15 Things You Missed In Captain America Brave New World
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
WRITTEN BY: Nick Spake
Dive deep into the hidden details, Easter eggs, and subtle references in "Captain America: Brave New World"! From character origins to unexpected connections, we're breaking down the most intriguing moments you might have overlooked in this epic Marvel adventure. Our exploration includes surprising callbacks to previous MCU films, the return of long-lost characters, and hints at future Marvel storylines that will leave fans buzzing with excitement! Did you catch any of these things in the movie? If you haven't seen it, do you plan to see it in the theater?
Things You Missed in Captain America: Brave New World
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at references, small details, and other stray observations you might’ve overlooked in “Captain America: Brave New World.” Naturally, there will be spoilers.
When Sam Wilson meets with the recently elected President Ross, he points out the former general’s new look. Ross shaved his signature mustache to secure his victory, although this isn’t the only thing that’s different. William Hurt originated the MCU’s incarnation of “Thunderbolt” Ross in 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk,” going on to play important roles in “Captain America: Civil War” and “Black Widow.” Although Hurt was eager to see his character become Red Hulk, his death in 2022 prompted Marvel to recast with Harrison Ford inheriting the role. While the mustache line serves as a cheeky in-joke, it’s also an appropriate political move seeing how every sitting U.S. president has adopted a clean shave since 1913, excluding Harry Truman during a brief vacation in 1948.
Those who slept on “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” likely won’t recognize a few characters who play key parts here. With Sam stepping up as Cap, the Falcon mantle has been passed on to Joaquin Torres. A fellow Air Force veteran who provides backup against the Flag Smashers, Torres earns his wings by the miniseries’ penultimate episode. Torres is poised to help Sam rebuild the Avengers, which may allow him to finally meet Ant-Man. “Brave New World” also brings back Isaiah Bradley, another super-solider wrongfully imprisoned for three decades. Bucky, meanwhile, is doing better since starting therapy. In fact, he’s a future congressman, which will tie into the events of “Thunderbolts*” according to co-star Wyatt Russell. We guess Bucky is a wartime congressman.
#13: The Relevance of Cherry Blossoms
Ross associates cherry blossoms with his daughter Betty, reminiscing about how they were planted around her favorite spot in Washington D.C. growing up. Director Julius Onah has described the cherry blossoms as a symbol of empathy, ultimately motivating Ross to put his country before his legacy and rebuild a bridge to his estranged daughter. The symbolism goes beyond Ross, however. The Japanese government donated cherry trees to the U.S. in 1912 as a sign of friendship. In 2024, Japan sent Washington an additional 250 cherry trees, replacing the ones destroyed during a restoration project. In “Brave New World,” America finds itself at odds with Japan. The cherry blossoms highlight the history between these two nations, which have repeatedly moved past their differences.
The last time we saw an aging Steve Rogers, he entrusted his shield to Sam. We thought “Brave New World” might clue us in on what the OG Cap has been up to since retiring, although his whereabouts remain a mystery. It was implied at the beginning of “Spider-Man: Far From Home” that he died, although this was likely a ruse so Rogers could live a private civilian life during his final years. In “Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” Torres mentions a rumor that Rogers is hiding on a secret moon base, which honestly wouldn’t surprise us. While Rogers’ name inevitably comes up in “Brave New World,” the film avoids working in a cameo, permitting Sam Wilson to prove that he can fly solo.
In 2022, it was announced that the fourth “Captain American” film would be subtitled “New World Order,” sharing the same name as “Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s” pilot. The term “new world order” has come up numerous times throughout political history, especially during periods of war. That’s likely what Marvel intended to reference, although “new world order” has also been linked to antisemitic conspiracy theories popularized by people like Alex Jones. Marvel changed the title to “Brave New World” in June 2023, mere months before the Gaza war commenced. With reports of antisemitism rising in the U.S. and many questioning the direction the country is heading in, it’s safe to say a title like “New World Order” would’ve proven even more controversial in 2025.
Thaddeus Ross isn’t the first president in Harrison Ford’s filmography. He famously played the fictional President James Marshall in the 1997 thriller “Air Force One.” “Brave New World” resists the temptation to repeat any lines from that Wolfgang Petersen film, although it does incorporate a nod to Ford’s previous stint as president. Heading overseas to discuss the treaty, Ross naturally finds himself aboard Air Force One. Russian terrorists might not be hiding in plain sight, but Ross does find himself being tormented by an invisible enemy who can’t be so easily kicked off his plane.
