New comments from Captain America: Brave New World producer Nate Moore have me convinced that Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson will be the new leader of the upcoming Avengers team in the MCU. The Avengers team has been absent from the MCU since winning the Battle of Earth in Avengers: Endgame, but we will soon see a new line-up of heroes come together as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Trailers for Captain America: Brave New World hint at the Avengers reforming in the Phase 5 movie, which has me very excited about Sam Wilson’s new role in the MCU.

Anthony Mackie has portrayed Sam Wilson in the MCU since 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and after being gifted the Captain America shield and mantle in Endgame, he became the new Star-Spangled-Man in 2021’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. I have loved watching Sam Wilson’s timeline through the MCU, and am very excited about his future, especially after Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore’s new comments. I can see Sam Wilson’s Captain America having a central role in the MCU’s upcoming Avengers movies, perhaps even as the titular team’s new leader.

Nate Moore Addresses Sam Wilson’s Return As Captain America In Avengers 5 & 6

Captain America: Brave New World Is Sam Wilson’s Big-Screen Debut As Captain America

Nate Moore has been producer extraordinaire at Marvel Studios since 2010, and while Deadline reported in December 2024 that he would be leaving Marvel Studios, he has stuck around to work on Captain America: Brave New World and the upcoming Black Panther 3. Speaking to The Movie Report at the London premiere of Captain America: Brave New World in January, Nate Moore revealed more about Sam Wilson’s importance in the MCU. I’m particularly excited to hear that Sam Wilson will be “at the center” of the MCU’s upcoming Avengers movies.

I think there’s never been an Avengers movie where there’s not a Captain America at the center of it, so this is about Sam Wilson showing the world that he is deserving of the mantle and why he’s both Captain America but not Steve Rogers. That’s incredibly important. He’s not a super-soldier, he’s a human like you or I, and so the action is different, the way he approaches problem-solving is different, and I think he’s going to take the skills from this film and figure out how he can be helpful as the Avengers face a new threat.

While Nate Moore doesn’t directly state that Sam Wilson’s Captain America will lead the new Avengers, I think this is heavily implied in his recent comments. Moore notes that every previous Avengers movie has had Captain America – Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers – at the center, so it stands to reason that Sam Wilson’s iteration of the Star-Spangled-Man will receive similar focus. Anthony Mackie’s return in Avengers: Doomsday was revealed in December, and I can absolutely see him taking a leadership role in the Avengers team, following in the footsteps of his predecessor.

I’m Convinced Sam Wilson’s Captain America Will Be The New Avengers’ Leader

Captain America Is Historically The Avengers’ Best Leader

Captain America is more than just a hero, but the moniker is a cultural icon, and whoever holds the position instantly becomes one of the most recognizable individuals on the planet. As one of the MCU’s original superheroes, too, it makes complete sense to me that Captain America would continue to be the Avengers’ leader, and I think Sam Wilson is very equipped for the job. Some would argue that he isn’t capable as he hasn’t taken the super-soldier serum, but his fighting skills, tactical mind, superhero experience and vibranium armor put these worries to rest.

There have been many theories about who could lead the upcoming Avengers team, and while Sam Wilson’s name has been floated, there are some more powerful heroes who many would want to see take the position. Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Thor and even Wong have all been suggested, each of whom would put their superhuman abilities into practice as the Avengers’ leader. However, I still think the more-grounded and down-to-Earth Sam Wilson is the man for the job, and Nate Moore seems to agree.

Why Sam Wilson Is Perfect To Lead The New Avengers After Steve Rogers’ Retirement

Sam Wilson Will Bring Something New To The Role Of Captain America

Sam Wilson operated as a professional superhero under the guidance of Steve Rogers’ Captain America for five years (in his timeline) between Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Endgame. He picked up some impressive skills that he demonstrated in the intense finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and these will be put to the test even further in the fight against the Red Hulk, Sidewinder and the Leader in Captain America: Brave New World. I think Sam Wilson’s experiences in the MCU have perfectly primed him to become the leader of the new Avengers team.​​​​​​​

Of course, as the new leader of the Avengers, Sam Wilson’s Captain America will have a tall task when facing Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom and the prospect of multiversal destruction thanks to incursion events. I reckon it’s likely that Avengers: Doomsday will pull off Infinity War’s trick of having the Avengers lose, before Secret Wars brings them back. This would surely shake Sam Wilson’s confidence, but Captain America: Brave New World could forge him into a hero capable of taking on any new threat and keeping his new Avengers team together through anything.