#INTERVIEW: “CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD”

By Mr. Will Wong

We’ve gotten a little breather from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but big things are expected of Marvel’s CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, the first big movie event of 2025. In this installment, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) offiically takes the torch as Captain America, finding himself at the center of an international incident. This truly is a story of the people’s hero. You might recall that Wilson was introduced first as a counsellor, a veteran and this film will see how being a regular person with good intentions informs him in his new title.

We are thrilled to join the Film’s Global Press Conference. Gracing us today at the panel were:
Anthony Mackie – Sam Wilson / Captain America
Danny Ramirez – Joaquin Torres / Falcon
Harrison Ford – Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross / Red Hulk
Shira Haas – Ruth Bat-Seraph / Sabra
Giancarlo Esposito – Sidewinder
Xosha Roquemore – Leila Taylor
Tim Blake Nelson – Samuel Sterns / The Leader
Julius Onah – Director
Nate Moore – Producer
Kevin Feige – President and Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Studios

Anthony Mackie is asked about stepping into a leading role in the MCU for the first time here in CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, taking the torch from Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, reprising his longtime role as Sam Wilson.

Mackie: “The biggest thing for me was the first day on set. All these people I’ve known for a decade, and everyone just came up and said ‘congratulations’. Bob Moore who was my Dresser in The Winter Solider, Russell Bobbitt in Props… this was a family thing where we see character grow into fruition and get his moment to shine. I’m glad I was able to do it with friends and a host of stars I started with.”

Marvel‘s President and COO Kevin Feige comments on what the audience can expect in this upcoming release.

Feige: “This is all about Sam Wilson. We saw him last in Avengers: Endgame and we saw Steve Rogers pass the torch on and we wanted to continue that story. We’re always about bringing new characters to the MCU and with this amazing Cast you see before you, we did just that.”

Julius Onah who is known for films like Luce and The Cloverfield Paradox, steps-up to the big challenge here of directing a big Blockbuster. He speaks about this great opportunity.

Onah: “This means the world to me. Captain America always has been at heart of the MCU, and this story is very exciting, intense and emotional. I was very excited at the theme and that everyone at Marvel and this Cast lead into this with a notion of empathy. When you get to tell a story with that great a character theme and getting to direct a Cast like this, it’s amazing.”

Screen legend Harrison Ford also enters the MCU here as Red Hulk/Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross, taking the reins from the late William Hurt. He himself is a big fan of the MCU and talks to wanting to join it.

Ford: “I hope Red Hulk can come back in a story where he can develop into something other than Red Hulk. I think we have capacity to shapeshift between ‘Hulkness‘ and humanity, but that’s not my department! I am so happy with the opportunity to play in this playground. What an amazing group of people and an imagintative reality. I’m looking forward to having piece of the action.”

“I get to build upon what Bill [William] Hurt provided to the character and that world that Thunderbolt Ross has been a part of. I’ve watched Marvel movies and seen Actors I really liked and had a great time, I thought, ‘Hey, I want me some of that!'”

He comments on what he hopes the audience might take away from CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, knowing well what audiences want to see in a big Blockbuster.

Ford: “It’s important the Film be something expertiential and it is important that the audience doesn’t know where it is taking them.”

Danny Ramirez joins the MCU here as Joaquin Torres/Falcon and talks about the great honour of being entrusted with taking over what his Co-Star Mackie has paved for him.

Ramirez: “It’s an honour to be entrusted to take over any mantle, especially one that Anthony Mackie has established. Just hearing stories of the letters he wrote Kevin [Feige] to bring him into universe. Getting the opportunity to walk into something established, which paralleled also much of my life, and getting to work with my heroes on-set, made being Joaquin so easy.”

Veteran actor Tim Blake Nelson gives a bit of detail about his role in this Film and why he only could’ve tackled it at this stage in his career.

Nelson: “I play Samuel Stern, in this version which isn’t the version I expected to play. I got to get better as an Actor thanks to Kevin [Feige], Nate [Moore] and Julius [Onah] and the Writers. They wrote a beautifully nuanced character that was a wonderful challenge to play, and not one I could’ve played 15 years ago because I don’t think I was the Actor that I am now. What we want to do as Actors is continue to grow. I needed this maturirty to play what they wrote. I’m incredibly grateful and had a great time with this phenomenal Cast.”

“Anthony has such a depth and soul as an Actor, but this applies to everyone on-screen. It’s great to be part of something great.”

Shira Haas has established herself as a name to watch after winning lots of acclaim in the series UNORTHODOX back in 2020. She talks about what her role here as Ruth Bat-Seraph/Sabra means for her.

Haas: “It was fun. It was really long, months of training, but thankfully, I love working-out and sports. But it was something else on a whole new level and a pleasure. Also starting to get into character and the MCU world is something very different for me and things I’ve done before. It is a gift for an Actor to do something different and to be a part of MCU world and this Film.”

Giancarlo Esposito also adds to this very stacked Cast in CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, playing Sidewinder. He talks about what it is that appeals to him about the MCU, and particularly this project.

Esposito: “I feel honoured to join the MCU and to join a franchise with depth of intregrity. They are making films that mean something and also entertaining. But to me, the depth is in the relationships that create empathy, trust and suspicion. These elements are tantalizing to me. I’ve wanted to work with this group for a long time. What tickled me most is bringing a new character into this world.”

“I have a great depth of respect for Anthony [Mackie] as Captain America. He has charisma, leadership and morality. You can’t lead unless you can follow. Sam Wilson has been the guy in-line, watching behind the scenes and sees what the world become what it is. He chooses to be on the side of good. These elements are a part of my life and my growth.”

“There’s a depth of respect and playfulness. I identify with someone that I recognize and maybe something I could be. This is what makes great movies. The audience is gonna see this and relate on a level that helps them connect with families and other human beings.”

“This team is so mindful and that mindfulness shows the bigger picture of what this story is saying. This is enterainment, it’s gotta be fun and all these things play into elements that make me so proud to be a part of this project.”.

Marvel Studios Canada release CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD in theatres February 14, 2025.