In 2014, Kevin Feige claimed that the third “Captain America” film would be subtitled “Serpent Society.” This confused many fans who assumed a “Civil War” movie would be the next logical step. They were right to be suspicious, as Feige later brought out Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr., confirming the real title. That said, the Serpent Society is a criminal organization in the comics. Just over a decade after Feige teased audiences, Serpent Society makes its MCU debut in “Brave New World.” While only a side villain here, we can expect to see more of Giancarlo Esposito’s Seth Voelker. As Sidewinder, Voelker’s comic counterpart gains teleportation powers, making him hard to incarcerate. Maybe that’s what Voelker meant when told Sam he’d escape from prison.
“Captain America: Brave New World” is just as much a sequel to “The Incredible Hulk.” Granted, Bruce Banner is nowhere to be found, but Thaddeus Ross’ actions in that film are finally catching up to him more than 15 years later. Ross’ pursuit of the Hulk cost him his relationship with his daughter Betty, who we haven’t seen since. Yes, Betty popped up in “What If...?,” although that was an alternate version of her. She was also voiced by Stephanie Panisello, leaving us to wonder if Liv Tyler would ever reprise the role. Just when you thought a phone call would be the extent of Betty’s presence, Tyler appears onscreen toward the end following one of the longest hiatuses in this franchise.
“Brave New World” shares more than a few parallels to “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” Both films find Captain America caught up in a conspiracy involving a brainwashed friend, an assassination attempt, correct political figures, an organization named after a snake, and a Black Widow. To be fair, “The Winter Soldier” borrowed heavily from classic conspiracy thrillers like “Three Days of the Condor.” Likewise, “Brave New World” looked to “Clear and Present Danger,” which also starred Ford. The Leader spends much of the film hidden in the shadows like Deep Throat in “All the President’s Men.” It might share the most in common with “The Manchurian Candidate,” another film where a Korean War veteran is brainwashed in a plot to kill a presidential nominee.
Betty Ross isn’t the only “Incredible Hulk” character who makes an overdue comeback. Played by Tim Blake Nelson, Dr. Samuel Sterns sought to help Bruce Banner. During a lab accident, though, Sterns’ DNA mixed with Banner’s, setting the stage for him to mutate into the Leader… eventually. Of all the seemingly abandoned MCU subplots, the Leader arguably lingered in limbo the longest. Sterns did appear in the “The Avengers” prelude comic, “Fury’s Big Week,” having a run-in with Natasha Romanoff. He also briefly popped up in the “Thor: Ragnarok Prelude” comic miniseries. “Brave New World” marks Nelson’s first onscreen appearance as Sterns since 2008. After being under Ross’ thumb all these years, Sterns uses his intellect to get his revenge.
Ironically, Red Hulk made his comic debut in 2008, the same year the MCU’s first Hulk movie came out. The comics initially kept Red Hulk’s true identity a secret before revealing Ross as the man behind the rage in 2010’s “World War Hulks.” In another twist, Betty is exposed as Red She-Hulk during that storyline. Thaddeus willingly made this transformation to stand a chance against Bruce Banner’s Hulk, receiving aid from the Advanced Idea Mechanics and Intelligencia. In “Brave New World,” Ross learns that Sterns has been poisoning his heart medicine, setting the stage for him to become Red Hulk. Although the film ends with Ross locked up in the Raft, it wouldn’t be surprising if he embraced Red Hulk again with new threats coming.
Emmy-nominated actress Shira Haas joins the MCU as Ruth Bat-Seraph, or Sabra as she’s known in the comics. While Bat-Seraph is badass in both versions, there are some major differences. In this film, she’s a former Black Widow who has since become President Ross’ head of security. Her comic counterpart works for Mossad, Israel’s actual secret service, and possesses mutant abilities. The MCU’s interpretation of the character doesn’t have any superpowers (yet). Her Israeli background is preserved, but it’s downplayed likely due to the ongoing war in Gaza. Haas was notably born in Israel, her family being Polish Jewish. Despite the controversy surrounding the character, “Brave New World” does its best to address life-world conflicts while maintaining Bat-Seraph’s most important traits.
