Captain America: Brave New World will be one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most intriguing projects in the Multiverse Saga, and the upcoming movie could set up the Avengers’ replacement, according to a new MCU theory. With Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers out, it is time for Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson to finally shine in Captain America movies. That will start with 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World, which reintroduces The Incredible Hulk characters to the MCU after 17 years and will see Harrison Ford take over as Thunderbolt Ross due to original Ross actor William Hurt’s passing.

The first trailer for Captain America: Brave New World is out, teasing a story full of intrigue, action, and twists. The movie has a serious tone that is more akin to the beloved Captain America: The Winter Soldier than a lot of the usual MCU fare. The new Captain America movie will touch on the absence of the Avengers. The team last appeared in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes only assembling next in 2026’s Avengers 5. Now, a Captain America: Brave New World theory explains how an Avengers replacement team could be set up in the film.

MCU Theory: Sam Wilson’s Avengers Refusal Leads To The Thunderbolts

The Team Will Get Its Own Movie Next Year

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Captain America: Brave New World is the fact that the movie will explore a close relationship between Captain America and the President of the United States. As the movie’s trailer revealed, Harrison Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross says to Sam Wilson that he intends to make Captain America a military position again. When William Hurt was playing Ross, he and Chris Evans’ Captain America were on opposite sides of the Sokovia Accords in Captain America: Civil War. Instead of accepting government oversight, Steve Rogers went rogue and formed his own team.

While the trailer did not reveal the full conversation between Ross and Sam, another piece of footage did. Exclusive CinemaCon footage of Captain America: Brave New World revealed that the Avengers have not been active in the MCU since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Ross will ask Captain America to restart the Avengers, and as he said in the trailer that he wants to bring Captain America close to the government again, it would essentially mean that the new Avengers would operate under Ross’ influence. However, Sam Wilson is unlikely to go along with that plan.

In Captain America: Civil War, Sam was on Steve Rogers’ side against the Sokovia Accords. That, and the fact Ross turns into the Red Hulk and fights Sam, are great indicators that the MCU’s new Captain America will not accept the proposal. As such, Harrison Ford’s character could turn to another team to replace Sam’s Avengers. Thunderbolts* will also release next year, and the darker squad would perfectly fit Ross’ plans. Thunderbolt Ross has a connection to the team, and with Bucky Barnes searching for redemption, he would serve as the Thundebolts’ leader, as confirmed by Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige.

Harrison Ford’s Character’s Connection To The Thunderbolts Explained

Thunderbolt Ross And The Team Share Marvel Comics History

While the team and Ross share a name, the Thunderbolts were not named in Marvel Comics after Ford’s MCU character. Thunderbolt Ross would later join the squad, becoming its leader as Red Hulk. That version of the Thunderbolts mainly went on missions that were connected with Ross’ past in the military but had no ties to the government. With Ross as the President of the United States in the MCU when he becomes the Red Hulk, that story would have to work out differently. Still, Marvel could have Thunderbolt Ross and the Thunderbolts cross paths soon.

In 2022, it was reported that Ford would appear as Thunderbolt Ross in Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*. At the moment, no updates or official announcements have come out of it, though with San Diego Comic-Con around the corner, perhaps more Thunderbolts* cast members could be revealed, including Red Hulk. The character would make a lot of sense for the movie, as the team will likely need a powerhouse. Lewis Pullman will play Sentry in Thunderbolts*, Marvel’s Superman-like character. He is rumored to turn on the team as the Void, and Red Hulk would be able to match his power.

Why The Thunderbolts Are Perfect For Ross’ Plan

The Team Has Been Set Up For Some Time

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is responsible for putting the Thunderbolts together in the MCU. The character has been going around in Marvel projects like Black Widow and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to recruit members for the team. In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a major piece of information about the shadowy character was finally revealed. It turned out that Valentina was none other than the Director of the CIA in the MCU. That high-ranking role could lead to Valentina and President Ross meeting to work together.

With Sam Wilson unlikely to accept Ross’ offer, instead assembling a new Avengers squad that retains full autonomy, Ford’s character could turn to Valentina to make the Thunderbolts the government-sanctioned team he wants. It would even have Ross work alongside a Captain America of sorts, as Wyatt Russell’s John Walker was made the MCU’s new Captain America after Steve Rogers’ retirement in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier before Sam Wilson took over. Walker is now U.S. Agent. With the amount of power between Ross and Valentina, the duo could use the Thunderbolts in very interesting ways.

The Thunderbolts Could Do What The Avengers Can’t

An MCU Movie Could Have Teased The Team’s First Mission

The Thunderbolts would allow Ross to have a team that could operate in the shadows on morally gray assignments. The Avengers are the world’s most popular superhero team, which means the heroes would not make for the best options for covert missions. On the other hand, most of the Thunderbolts’ members have experience with that exact sort of mission. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever teased what the team’s first assignment in Thunderbolts* could be.

In the movie, the CIA was using a Vibranium tracker made by Riri Williams, aka Ironheart, to secure the precious metal in outposts across the world. Thunderbolts* could see a continuation of that storyline, with Valentina sending the team to retrieve perhaps a new kind of Vibranium, which could come from Marvel Comics’ Savage Land, expanding the MCU. After the MCU went a long time with no teams since Avengers: Endgame, it should be exciting to see multiple squads rise in the coming years, with Captain America: Brave New World possibly setting up the new Avengers and the Thunderbolts.