MCU Wastes Giancarlo Esposito in Captain America: Brave New World

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Summary

  • Phase 5 of the MCU ends with Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts, setting up characters for the future.
  • Giancarlo Esposito joins the MCU as Sidewinder in Brave New World, disappointing some fans expecting a bigger role.
  • Sidewinder’s introduction in Brave New World hints at future plans for the character, possibly involving a series or other MCU projects.

Brave New World” and “Thunderbolts.” Fans are enjoying these more realistic stories before diving into the multiverse chaos of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and the upcoming “Avengers” films. While there’s uncertainty about what lies ahead in Phase 6 and beyond, “Captain America: Brave New World” introduces key characters that will shape the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Besides rumors that Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson will spearhead the Avengers in “Doomsday” and/or “Secret Wars,” the actor himself has expressed his intention to continue portraying Captain America for the next ten years. The upcoming series, “Brave New World,” presents Shira Haas as Ruth Bat-Seraph, transforms Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns into the Leader 17 years after “The Incredible Hulk,” and lastly grants fans their long-desired appearance of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross as the Red Hulk. Simultaneously, it manages to welcome Giancarlo Esposito into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Giancarlo Esposito Is A High-Profile MCU Casting

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has consistently attracted top-tier talent, boasting stars like Angelina Jolie, Russell Crowe, and Cate Blanchett – all of whom have won Oscars. More recently, we’ve seen Aubrey Plaza in Agatha All Along, Harrison Ford as the recast Thunderbolt Ross in Brave New World. Other big names include Keanu Reeves, Jenna Ortega, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson who are all speculated to join soon. Fans were excited when Esposito confirmed his MCU involvement in May 2024, but some felt let down by his casting in Brave New World.

After it was announced that Esposito joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), there was a surge of speculation among fans as to who he might portray. Following Jonathan Majors’ departure as Kang the Conqueror, many believed that Esposito, with his villainous roles in ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘The Mandalorian’, could be a suitable candidate for the franchise’s next major antagonist. Some even proposed him as the ideal Doctor Doom before Robert Downey Jr., but he eventually donned the suit to play Seth Voelker/Sidewinder in ‘Brave New World’ instead.

Discussing the buzz, one intriguing concept was casting Giancarlo Esposito as Professor Charles Xavier in the forthcoming X-Men reboot. This switch from his usual roles as villains could have opened up a prolonged stint for Esposito within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, some critics voiced concerns about a character race swap with Xavier, yet proponents cited Samuel L. Jackson’s successful portrayal of Nick Fury as a rebuttal. Examples like Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Baron Mordo, Zendaya’s MJ, and Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie demonstrate that this change need not be problematic. Nonetheless, it appears that Esposito is set to play Sidewinder instead.

The Future of Sidewinder

In the gritty narrative of “Brave New World,” Giancarlo Esposito’s character, Sidewinder (formerly a lesser-known villain linked to the Serpent Society), is depicted as a reptilian adversary transformed in a chemical mishap with teleportation powers. The series deviates from the typical origin story and presents Sidewinder as a hired mercenary tasked to eliminate Mackie’s Captain America. After a brief skirmish with Captain America, Sidewinder is subdued and later strikes a deal for information on the Leader in exchange for leniency. The series hints at Sidewinder’s future plans of escaping prison, potentially setting up a chance for retribution against Captain America further down the line. It’s noteworthy that Sidewinder and Esposito were added to the script during the reshoots, as they were initially absent from the movie’s original draft.

Although some viewers may have felt that Sidewinder seemed out of place in Brave New World, it’s worth noting that actor Eddie Esposito has revealed plans for the character to appear later on. In an interview with Collider before he was cast as Sidewinder, Esposito discussed his role.

Marvel Cinematic Universe has come calling with an unexpected role for me. Initially, it’ll be hinted at subtly, followed by a series that unfolds later on.

Given the ongoing changes within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the apparent cancellation of “Armor Wars”, it’s plausible that the plans have shifted. It remains uncertain if Esposito will reappear for a solo “Sidewinder” series or show up in another MCU project. He could potentially make an appearance in shows like the upcoming “Daredevil: Born Again” or “Ironheart”, given his mercenary background and membership in the Serpent Society. However, due to his recent debut and limited role, it’s unlikely he’ll be part of projects like “Doomsday” or “Secret Wars”.

There’s a chance that the Serpent Society could pose a more significant danger to Captain America and U.S. authorities following the events in “Brave New World,” as Seth Rollins’ character, who many believe was King Cobra, and Rosa Salazar’s Diamondback were both written out of the story. The inclusion of Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson’s Copperhead in the final cut of the movie suggests that the team may still be active. However, turning this concept into a full-fledged “Serpent Society” TV series might be pushing it a bit too far.

Another issue is that Sidewinder isn’t well-known as one of Captain America’s main antagonists. In a potential standalone film, fans might prefer characters like Sin or Vermin for Captain America 5. Meanwhile, some feel that even with the controversial Power Broker twist in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the Marvel Cinematic Universe still has an opportunity to rehabilitate Emily VanCamp’s Sharon Carter.

Given that Pedro Pascal has demonstrated versatility in playing both heroes and villains, such as in shows like “The Boys” and “Abigail,” it seems reasonable to expect that he might have been considered for more complex roles within the MCU. However, the choice to cast him as a relatively underdeveloped character like Sidewinder leaves fans puzzled, as Pascal’s talent suggests a more villainous role could have been more fitting. With rumors of an impending MCU reset due to the introduction of the X-Men following “Secret Wars,” it’s likely that mutant characters will dominate the screen. There are numerous malevolent mutants that Pascal could have portrayed, especially with Charles Xavier and his young students being a part of the narrative. Tying him to the character of Sidewinder feels like a missed opportunity given the potential for more sinister roles.

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2025-02-20 20:26