Along with “The Incredible Hulk,” “Brave New World” is something of a stealth epilogue to “Eternals.” In that 2021 film, our heroes rally to stop Tiamut the Communicator, a celestial bound to destroy Earth. Sersi manages to turn Tiamut into marble with his corpse in the Indian Ocean. That said, the Eternals left a huge mess behind humanity was bound to stumble across. While the incident was alluded to in “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” the MCU has otherwise tip-toed around the giant head and hand sticking out of the ocean… until now. Not only does Tiamut’s defeat factor into “Brave New World,” but it paves the way for some potentially game-changing discoveries.
Much of the plot in “Brave New World” revolves around Ross trying to secure a treaty over the world’s most valuable element: Adamantium, which was discovered at Tiamut’s gravesite. This is the same metal alloy that enhanced Wolverine’s skeleton and retractable claws, making him practically indestructible. After “Deadpool & Wolverine,” it seemed like Marvel might keep Hugh Jackman around for the long haul. Whether or not they’re really waiting for him to turn 90, the introduction of adamantium perhaps means that a new Wolverine is waiting in the wings. Wolverine isn’t the only Marvel character who has used adamantium either, possibly setting us up for Cyber or Lady Deathstrike. It’ll also be interesting to see how this impacts Wakanda now that there’s an alternative to vibranium.
During the post-credits scene, Sam visits an incarcerated Sterns. Although Captain America won this round, Stern tells Sam that “others” are coming from another universe. Who is Stern referring to? Well, we can probably cross off the Council of Kangs. Stern’s vague omen might pay off in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which takes place in an alternate universe. With the arrival of Galactus, the Fantastic Four may flee to Earth-616. If they cross universes, who’s to stay Galactus won’t follow? Or Doctor Doom for that matter? Just as Robert Downey Jr. is returning in a villainous role, it’s been theorized (yet not confirmed) that Chris Evans could appear in “Avengers: Doomsday” as an evil Captain America. Whatever’s coming, it’s a brave new world, indeed.
Is there anything that we missed? Let us know in the comments.
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at references, small details, and other stray observations you might’ve overlooked in “Captain America: Brave New World.” Naturally, there will be spoilers.
#15: Ross’ “New Look”
When Sam Wilson meets with the recently elected President Ross, he points out the former general’s new look. Ross shaved his signature mustache to secure his victory, although this isn’t the only thing that’s different. William Hurt originated the MCU’s incarnation of “Thunderbolt” Ross in 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk,” going on to play important roles in “Captain America: Civil War” and “Black Widow.” Although Hurt was eager to see his character become Red Hulk, his death in 2022 prompted Marvel to recast with Harrison Ford inheriting the role. While the mustache line serves as a cheeky in-joke, it’s also an appropriate political move seeing how every sitting U.S. president has adopted a clean shave since 1913, excluding Harry Truman during a brief vacation in 1948.
#14: “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” Characters
Those who slept on “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” likely won’t recognize a few characters who play key parts here. With Sam stepping up as Cap, the Falcon mantle has been passed on to Joaquin Torres. A fellow Air Force veteran who provides backup against the Flag Smashers, Torres earns his wings by the miniseries’ penultimate episode. Torres is poised to help Sam rebuild the Avengers, which may allow him to finally meet Ant-Man. “Brave New World” also brings back Isaiah Bradley, another super-solider wrongfully imprisoned for three decades. Bucky, meanwhile, is doing better since starting therapy. In fact, he’s a future congressman, which will tie into the events of “Thunderbolts*” according to co-star Wyatt Russell. We guess Bucky is a wartime congressman.
#13: The Relevance of Cherry Blossoms
Ross associates cherry blossoms with his daughter Betty, reminiscing about how they were planted around her favorite spot in Washington D.C. growing up. Director Julius Onah has described the cherry blossoms as a symbol of empathy, ultimately motivating Ross to put his country before his legacy and rebuild a bridge to his estranged daughter. The symbolism goes beyond Ross, however. The Japanese government donated cherry trees to the U.S. in 1912 as a sign of friendship. In 2024, Japan sent Washington an additional 250 cherry trees, replacing the ones destroyed during a restoration project. In “Brave New World,” America finds itself at odds with Japan. The cherry blossoms highlight the history between these two nations, which have repeatedly moved past their differences.
