The upcoming Marvel movie, “Captain America: Brave New World,” marks the start of a promising lineup of Marvel blockbusters for the year. Previously, a new Marvel Studios film was a surefire box office success, but those days seem distant now. The MCU has acquired some tarnish; however, movies like “Deadpool” and “Wolverine” have given Marvel a glimmer of hope that a billion-dollar box office can still be achieved. Yet, “Deadpool” was more of an exceptional event film. Whether audiences are still interested in the larger, interconnected storyline of the MCU will only become clear with the release of “Captain America: Brave New World.” As its premiere date draws near, the film is facing a formidable array of challenges that it must conquer.
The MCU’s Comeback Kid
Brave New World” will serve as a significant indicator of Marvel Cinamic Universe’s (MCU) current popularity, as there hasn’t been a major release featuring primary characters since 2023. Films like “The Marvels”, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”, and “Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3” left fans feeling disheartened after the end of “Endgame”. The MCU is currently at a low point, as these movies didn’t seem to meet fan expectations like previous franchises did.
2025 marks an important phase for Marvel Studios as “Brave New World” prepares to lead a series of decisive movies, with “Thunderbolts*” and “Fantastic Four: First Steps” scheduled for release in the summer and fall respectively. These films signify a significant juncture for Marvel Studios; over the past year, they’ve been actively promoting that the studio is back on course following the return of Disney CEO Bob Iger. The upcoming 2025 Marvel film lineup will serve as proof of whether this claim holds true. “Brave New World” will gauge the viability of established MCU properties and characters, “Fantastic Four” will determine if new franchises can still be launched, and “Thunderbolts*” will straddle both categories. However, being the first to set sail on those turbulent waters is undeniably a risk for “Captain America” 4.
Box Office vs. Budget
Regarding potential risks for Captain America: Brave New World, it’s not only a significant challenge from a brand aspect but also financially, as the box office risks are substantial. Comparably, Captain America: The Winter Soldier had an estimated budget between $170-180 million and grossed approximately $714.4 million globally. Given that Brave New World has a reported budget over $180M (and potentially more due to reshoots), the expectation for impressive box office earnings is high.
Instead of dwelling on the numbers in the budget, it’s more important to delve into the story behind the budget and potential reshoots for “Brave New World,” filmed earlier this year. Although unconfirmed, there were whispers that Marvel Studios undertook reshoots due to disappointing initial test screenings. It’s well-known among Marvel enthusiasts that reshoots on these massive MCU films can lead to significant changes, sometimes causing the final product to lack unity and quality. Fingers crossed that the reshoots for “Captain America 4” were indeed aimed at improvement.
The Ghost of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans)
Let’s dive a bit deeper into this topic, although it’s an interesting one: The upcoming film “Captain America: Brave New World” might turn into a battle of popularity between two actors, Anthony Mackie and Chris Evans. It’s worth noting that Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers initially struggled to reach the billion-dollar box office milestone, only after overcoming the controversial debut of “Captain America: The First Avenger” and the gradual success of the series following “The Winter Soldier“. However, by the start of Phase III in the MCU, Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers/Captain America had firmly established himself as a bankable star and a key figure in the franchise.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Anthony Mackie’s character Sam Wilson, also known as Falcon, has been around since the iconic “On your left!” scene in The Winter Soldier, but he hasn’t quite reached the status of a leading franchise figure. Despite appearing in multiple MCU movies, a TV series, and even lending his voice for an animated role, Mackie’s character has yet to lead a film on its own. From a commercial perspective, it remains uncertain if a movie solely starring Anthony Mackie would draw a significant audience, primarily due to his individual name recognition. Interestingly, Marvel Studios has chosen to release the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World in February, which is Black History Month. This decision seems to indicate that they are aiming for the African-American Captain America to become a cultural sensation, much like what happened with Black Panther at the box office in 2018.
It’s only natural that comparisons will arise when discussing Chris Evans and Anthony Mackie as Captain America. Mackie finds himself in a tough spot, needing to win over an enthusiastic worldwide fanbase with his portrayal of the character.
Cultural Lightning Rod
Approximately four weeks before its launch (as I write this), “Captain America: Brave New World” has become a significant topic of debate and dispute, sparking cultural debates.
Trailers hinting at characters such as a dark Captain America or a president transforming into a “Red” Hulk antagonist have been more than enough for internet trolls and those seeking political advantage to capitalize on. The upcoming film, Brave New World, is being used as a symbol of the most divisive cultural issues of the past year (diversity, equity, inclusion, wokeness, government corruption, misuse of power – debates about the country’s history and identity). There’s a growing chorus of individuals aiming to boycott the film as a form of political protest or an attempt to gain social media attention by inflaming both political and Marvel-related discussions. This trend, unfortunately, seems to be a persistent aspect of marketing and public relations for major franchise films like Marvel, DC, and Star Wars.
Anthony Mackie is swiftly realizing that this upcoming film might have quite a challenge ahead, as casual remarks he made at a Brave New World press event are now trending virally and causing a stir in the political media. With people who aren’t familiar with Marvel characters like Doctor Strange or Doctor Doom expressing their opinions about Captain America: Brave New World, this film is not just another movie release; it appears to be becoming a significant early indicator (and possibly a target) of the new social and political climate taking shape.
Will “Captain America: Brave New World” manage to triumph over these hurdles, signal a fresh chapter in Anthony Mackie’s acting journey, and mark a comeback for Marvel Studios? Indeed, it could do so, but it will need to put up quite a struggle to reach that point. The movie is slated for release in theaters on February 14th.
NEXT: Every MCU character confirmed for Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World has a release date of February 14th.
Read More
- EigenLayer restaking protocol’s slashing testnet now live
- 3 Spider-Man Villains That Should Appear in the Next PlayStation Game
- FIL PREDICTION. FIL cryptocurrency
- Marvel Rivals Season 1 is bringing the Fantastic Four — here’s the Invisible Woman in action
- POL PREDICTION. POL cryptocurrency
- EastEnders airs huge Cindy Beale update in early iPlayer edition
- Whales and retail traders keep Arbitrum from falling — Here’s how
- Will GOAT’s latest 31% hike finally push it above $1 on the charts?
- Grantchester season 9 cast: Meet the characters in ITV drama
- Looks Like DOOM 64 Is Getting a Native PS5 Port
2025-01-30 01:41