Captain America: Brave New World Missed Huge MCU Show Connections

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The film “Captain America: A Fresh Era” has garnered a mix of opinions from both fans and critics. Some have criticized it for being overloaded with Easter eggs, failing to make a strong political statement, and not advancing the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a franchise in a substantial way. Additionally, there’s been criticism about how, like many recent MCU films, Marvel Studios hasn’t made a concerted effort to link it with their Disney Plus TV series (as well as the Netflix shows previously available on Disney Plus). This disconnection between movies and shows is becoming noticeable while watching the MCU films, which is unfortunate because “Captain America: A Fresh Era” had ample chances to bridge this gap.

The movie is doing fairly well financially on a global scale, surpassing its $180 million budget and projected to make approximately $500 million before it leaves theaters. However, this level of success doesn’t meet expectations for a film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). By incorporating more connections to the broader MCU, particularly the critically praised TV series that were previously mentioned, it could have garnered even greater critical and commercial success. Let’s discuss some potential ways Captain America: Brave New World could and should have been more closely tied to the MCU’s Disney Plus shows.

In a creative twist, any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) TV shows could theoretically be linked to “Captain America: Brave New World,” yet it’s essential to avoid forced connections that don’t feel organic. For instance, having Agatha Harkness from “Agatha All Along” suddenly appear to give Thaddeus Ross advice wouldn’t work, as it would seem too contrived and clash with the film’s realistic tone. However, there are numerous subtle ways in which connections to other shows could plausibly be established.

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law

Samuel Sterns and Thaddeus Ross directly linked Captain America: Brave New World to a She-Hulk: Attorney at Law character.

In a recent turn of events, the character portrayed by Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky, also known as the Abomination, has resurfaced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This reappearance was showcased in 2021’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and more notably in the 2022 Disney Plus series “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.” Noteworthy is that prior to these appearances, Roth’s character was last seen in 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk,” which also marked the debut of Thaddeus Ross, then played by William Hurt, and the first appearance of Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns in the MCU.

In Captain America: Brave New World, Sterns and Ross appeared together, creating an ideal moment to touch upon Blonsky’s present situation (which saw him transforming into a decent individual, in contrast to Sterns). While the film subtly alluded to his past, including scenes of his battle with the Hulk in Harlem from the 2008 movie in a news broadcast, if Ross had said something like, “You turned Emil Blonsky into a beast, but he managed to change for the better – perhaps you can do the same,” it would have effortlessly connected the movie to the character of She-Hulk.

Hawkeye, Daredevil, and Echo

If the Serpent Society had ties to Kingpin (or were replaced by a different criminal group), they could have linked the movie to several shows.

Vincent D’Onofrio’s character, Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, has featured in three Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series: Daredevil, Hawkeye, and Echo. He will also appear in Daredevil: Born Again. However, he hasn’t been mentioned in any MCU film yet. There are whispers that he might be part of an upcoming Spider-Man movie, but it’s only speculation. Captain America: Brave New World could have been a great chance to make this significant antagonist more relevant and connect the movies and TV shows better, but that opportunity seems to have passed.

Using the Serpent Society as secret agents for Kingpin, or even replacing them with the Tracksuit Mafia or the Hand, could’ve tied the movie to the TV series where he and they have been featured. However, a little-known group was chosen instead, which may limit their future appearances and potentially underutilizes the incredibly talented Giancarlo Esposito.

Loki And WandaVision

Some simple cameos would have made the movie more interlinked with these two brilliant shows.

Similar to the series Agatha All Along, the tone of Captain America: Brave New World was much less fantastical compared to Loki and WandaVision. Consequently, direct connections between them were seldom expected. Nevertheless, there were potential ways to subtly connect them or make it more noticeable that they belong to the same universe.

In essence, it’s true that Samuel Sterns hinted at the idea of other realms in the film’s end scene, linking it to series like Loki on Disney+. A brief appearance from an agent of S.W.O.R.D. or the Time Variance Authority, who could have been intrigued by Celestial Island or Samuel Sterns themselves, would have made a seamless transition between the movie and these two shows.

Ms. Marvel

Kamala Khan is on a recruiting mission in the MCU, and one Captain America: Brave New World character could have been on her radar.

Without a doubt, there’s been a movie this year – “The Marvels” from 2023 – that links Ms. Marvel to the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, Kamala Khan hasn’t yet established connections with the more realistic characters within the MCU. Regrettably, “Captain America: Brave New World” didn’t materialize, but it would have been an excellent chance to address this while tying in with her self-titled series.

At the peak of The Marvels, Khan embarked on a journey to assemble a group of youthful superheroes, first recruiting Hailee Steinfeld’s character Kate Bishop from an MCU film that seamlessly linked with a Disney Plus series. She could have also started with Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres, who goes by Falcon in the comics and was part of a young superhero team called the Champions, providing a basis for such an alliance in the original comic books. Regrettably, Eli Bradley, another notable character, seemed to be absent from this endeavor.

The Falcon And The Winter Soldier

While there were obviously links between Captain America: Brave New World and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to their shared cast members, the fallout from the series’ events could have been more explicitly referenced.

Since Sam Wilson (Falcon) and Joaquin Torres were the primary characters in “Captain America: Brave New World,” and Bucky Barnes made a brief appearance as well, it’s clear that this movie shared connections with “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” Yet, there could have been even more references or ties to enhance these links.

Brave New World”, it would have made the connection between that series and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” clearer. It seems unlikely that Sam Wilson wouldn’t bring up the Flag Smashers when talking to characters like Torres, Barnes, or Ross. Mentioning Sharon Carter’s fate as the Power Broker could have also been a way to tie the stories together.

In “Captain America: Brave New World,” there were numerous alternative methods to incorporate references from other MCU shows. For instance, considering Japan’s role in the film, subtly infusing Japanese mythology or folklore elements could have enriched the existing themes of mythology and folklore depicted in series like “Moon Knight” (Egyptian), “Loki” (Norse), “Ms. Marvel” (Islamic and South Asian), “Daredevil” (Christian), “Iron Fist” (East Asian), and “The Defenders” (Japanese). It’s a pity that the film didn’t delve deeper into making it feel more connected to those shows, giving the impression of being part of the same universe.

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2025-02-24 19:35