There aren’t many moments in superhero cinema quite like watching someone new pick up the shield. When Chris Evans handed it off at the end of Avengers: Endgame, it wasn’t just a character goodbye — it was the start of a very different Captain America era, and this guide cuts through the speculation to answer the biggest questions.
Number of Captain America films (live-action): 5 (as of 2025) ·
Release date of Captain America: Brave New World: May 2, 2025 ·
Current Captain America actor (Sam Wilson): Anthony Mackie ·
Years Chris Evans played Steve Rogers: 2011–2019 ·
Harrison Ford’s role in Brave New World: Thunderbolt Ross (Red Hulk) ·
Box office of Captain America: Civil War: $1.153 billion
Quick snapshot
- Chris Evans is not in Captain America: Brave New World (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- Sam Wilson is the current Captain America in the MCU (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- Harrison Ford plays Thunderbolt Ross (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- Whether Chris Evans will ever return as Steve Rogers (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- Box office performance and critical reception of Brave New World (Deadline (industry trade publication))
- The future of the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and the kindest Avenger designation (Forbes (business and entertainment analysis))
- 1941: Captain America first appears in comics (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- 2011: Captain America: The First Avenger – Chris Evans debut (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- 2014: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- 2016: Captain America: Civil War (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- 2019: Avengers: Endgame – Steve Rogers retires (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- 2021: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – Sam Wilson becomes Captain America (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- 2025: Captain America: Brave New World releases (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- Captain America: Brave New World premiered at TCL Chinese Theatre on February 11, 2025 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- Disney+ streaming began May 28, 2025 (Variety (entertainment industry news))
- Domestic theatrical run concluded May 25, 2025 (Forbes (business and entertainment analysis))
Five key facts, one pattern: the Captain America mantle has moved from a super-soldier icon to a more grounded, tactical hero, reshaping what the shield represents.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| First appearance | Captain America Comics #1 (1941) |
| Creators | Joe Simon and Jack Kirby |
| Current MCU actor | Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson) |
| Previous MCU actor | Chris Evans (Steve Rogers, 2011–2019) |
| Next movie | Captain America: Brave New World (2025) |
Is Chris Evans Back as Captain America?
Why Chris Evans left the role
Chris Evans confirmed he is done after Avengers: Endgame. In interviews, the actor stated that Endgame was the natural endpoint for Steve Rogers’ arc. Marvel Studios has not announced any plans for his return as the character, and Evans has publicly moved on, focusing on other projects. According to Marvel.com (official studio site), the future of the franchise centers on Sam Wilson.
Chris Evans traded a guaranteed billion-dollar franchise for creative freedom. For fans hoping for a Steve Rogers comeback, the price is a permanently closed chapter.
Chris Evans’ anxiety diagnosis
- Evans has spoken openly about experiencing anxiety attacks on set during his early MCU years (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- The actor has said that the pressure of playing a beloved character contributed to these episodes
Official statements on a possible return
No official plans for his return as Steve Rogers. Studios typically leave the door slightly ajar — multiverse narratives can resurrect anyone — but no project currently lists Evans. The Marvel.com (official studio site) lists no Steve Rogers involvement in any announced films through 2027.
The implication: For fans holding out hope, the evidence leans strongly toward permanent departure. The multiverse remains a theoretical loophole, but no concrete plan exists.
Is Captain America: Brave New World Worth Watching?
Critical early reactions
Early reviews are not yet public as of this writing. The film premiered at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on February 11, 2025, according to Wikipedia (community encyclopedia), so professional reviews will emerge after that date. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic scores will be updated once available.
The first weekend audience reception — not critic scores — will tell you whether Sam Wilson clicks with mainstream viewers. Brave New World opened to a projected $100 million domestic weekend, per The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment industry news), but legs depend on word of mouth.
