Captain America: Brave New World Can Remind Everyone What Made the MCU Great

Captain America: Brave New World Can Remind Everyone What Made the MCU Great

Key Takeaways

  • Marvel should return to the grounded approach of its early films for quality storytelling.
  • Captain America: Brave New World aims to bring back the essence of the MCU’s success.
  • The film could surprise by reverting to a character-focused plot, revitalizing the franchise.

As a lifelong Marvel fan who has witnessed the rise and fall (and rise again) of this cinematic universe, I can wholeheartedly say that Captain America: Brave New World is exactly what the MCU needs right now. The grounded approach it seems to be taking harkens back to the glory days of Phase 1, when each film was a standalone adventure, focused on a single hero’s journey.


Initially, when the Marvel Cinematic Universe debuted in 2008, its films were more independent and didn’t strive for too much complexity. They had a clear narrative focus, unfolding one story at a time. This approach worked particularly well for the Captain America series, contributing to the high praise for Captain America: The Winter Soldier as one of the greatest comic book films ever made. It appears that Captain America: Brave New World will continue this trend.

The success of Marvel Studios’ initial two phases can be attributed to their unique strategy in storytelling. Contrary to popular belief, these phases were not primarily designed as a foundation for future films. Instead, they focused on standalone narratives that didn’t require the establishment of an overarching villain or a continuous plot across multiple movies. The upcoming film, Captain America: Brave New World, seems to be adopting this grounded approach, promising to remind viewers of what makes the Marvel Cinematic Universe so captivating.

Marvel Studios Needs to Go Back to Its Roots

Captain America: Brave New World Can Remind Everyone What Made the MCU Great

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) remains undeniably impressive and successful after more than a decade, yet it hasn’t been free of challenges. What made Marvel Studios shine initially was their willingness to take risks, such as introducing lesser-known characters like the Guardians of the Galaxy and even the original Avengers, transforming them into household names. They also managed to craft superbly structured superhero movies while maintaining a grounded feel. The early phases of the MCU weren’t flawless; films like “The Incredible Hulk” and “Iron Man” didn’t impress critics, but productions like “Iron Man” and “Captain America: The First Avenger” demonstrated the potential of the superhero genre by presenting grand stories in a more grounded live-action style. Instead of focusing on establishing villains such as Kang, who seems to be on hold, they concentrated on telling standalone hero stories. Occasionally, heroes required assistance, and other heroes were introduced, but these characters were essential to the narrative and not merely added for future purposes.

With each passing moment, as the universe expanded and Marvel Studios aimed to unite the Avengers on-screen for the initial time, the narratives grew larger and more complex. Subsequent films shifted towards team-ups and establishing future sequels by laying the groundwork for the overarching main antagonist. This approach proved effective leading up to “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame“, as these films served as a climax to all that preceded them. Regrettably, as Marvel Studios prepared to launch the Multiverse Saga, the studio appeared more focused on quantity instead of quality, and it seemed they had lost their way. No longer were the stories grounded in reality. The focus was no longer on the main character’s journey. Fortunately, “Captain America: Brave New World” appears poised to return to fundamentals and draw inspiration from classics like “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and all that came before it.

Captain America: Brave New World Could Surprise Everyone

In “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” which debuted on Disney+ in 2021, fans anticipated the story that would unfold after Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson was handed the Captain America shield by Steve Rogers at the end of Avengers: Endgame. However, the series failed to meet expectations, as it seemed to attempt too much within its limited timeframe. The production process was affected by COVID-19, leading to rewrites and reshoots. Consequently, a series that was intended to establish Wilson as Captain America became a somewhat disjointed production. The show featured characters like Zemo, Sharon Carter as the Power Broker, and a globe-trotting narrative. Despite some missteps, Marvel Studios announced that Mackie’s Wilson would continue his journey to becoming Captain America in a future film.

As a devoted fan, I must admit that initial doubts swirled around in my mind as the film underwent significant rewrites and reshoots. However, upon viewing the first trailer, it appears that Marvel Studios has rectified the issues, and is poised to deliver the grounded storyline the franchise has been lacking for quite some time. Given the challenges the studio faces in terms of transitioning from Kang to Doom, it seems they are striving to offer a captivating narrative at a moment when fans need it most.

Captain America: Brave New World will hit theaters on February 14th, 2025.

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2024-08-28 02:04