It has been nearly six years since the Avengers disbanded following the defeat of Thanos and the tragic loss of Tony Stark. Yet, as the world faces new threats, the need for Earth’s mightiest heroes becomes undeniable. With two upcoming Avengers films slated for 2026 and 2027, Marvel Studios is preparing to reassemble a new team—and the process begins with *Captain America: Brave New World*.

“We know people miss the Avengers and we miss the Avengers,” explains Nate Moore, a veteran producer at Marvel Studios and one of the key creative minds behind the fourth Captain America film. “But we knew if we jumped right back into the Avengers after *Endgame*, we wouldn't give people a chance to miss it.”

Historically, the most successful Avengers teams in the comics have been anchored by Captain America. After Steve Rogers passed his shield to Sam Wilson at the end of Avengers: Endgame, the MCU needed time to develop Wilson into a leader worthy of that legacy. Unlike Rogers, who embraced the role naturally, Wilson struggled with the weight of the symbol he inherited. This journey was explored in depth through the six-part Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. By the time Brave New World arrives, Wilson has grown into the mantle of Captain America—only to face an even greater challenge: leading a new generation of Avengers.

President Ross Wants the Avengers Back?

As revealed in early promotional material, the film opens with President Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (played by Harrison Ford) requesting that Wilson restart the Avengers initiative. Longtime fans may find this surprising—Ross was instrumental in the Sokovia Accords, which led directly to the team's fracture during Civil War. So why would the man who split the Avengers now seek to bring them back together?

“He was a guy who had this real legacy that could maybe be defined by his anger,” says Julius Onah, director of Brave New World. “But the man that we're meeting now is someone who has matured—a diplomat, an elder statesman, turning a new leaf. He sees and understands the errors of his past and wants to do better. And he believes that the Avengers can be a benefit to the world.”

Of course, there’s also strategy at play. “Ross is a general, so certainly he understands what a tactical advantage is,” adds Moore. “He certainly realized that the Avengers left unchecked may not be the best idea for anyone. And so I think he figures, why not get ahead of it before someone else does.”

A New Threat Calls for a New Kind of Avengers

Wilson’s return to the Avengers isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s driven by global necessity. Following the events of Eternals, the discovery of a Celestial petrified beneath the ocean has revealed a massive source of Adamantium, a rare and powerful metal rivaling Wakanda’s Vibranium. With nations racing to claim this newfound resource, the geopolitical landscape grows increasingly volatile. In such uncertain times, having a superhero force on your side offers more than just firepower—it provides control.

“I think certainly any nation that has a group of Avengers has a leg up over anyone else,” says Moore. “And Ross is a general, so certainly he understands what a tactical advantage is!”

A Tense Partnership Ahead

Yet, the alliance between President Ross and Sam Wilson is unlikely to be smooth. Steve Rogers stood firmly against government oversight, and Wilson has spent much of his career trying to honor those ideals. Now, under Ross’s directive, he must navigate a complex political landscape while staying true to his values.

“It was really cool to put [Sam] opposite someone who had divided the Avengers in the past,” Onah notes. “Because of that history, Sam was put into prison. The Sokovia Accords, all the stuff that Ross pushed forward as Secretary of State—all of that comes into play. These are things that when these two men walk into a room, that tension between them is palpable.”

Will Thunderbolts Become the Government's Avengers?

Given their uneasy dynamic, it’s possible that President Ross envisions a different kind of Avengers—one more aligned with his vision of authority and control. Enter Thunderbolts, the 2025 MCU film featuring a team of anti-heroes led by John Walker, the former U.S. government-sanctioned Captain America whose violent actions tarnished the legacy of the shield.

“If that’s how things play out,” Moore suggests, “then Sam Wilson is free to build his own independent Avengers team—just in time for the arrival of Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday.”

Why Sam Wilson Is the Right Captain America for This Moment

Wilson’s path to leadership has been hard-earned. His empathy, resilience, and ability to connect with others—both allies and enemies—are what truly make him worthy of being Captain America. As Onah puts it, “I think that's what makes him a Captain America of this moment.”

Moore agrees: “I don't think Sam would be prepared to lead the Avengers until he truly believed that he was Captain America. Our goal as filmmakers was to take him on that journey of questioning whether or not he made the right decision. Hopefully by the end, both he and the audience will feel: ‘There certainly could be no one else.’ He is Captain America—and hopefully, he takes the tools from this movie to be able to lead the Avengers.”

With only two films separating Brave New World and Avengers: Doomsday, time is short. It’s likely Wilson will appear in both Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four: First Steps, laying the groundwork for the next era of the Avengers. While the road to assembly is shorter than before, the mission remains the same: protect the world, no matter the cost.

The age of Avengers 2.0 begins here.