Captain America: A Brave New World of Uncertainty

Captain American: Brave New World's inclusion of various races serving as main characters in a Marvel movie was just as refreshing as 2021 Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.  However, what seems to be problematic is Mackie’s appeal to audiences in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

What happens when someone is rewarded the challenge of playing an iconic role, not because the previous actor who played that role died or his character was killed off, but because the character is transcended to something new?  Can the dedicated fans (or fanatics) adjust, or is it so embedded in their minds that they cannot see someone else in that role or like that character they cherished for so long?  Is it a feeling of guilt because fans feel they are cheating on their hero, or will they not even consider anyone else in that role because it is not what they expected or have grown accustomed to?  Anthony Mackie may be experiencing this when brandishing the shield once worn by Chris Evans in Captain America: Brave New World. 

Sam Wilson (Mackie), America’s new captain, finds himself in the center of an international incident involving President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford), super soldiers, and an old nemesis from the past.  Although the world seems to embrace him as the new Captain America, does he have what it takes to overcome the forces against him without the super serum, but Batman-like gadgets made with the rare metal from Wakanda, Vibranium?

Becoming Captain America is very different from being Captain America, at least from the viewpoint of fans’ acceptance.  In the Disney Plus six-part series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, viewers were thrilled about the possibilities of the Marvel series.  The series is filled with intrigue and action and the captivation of Avengers movies of the past.  But something seemed to happen when Mackie finally donned the cowl, the shield, and the wings.  The suit looks fantastic, appearing in white and dark navy, but the man in the suit seems to have a barrier he must break through to win over dedicated fans.

Admittedly, it takes some adjusting to watch Mackie in his new but deserved role as Captain America.  But as Thunder bolt Ross so adamantly states, “You are no Steve Rogers.”  This is undoubtedly true, but this character's arc is very different from the super soldier we hold dear and near to our MCU 's hearts.  This character is like Bruce Wayne, who has to defeat his enemies and win over the audience with his wit, bravery, and determination.  Weapons built with Vibranium do not hurt either.

Harrison Ford, seasoned he may be, still has “acting chops.”  Ford has the innate ability to make any role believable.  He is not disappointing in his role as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, a character brought to life by William Hurt in The Incredible Hulk 17 years earlier. With the vigor that he so passionately displayed in his Indiana Jones movies, full of “piss and vinegar” and the grumpiness of an old Han Solo, Ford embraces the meaning of his nickname “Thunderbolt” as a worthy adversary to Captain America both as himself and as his alter ego.

The action was marvelous and plentiful, but the anticipation of the Red Hulk was disappointing.  Far from his comic book legend, The Red Hulk‘s intensely hot energy is lukewarm. Although his destruction is Hulk-like, viewers may shake their heads in disappointment in comparison to a poor version of the green giant.  The unsatisfying storyline is not as intriguing as other Marvel movies, and the characters and plot development were sometimes flat, which did not help either.

Captain American: Brave New World's inclusion of various races serving as main characters in a Marvel movie was just as refreshing as 2021 Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.  However, what seems to be problematic is Mackie’s appeal to audiences in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  His stepping-in Chris Evans' shoes look a little big right now, but the more he walks in them, the better the fit.  In other words, in Marvel films to come, the sanctity with the shield among fans will include a character whose only super serum is the patriotic blood that runs through his veins and a man who was once a supporting character now among the many memorable lead characters that graced the MCU screen.