Spider-Man’s Party Pooper: Why Amadeus Cho Should Have Been in Captain America: Brave New World

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Summary

  • Amadeus Cho is a standout character beloved for his cocky attitude and unique twist on the Hulk concept.
  • Cho’s omission from Brave New World is seen as a mistake after his impressive portrayal in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
  • Cho’s potential inclusion in the MCU, especially alongside other young heroes, could help expand and rejuvenate the franchise.

In episode 2 of “Spider-Man: A Neighbor in Your Community“, Peter Parker becomes part of a group of brilliant minds at Oscorp’s research facility. While many of these characters have roots in Marvel Comics, several are less familiar to regular viewers. Among them is Asha, a Wakandan teenager who was depicted as a powerful adult character that fought Thanos in certain 2013 comics. There’s also Jeanne Foucault, who once sought membership with the Avengers under the alias Finesse.

Among them, Amadeus Cho stands out as a charismatic boaster, setting him apart from the rest. He’s not just an obscure character recognized by a select few; he’s a beloved fan favorite who even headlined his own comic series. Known for his confident demeanor and fresh take on the Hulk, Cho is the kind of character that should grace the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, plans to introduce him in the MCU were scrapped during reshoots for Captain America: Brave New World, leaving Cho out of the final cut.

After viewing Cho in “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man”, it’s quite noticeable that the absence of this character, Cho, in “Brave New World” seems like an oversight.

Who Is Amadeus Cho?

Similar to numerous iconic comic book figures, Amadeus Cho made an unassuming entrance. He initially appeared in 2006’s Amazing Fantasy #15, a series designed to spotlight emerging heroes. In the story “Mastermind Excello,” penned by Greg Pak and beautifully illustrated by Takeshi Miyazawa, Cho was introduced as a young prodigy who triumphed in an international quiz competition, earning him the title of “6th Smartest Person on Earth.” Despite discovering that the contest was a deceitful scheme devised by a malevolent genius to eliminate all competitors, Cho retained his title. As he adopted the alias “Mastermind Excello” and dedicated himself to crime-fighting, he continued to hold onto this title.

Pak adored Cho to such an extent that he incorporated him into the story of The Incredible Hulk, transforming him into a scientist who studied under Banner and monitored the Hulk. As the narrative unfolded, Cho’s character became more significant when Hercules, the legendary Greek hero, emerged as the central figure, forging a powerful alliance with the explorer.

Over time, Cho transitioned into a true superhero by inventing nanites replicating the gamma rays responsible for Bruce Banner’s transformation, making him the Totally Awesome Hulk. This new identity granted him both extraordinary strength and intelligence, albeit with an increased level of annoyingness, solidifying his standing among Marvel’s top young heroes. Alongside peers like Ms. Marvel and Mile Morales, Cho became a member of the Challengers, a group poised to make their debut in the MCU. Rumors swirled that Logan Kim from Ghostbusters: Afterlife had been chosen to portray Cho, a role that could potentially lead to his inclusion in the Young Avengers.

Yet, when Captain America: Brave New World hit theaters, Cho was nowhere to be seen.

Why Wasn’t Amadeus Cho in Captain America: Brave New World?

Despite being successfully staged in theaters and garnering moderately favorable criticisms, Brave New World faced a convoluted journey to the big screen. Initially conceived as a straightforward action-thriller centered around the new Captain America Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), who fought against the mercenary group known as the Serpent Society, the film gradually expanded its scope and became intertwined with the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s broader narrative. Key characters like Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, a long-standing adversary, were introduced as the President, and even recognized the colossal Celestial carcass that had been protruding from the ocean since Eternals.

During both filming and preview testing, the movie underwent even more transformations. With Harrison Ford assuming the role of President Ross, spectators anticipated a larger screen presence for this renowned actor. Marvel spotted an opportunity to strengthen their key characters, the X-Men, and linked the Celestial hand to adamantium, the powerful fictional metal commonly tied to Wolverine. When initial viewers felt the action scenes fell short, Marvel reduced several character appearances and filmed fresh sequences featuring Giancarlo Esposito as the new villain, Sidewinder.

Due to numerous alterations, the movie adaptation of Brave New World expanded significantly, becoming difficult to manage effectively. Consequently, significant edits were necessary to ensure the film remained coherent and engaging. Unfortunately, this led to some captivating characters being eliminated from the final cut, such as Logan Kim’s portrayal of Cho. Reportedly, Daniel Ritchman, a source close to production, stated that Cho was initially set to appear in an early scene where Sam Wilson visits Stark Industries, where he works within a youthful scientists group. In subsequent scenes, Cho assists Sam in disabling the Red Hulk and transforming him back into Ross.

Why Should Amadeus Cho Be in the MCU?

It’s hard to deny that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has experienced a decline in recent releases, partly due to the audience’s lukewarm reception towards new characters like Shuri as Black Panther and any of the Eternals. Nevertheless, there are some characters who have proven their potential to resonate with broader audiences, notably Iman Vellani portraying Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan and Hailee Steinfeld playing Kate Bishop.

Marvel is planning to leverage the popularity of these characters by introducing new teenage superheroes and subtly hinting at the Young Avengers in the film The Marvels, where Kamala Khan recruits Kate Bishop. These younger cast members will cater to a broader audience compared to established actors like Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr., and they can dedicate more time to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, thus enabling further growth of the universe.

In the comic books, Cho doesn’t belong to the Young Avengers team, but instead spends his time with the Challengers. Interestingly, Kamala Khan, who was previously part of the Challengers, has recently joined the X-Men.

In a more significant aspect, it was evident that Spider-Man, Your Everyday Hero demonstrated an adaptable teamwork capability, regardless of the hero arrangement, largely due to his belief in his superiority over others. He manages to be both likable and annoying, stunning people with his scientific advancements and earning a well-deserved humble pie. He complemented Peter Parker’s self-effacing nature perfectly and could easily mesh with Kamala, Kate, or any of the other younger heroes.

If “Captain America: Brave New World” doesn’t introduce Amadeus Cho to the Marvel Cinatic Universe (MCU), then another film or series ought to feature him shortly.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’s first season is now streaming on Disney+.

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2025-02-22 19:35