‘They’re Best When Led By A Captain America’

Somehow, it’s been five whole years since we last saw Marvel’s Avengers together on our screens. Sure, the introduction of Kamala Khan, Riri Williams, and Kate Bishop in Ms. Marvel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Hawkeye respectively has hinted at a possible Young Avengers team-up in the future, and the upcoming Thunderbolts* may be teeing up a Dark Avengers too, but Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have been away for a real long time now. With the imminent release of Captain America: Brave New World however heralding the debut proper of Anthony Mackie’s Sam WIlson as Cap, and Avengers: Doomsday looming on the horizon, it’s high-time the band got back together.

As far as producer Nate Moore is concerned, while Brave New World may be the fourth Captain America movie in the MCU, it’s very much only the beginning of a up-to-date era for Marvel’s star-spangled man. “There is certainly more story to be told for Captain America,” says Moore, speaking to Empire over Zoom for our world-exclusive Captain America issue cover story. Continuing, he teases that this film’s points of conflict — namely, Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus ‘Red Hulk’ Ross, Tim Blake Nelson’s Leader, and Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder — could well be just the tip of the iceberg for Mackie’s Cap. “Sam might find that, moving forward, he might be jumping out of the frying pan and into the proverbial fire.”

It stands to reason then that if things are set to get even hairier for the all-American supe, he’s going to need his team backing him up. Moore certainly agrees. “I think that Avengers teams are best when they are led by a Captain America,” says the producer. “And this movie gives us a little bit of space to talk about, ‘Where are the Avengers? What does it mean to have Avengers? And is Sam the right guy to lead them?’”

While Brave New World is set to dig into those philosophical questions about Cap and co though, Anthony Mackie is already thinking about the future — and, in particular, the mouthwatering prospect of reteaming with the Russo Brothers and Robert Downey Jr. (and, as we’ve just learned, Chris Evans) on the 2026 bound Avengers: Doomsday.  “I’m really looking forward to getting back on set with the Russos,” enthuses Mackie. “They understand this Marvel world in a very unique way. And just having him [Downey Jr] back adds so much. To see what he brings to the table is just a huge opportunity.” You heard Cap — Avengers… assemble!

Read our full Captain America: Brave New World cover story — featuring exclusive interviews with Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Julius Onah, Nate Moore, and more — in Empire‘s February 2025 issue, on sale Thursday 19 December. Pre-order a copy online here. Captain America: Brave New World smashes into UK cinemas on 14 February, 2024.