#12: Why Steve Rogers Doesn’t Appear
The last time we saw an aging Steve Rogers, he entrusted his shield to Sam. We thought “Brave New World” might clue us in on what the OG Cap has been up to since retiring, although his whereabouts remain a mystery. It was implied at the beginning of “Spider-Man: Far From Home” that he died, although this was likely a ruse so Rogers could live a private civilian life during his final years. In “Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” Torres mentions a rumor that Rogers is hiding on a secret moon base, which honestly wouldn’t surprise us. While Rogers’ name inevitably comes up in “Brave New World,” the film avoids working in a cameo, permitting Sam Wilson to prove that he can fly solo.
#11: New Title Ordered
In 2022, it was announced that the fourth “Captain American” film would be subtitled “New World Order,” sharing the same name as “Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s” pilot. The term “new world order” has come up numerous times throughout political history, especially during periods of war. That’s likely what Marvel intended to reference, although “new world order” has also been linked to antisemitic conspiracy theories popularized by people like Alex Jones. Marvel changed the title to “Brave New World” in June 2023, mere months before the Gaza war commenced. With reports of antisemitism rising in the U.S. and many questioning the direction the country is heading in, it’s safe to say a title like “New World Order” would’ve proven even more controversial in 2025.
#10: Air Ford One
Thaddeus Ross isn’t the first president in Harrison Ford’s filmography. He famously played the fictional President James Marshall in the 1997 thriller “Air Force One.” “Brave New World” resists the temptation to repeat any lines from that Wolfgang Petersen film, although it does incorporate a nod to Ford’s previous stint as president. Heading overseas to discuss the treaty, Ross naturally finds himself aboard Air Force One. Russian terrorists might not be hiding in plain sight, but Ross does find himself being tormented by an invisible enemy who can’t be so easily kicked off his plane.
#9: Serpent Society Significance
In 2014, Kevin Feige claimed that the third “Captain America” film would be subtitled “Serpent Society.” This confused many fans who assumed a “Civil War” movie would be the next logical step. They were right to be suspicious, as Feige later brought out Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr., confirming the real title. That said, the Serpent Society is a criminal organization in the comics. Just over a decade after Feige teased audiences, Serpent Society makes its MCU debut in “Brave New World.” While only a side villain here, we can expect to see more of Giancarlo Esposito’s Seth Voelker. As Sidewinder, Voelker’s comic counterpart gains teleportation powers, making him hard to incarcerate. Maybe that’s what Voelker meant when told Sam he’d escape from prison.
#8: Betty Ross Returns
“Captain America: Brave New World” is just as much a sequel to “The Incredible Hulk.” Granted, Bruce Banner is nowhere to be found, but Thaddeus Ross’ actions in that film are finally catching up to him more than 15 years later. Ross’ pursuit of the Hulk cost him his relationship with his daughter Betty, who we haven’t seen since. Yes, Betty popped up in “What If...?,” although that was an alternate version of her. She was also voiced by Stephanie Panisello, leaving us to wonder if Liv Tyler would ever reprise the role. Just when you thought a phone call would be the extent of Betty’s presence, Tyler appears onscreen toward the end following one of the longest hiatuses in this franchise.
#7: Conspiracy Thriller Inspirations
“Brave New World” shares more than a few parallels to “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” Both films find Captain America caught up in a conspiracy involving a brainwashed friend, an assassination attempt, correct political figures, an organization named after a snake, and a Black Widow. To be fair, “The Winter Soldier” borrowed heavily from classic conspiracy thrillers like “Three Days of the Condor.” Likewise, “Brave New World” looked to “Clear and Present Danger,” which also starred Ford. The Leader spends much of the film hidden in the shadows like Deep Throat in “All the President’s Men.” It might share the most in common with “The Manchurian Candidate,” another film where a Korean War veteran is brainwashed in a plot to kill a presidential nominee.