Box office projections
- Analysts projected $80–100 million opening weekend; actual opening was $88.5 million (Fortune (business and economic analysis))
- Global debut: $192.4 million (Deadline (industry trade publication))
- Domestic total: $200,500,001 (Forbes (business and entertainment analysis))
- Worldwide total: $413,640,021 (Forbes (business and entertainment analysis))
Key plot points
- Sam Wilson leads as Captain America (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- Harrison Ford plays Thunderbolt Ross (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- Running time: 1 hour 58 minutes (Box Office Mojo (box office tracking and data))
The pattern: This is a transition film — it must prove Sam Wilson can carry a solo blockbuster. The box office numbers show solid but not spectacular performance, landing below Captain America: Civil War‘s $1.153 billion but above typical superhero sequel declines.
Who Does Harrison Ford Play in Captain America?
Thunderbolt Ross explained
Harrison Ford plays Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, the U.S. Secretary of State turned adversary. He replaces the late William Hurt in the role, continuing Ross’ arc from Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Endgame. According to Marvel.com (official studio site), Ford’s casting signals a major narrative role for Ross in the MCU’s next phase.
Red Hulk transformation in the comics
In Marvel Comics, Ross becomes the Red Hulk — a gamma-powered version of the Hulk with his own agenda. Whether Brave New World depicts this transformation is a spoiler question the studio has not confirmed. The Marvel.com (official studio site) lists no explicit Red Hulk confirmation in promotional materials.
Ford’s casting is the biggest single-name addition to the MCU since Robert Downey Jr. For Marvel, it’s a bet that legacy star power can bridge the gap between Evans’ departure and Wilson’s establishment.
Ford’s casting significance
- Ford brings decades of franchise experience (Star Wars, Indiana Jones) (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- The role gives Ford a recurring MCU presence, unlike his one-off appearances in other franchises
Why this matters: For MCU viewers, Ford’s involvement signals that Brave New World is not a side story — it’s a franchise pivot. The character’s comic-book Red Hulk future could set up a major threat for Sam Wilson’s Cap.
Is Captain America 4 a Flop or a Hit?
Pre-release tracking numbers
The film is not yet released, so no final verdict is possible. Yet the data that exists tells a mixed story. Analysts project $80–100 million opening weekend, and actual opening was $88.5 million (Fortune (business and economic analysis)), which is below Civil War‘s $179 million opening but respectable for a character transition.
Comparison to previous Captain America films
Five live-action Captain America films, one pattern: each iteration made more money than the last until the mantle switched.
| Film | Year | Domestic opening weekend | Worldwide total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain America: The First Avenger | 2011 | $65.1 million | $370.6 million |
| Captain America: The Winter Soldier | 2014 | $95 million | $714.4 million |
| Captain America: Civil War | 2016 | $179.1 million | $1.153 billion |
| Captain America: Brave New World | 2025 | $88.5 million | $413.6 million |
Factors that could determine success
- Potential competition from other blockbusters in May 2025 (Deadline (industry trade publication))
- Audience reception to Sam Wilson as lead — early tracking was solid but not spectacular
The trade-off: For Marvel fans, Brave New World is a soft hit — profitable and functional, but a step down from the franchise’s peak. For Disney, the $200.5 million domestic gross (Box Office Mojo (box office tracking and data)) means the Sam Wilson era is commercially viable, even if it doesn’t touch Steve Rogers’ heights.
Who Is the New Captain America?
Sam Wilson’s journey from Falcon to Captain America
Sam Wilson officially became Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021). The Disney+ series showed Wilson wrestling with the legacy of the shield, ultimately accepting it from Steve Rogers’ old friend Bucky Barnes. According to Marvel.com (official studio site), Wilson’s first solo film follows his efforts to establish his own identity as the new Cap.
Anthony Mackie’s portrayal
Anthony Mackie is the current actor playing Captain America. He has brought a more grounded, less-superhuman energy to the role — Wilson doesn’t have the Super-Soldier Serum, relying instead on his Falcon wingsuit, tactical gear, and a vibranium shield. Marvel.com (official studio site) emphasizes that Mackie’s Wilson uses “wings and a more tactical approach.”
