosa Salazar, and Giancarlo Esposito, with Liv Tyler as biologist Betty Ross, who is Thaddeus's daughter, and Tim Blake Nelson as genius cellular biologist Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader.

Captain America: Brave New World is set to open in theaters on February 14th. You can get your tickets now.