#6: The Leader At Last
Betty Ross isn’t the only “Incredible Hulk” character who makes an overdue comeback. Played by Tim Blake Nelson, Dr. Samuel Sterns sought to help Bruce Banner. During a lab accident, though, Sterns’ DNA mixed with Banner’s, setting the stage for him to mutate into the Leader… eventually. Of all the seemingly abandoned MCU subplots, the Leader arguably lingered in limbo the longest. Sterns did appear in the “The Avengers” prelude comic, “Fury’s Big Week,” having a run-in with Natasha Romanoff. He also briefly popped up in the “Thor: Ragnarok Prelude” comic miniseries. “Brave New World” marks Nelson’s first onscreen appearance as Sterns since 2008. After being under Ross’ thumb all these years, Sterns uses his intellect to get his revenge.
#5: New Origin For Red Hulk
Ironically, Red Hulk made his comic debut in 2008, the same year the MCU’s first Hulk movie came out. The comics initially kept Red Hulk’s true identity a secret before revealing Ross as the man behind the rage in 2010’s “World War Hulks.” In another twist, Betty is exposed as Red She-Hulk during that storyline. Thaddeus willingly made this transformation to stand a chance against Bruce Banner’s Hulk, receiving aid from the Advanced Idea Mechanics and Intelligencia. In “Brave New World,” Ross learns that Sterns has been poisoning his heart medicine, setting the stage for him to become Red Hulk. Although the film ends with Ross locked up in the Raft, it wouldn’t be surprising if he embraced Red Hulk again with new threats coming.
#4: Ruth Bat-Seraph Changes
Emmy-nominated actress Shira Haas joins the MCU as Ruth Bat-Seraph, or Sabra as she’s known in the comics. While Bat-Seraph is badass in both versions, there are some major differences. In this film, she’s a former Black Widow who has since become President Ross’ head of security. Her comic counterpart works for Mossad, Israel’s actual secret service, and possesses mutant abilities. The MCU’s interpretation of the character doesn’t have any superpowers (yet). Her Israeli background is preserved, but it’s downplayed likely due to the ongoing war in Gaza. Haas was notably born in Israel, her family being Polish Jewish. Despite the controversy surrounding the character, “Brave New World” does its best to address life-world conflicts while maintaining Bat-Seraph’s most important traits.
#3: Who Was Celestial Tiamut Again?
Along with “The Incredible Hulk,” “Brave New World” is something of a stealth epilogue to “Eternals.” In that 2021 film, our heroes rally to stop Tiamut the Communicator, a celestial bound to destroy Earth. Sersi manages to turn Tiamut into marble with his corpse in the Indian Ocean. That said, the Eternals left a huge mess behind humanity was bound to stumble across. While the incident was alluded to in “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” the MCU has otherwise tip-toed around the giant head and hand sticking out of the ocean… until now. Not only does Tiamut’s defeat factor into “Brave New World,” but it paves the way for some potentially game-changing discoveries.
#2: Adamantium
Much of the plot in “Brave New World” revolves around Ross trying to secure a treaty over the world’s most valuable element: Adamantium, which was discovered at Tiamut’s gravesite. This is the same metal alloy that enhanced Wolverine’s skeleton and retractable claws, making him practically indestructible. After “Deadpool & Wolverine,” it seemed like Marvel might keep Hugh Jackman around for the long haul. Whether or not they’re really waiting for him to turn 90, the introduction of adamantium perhaps means that a new Wolverine is waiting in the wings. Wolverine isn’t the only Marvel character who has used adamantium either, possibly setting us up for Cyber or Lady Deathstrike. It’ll also be interesting to see how this impacts Wakanda now that there’s an alternative to vibranium.
#1: Others…
During the post-credits scene, Sam visits an incarcerated Sterns. Although Captain America won this round, Stern tells Sam that “others” are coming from another universe. Who is Stern referring to? Well, we can probably cross off the Council of Kangs. Stern’s vague omen might pay off in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which takes place in an alternate universe. With the arrival of Galactus, the Fantastic Four may flee to Earth-616. If they cross universes, who’s to stay Galactus won’t follow? Or Doctor Doom for that matter? Just as Robert Downey Jr. is returning in a villainous role, it’s been theorized (yet not confirmed) that Chris Evans could appear in “Avengers: Doomsday” as an evil Captain America. Whatever’s coming, it’s a brave new world, indeed.
Is there anything that we missed? Let us know in the comments.
