Marvel Studios has officially launched its latest blockbuster, but studio head Kevin Feige has shared a confirmation that could reshape the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s future.
Debuting on February 14, 2025, Captain America: Brave New World marks the fourth entry in the Captain America franchise and the 35th film in the ever-expanding MCU. This time, Anthony Mackie takes center stage as Sam Wilson, fully embracing the red, white, and blue mantle following the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Directed by Julius Onah, the film delves deep into themes of legacy and heroism in a world still reeling from global fallout.
Despite a turbulent production that saw casting controversies, boycott threats, and reshoots, Brave New World managed to secure a strong $198 million in its opening weekend—$100 million domestically and $98 million internationally. However, critical reception has been mixed. While audiences have responded favorably, giving it an 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes, critics have been less kind, with the film sitting at a disappointing 49% on the review aggregator. All eyes are now on its second-week box office performance to gauge whether it can maintain momentum.
Beyond box office numbers, Brave New World carries significant implications for the MCU’s overarching narrative. One of the film’s pivotal moments sees President Thaddeus Ross—played by Harrison Ford in his franchise debut—calling on Sam to rebuild the Avengers. The last time Earth's Mightiest Heroes were seen together was during their climactic battle against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame (2019), and while individual members have since appeared in various solo films, the team has yet to reunite.
Marvel Studios is gearing up for its next big ensemble film, Avengers: Doomsday, slated for release in 2026. The film—formerly titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty—will be helmed by the Russo Brothers, who previously directed both Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). They will also be taking the reins on Avengers: Secret Wars, set to arrive in 2027.
But why has the Avengers team remained absent for so long? Feige offered some clarity, stating that they are “not currently active.”
“In Captain America: Brave New World, Sam Wilson is Captain America, and he has made the decision to unabashedly become Captain America,” reads a Marvel Studios press release (via The Direct). “But what does it mean to be Captain America when you’re not a super soldier, which we definitively know Sam Wilson is not, and in a world where the Avengers are not currently active?”
Ross’ request for Sam to spearhead the Avengers' resurgence suggests that the wheels are now in motion for the team’s long-awaited return. In the movie, Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), who now wields the Falcon mantle, seemed particularly excited about the idea, further teasing that the group’s comeback may be inevitable.
Speculation has been rampant over the past few years regarding who might lead the Avengers in the absence of Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans). Reports suggest that figures like Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) could take on leadership roles, but producer Nate Moore has indicated that Captain America will remain central to the team.
“There's never been an Avengers movie where there's not a Captain America at the center of it,” Moore told The Movie Report.
Marvel’s larger strategy appears to involve assembling multiple teams. In addition to the main Avengers lineup, a Young Avengers initiative has been heavily hinted at, with Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) seemingly recruiting Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) in one of the final scenes of The Marvels (2023).
Before any of that, however, the MCU will close out Phase Five with Thunderbolts*. The film, which unites a ragtag group of antiheroes including Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) and Yelena Belova/Black Widow (Florence Pugh), carries an air of mystery. The asterisk in its title was added late in production, with Feige hinting that its significance will only become clear post-release. Current speculation points to the Thunderbolts* potentially evolving into either the New Avengers or the Dark Avengers.
Following Thunderbolts*, Marvel Studios will kick off Phase Six with The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), introducing Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/Thing, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch.
While there are many release slots lined up through 2028, the slate is not yet full. Following Avengers: Doomsday, but before Secret Wars, Tom Holland (Peter Parker/Tom Holland) will return in the currently untitled Spider-Man 4. After a development period that was hit by the Writers Guild of America strikes, the Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios collaboration movie was confirmed in late 2024, with filming to begin this year.
With so many moving pieces, how will Marvel successfully reassemble the Avengers? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
