Captain America: Brave New World – Who Is Sidewinder?

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Captain America: Brave New World - Who Is Sidewinder?

Highlights

  • Giancarlo Esposito is set to play Sidewinder in Captain America: Brave New World.
  • Esposito’s character has the power to travel through dimensions and teleport using a special cloak.
  • Marvel Studios likely reinterpreted the character for the film to fit the narrative of the movie.

As a lifelong Marvel fan and a seasoned gamer, I can hardly contain my excitement about Giancarlo Esposito joining the cast of Captain America: Brave New World as Sidewinder! After years of patiently waiting for the perfect role to drop into his lap (much like how Sidewinder teleports), this is the dream come true we’ve all been hoping for.

Following numerous years of advocating for a part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Giancarlo Esposito astonished fans when it turned out that he had become part of the cast for Marvel Studios’ “Captain America: Brave New World.” The actor initially disclosed his casting during a gathering at a convention, and snapshots from the set swiftly validated the actor’s participation in the project. Nevertheless, at the time, it remained unclear which character he would portray in the movie.

For several weeks, numerous theories circulated. Yet, even with all the speculation, Esposito pointed out that fans hadn’t correctly guessed his character’s part. It wasn’t until Marvel Studios appeared on the Hall H stage at San Diego Comic-Con in July that Esposito disclosed he would portray Sidewinder in “Captain America: Brave New World.” Now that we have this information, let’s delve into who Sidewinder is in Marvel Comics and what fans might anticipate when the film hits theaters next year.

Who Exactly is Sidewinder in the Comics?

Captain America: Brave New World - Who Is Sidewinder?

Seth Voelker, known as Sidewinder, initially appeared in Marvel Comics within issue #64 of Marvel Two-in-One. This character was brought to life by creators Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, and artist George Pérez. Prior to his current role, Voelker was an economics professor at a university, but he was terminated from this position and subsequently joined Roxxon Oil Company, a corporation that has been hinted at in various Marvel Cinematic Universe productions, such as the initial Iron Man and even Daredevil. Sidewinder performed illicit activities for Roxxon and adopted the alias Sidewinder due to the powers he gained from a unique cloak. This cloak enabled him to traverse dimensions and teleport. Following his adoption of the Sidewinder identity, the president of Roxxon assisted in assembling the Serpent Squad, a group that Sidewinder would lead. The squad comprised Sidewinder, Anaconda, Death Adder, and Black Mamba. Later on, they became part of the Serpent Society alongside numerous other snake-themed villains.

The expertise of Sidewinder on economic matters greatly aided the wicked group, making them one of the most powerful organizations in their domain. However, when Viper joined the Serpent Society, Sidewinder opted to depart, leading to internal conflicts among team members. This ultimately resulted in Sidewinder passing control of the team to Viper and eventually leaving his criminal lifestyle with the Serpent Society. In Marvel Comics, there have been two more individuals who took on the role of Sidewinder. The second was terminated following his unsuccessful attempt to infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D. in 1998. As for the current Sidewinder within the comics, it’s Gregory Bryan, who possesses powers similar to the original Sidewinder, which he acquired through the Brand Corporation.

What Can Fans Expect in Brave New World?

In general, Marvel Studios’ adaptations of characters from their comic books, such as Sidewinder, often differ significantly from their original counterparts. For instance, the live-action version of Sidewinder in Captain America: Brave New World, portrayed by Espositio, doesn’t wear a cloak like the comics’ villain but is instead seen with a brown trenchcoat. It appears that Marvel Studios might be taking a unique approach to portray this character and his powers, possibly combining elements from different iterations of Sidewinder in the comics. However, it remains unclear which specific version of Sidewinder Espositio will play, as Marvel Studios hasn’t specified yet. Given Marvel Studios’ history of reinterpreting characters for their movies, it seems likely that they are crafting a unique take on Sidewinder for Captain America: Brave New World. That being said, some villains who help tell an overarching story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe may remain true to their comic book counterparts, but smaller-scale bad guys are typically reinvented to fit the narrative needs of each movie.

As a devoted fan, I must admit that the Serpent Society might be unfamiliar territory for many casual Marvel Comics readers. Given their history as adversaries to Captain America, it’s intriguing to ponder how they could fit into the world of Brave New World, a film that seems to borrow elements from Captain America: The Winter Soldier in terms of narrative and aesthetics.

Captain America: Brave New World debuts in theaters on February 15th, 2025.

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2024-08-04 21:06