While Captain America: Brave New World may not be an Avengers movie, there'll be a similar style team-up in the film. Audiences have become aware that Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) will also have Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) at his side, but the new Cap has backup coming on his left, too.
In new promo art, Captain America is charging alongside his cadre of heroes. Falcon is flying above while two allies run on each side of Cap. On his right is Sabra—in what appears to be a superhero costume of her own—and on his left is Isaiah Bradley.
Official #CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld promo art (4/n) #CaptainAmerica #IsaiahBradley #Falcon #Sabra https://t.co/4XwCJQWvon pic.twitter.com/WvyjXzyBJW
— Kepler (@kepleravocado) January 1, 2025
The last character is the most intriguing since the trailers have shown Bradley (Carl Lumbly) attacking President "Thunderbolt" Ross (Harrison Ford) and then in an orange jumper during an interrogation. Seeing him beside Wilson and the others confirms he lends a hand in some form following the White House incident. The question is, how will he provide an assist?
Even though it's a reach, Bradley's comic counterpart may provide insight into what's happening between the Bronze Age Captain America and this generation's star-spangled hero.
In the comics, Isaiah Bradley infused his grandson, Eli, with his own blood after the young of the two was in a grievous accident. Doing so granted Eli the powers of a Super Soldier, albeit without the rejuvenating effects.
The comics pertain to Brave New World because Sam Wilson may receive the infamous blood transfusion instead of Eli. Promos for the movies have emphasized Wilson's inability to stand on equal footing with Super Soldiers, and then with Red Hulk in the picture, he doesn't stand any chance. But, a Super Soldier serum infusion would level the playing field.
There's little evidence to previous claims, although Wilson is a better candidate since he is Captain America and there's been no sign of Eli Bradley. The new Cap can handle himself with tact and intelligence in most fights, except Wilson needs to stand toe-to-toe with the heavies in his universe, and he can't do that as an ordinary human being. Plus, a partial blood transfusion wouldn't place him on the same level as Steve Rogers, but the boost would presumably be good enough so that when Red Hulk punches his shield, he doesn't die.
Key art for the movie has shown the pair directly clashing, so it would make sense that Wilson receives a power-up from somewhere. Otherwise, a single punch could be fatal. If Banner's Hulk can knock down a Hulkbuster armor with a single punch, the Red Hulk can kill a human with just one.
As for Sabra (Shira Haas), her cover as part of the Secret Service eventually falls to the side. She's also much different than her comic counterpart. For one, her superhero name alias will be dropped for the movie, presumably due to the controversies surrounding the real-world Middle East. And while Sabra 's traits will be changed for the movie; she's still suiting up.
Secondly, Haas' Secret Service-style uniform when she's providing a Presidential protective detail is only temporary. In the promo art, she's wearing a specialized type of body armor with signature accents on her torso, along with military fatigues for bottoms. It's unclear if she's brandishing mutant abilities like her comic counterpart; the lack of weapons, however, points to innate abilities such as super strength.
While not an official team, the lineup looks like Sam Wilson has assembled his very own SHIELD squad. Bradley is the muscle, Sabra is the expert spy, and Torres is the plucky up-and-comer trying to become a hero. One may ask where Bucky Barnes fits into the picture, but we'll have to wait until Thunderbolts' premieres in theaters to learn how Barnes went from Wilson's second in command to a lackey working for Director Fontaine.
Captain America: Brave New World premieres in theaters on February 14, 2025. The Thunderbolts' releases on May 2, 2025.