Differences from Steve Rogers
- Wilson has no super-soldier strength or speed (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- He uses flight wings and advanced technology, making him more aerial and agile
- His leadership style is less “flag and glory” and more “community and partnership”
Wilson’s Cap lacks the symbolic weight of Steve Rogers. For general audiences still associating the shield with Evans, the transition is a long-term bet — one that will take multiple films to fully pay off.
Upsides
- Sam Wilson brings diversity and a fresh perspective to the role (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- Harrison Ford’s casting adds instant star power and franchise credibility (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- Brave New World opened to $88.5 million, a solid start for a new lead (Fortune (business and economic analysis))
- Streaming release on May 28, 2025 gives new audiences a low-risk entry point (Variety (entertainment industry news))
Downsides
- Box office is a steep drop from Civil War‘s $1.153 billion, raising questions about franchise sustainability (Box Office Mojo (box office tracking and data))
- Sam Wilson lacks the super-soldier abilities that define Steve Rogers’ appeal (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- Early critical reception is unknown, creating uncertainty for undecided viewers
- Competition from other May 2025 blockbusters could cap the film’s run (Deadline (industry trade publication))
Timeline of Captain America in the MCU
- 1941 – Captain America first appears in comics (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- 2011 – Captain America: The First Avenger – Chris Evans debut (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- 2014 – Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- 2016 – Captain America: Civil War (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- 2019 – Avengers: Endgame – Steve Rogers retires (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- 2021 – The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – Sam Wilson becomes Captain America (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- 2025 – Captain America: Brave New World releases (Marvel.com (official studio site))
What We Know and What We Don’t
Confirmed facts
- Chris Evans is not in Captain America: Brave New World (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- Sam Wilson is the current Captain America in the MCU (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- Harrison Ford plays Thunderbolt Ross (Marvel.com (official studio site))
What’s unclear
- Whether Chris Evans will ever return as Steve Rogers (Marvel.com (official studio site))
- Box office performance and critical reception of Brave New World (Deadline (industry trade publication))
- The future of the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and the kindest Avenger designation (Forbes (business and entertainment analysis))
“I’ve said everything I need to say as Steve Rogers. It’s time for other people to carry the shield.”
— Chris Evans, in an interview about leaving the Captain America role (Marvel.com (official studio site))
“Sam Wilson is not Steve Rogers. That’s the point. He’s a different kind of leader, and the shield means something different with him.”
— Anthony Mackie, discussing his role as Captain America (Marvel.com (official studio site))
“Harrison Ford brings a gravitas that Thunderbolt Ross hasn’t had since the comics. This is a major addition to the MCU.”
— Marvel Studios official announcement of Harrison Ford casting (Marvel.com (official studio site))
For MCU fans facing the post-Evans era, the choice is clear: embrace Sam Wilson’s grounded, tactical take on Captain America, or sit out a franchise that has chosen evolution over nostalgia. The $200.5 million domestic gross proves enough viewers chose the first path — but the question of whether the franchise can sustain that momentum without Steve Rogers remains open.
Fans curious about the full story behind the shield’s handoff can read more in Chris Evans exit and Brave New World.
Frequently asked questions
When was Captain America created?
Captain America first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 in 1941, created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (Marvel.com (official studio site)).
What is Captain America’s shield made of?
The shield is made of vibranium, the strongest metal in the Marvel Universe (Marvel.com (official studio site)).
Who is the Red Skull?
The Red Skull (Johann Schmidt) is Captain America’s arch-nemesis, a Nazi operative transformed by an experimental supersoldier serum (Marvel.com (official studio site)).
What is the Super-Soldier Serum?
The Super-Soldier Serum is the formula that transformed Steve Rogers into Captain America, granting him peak human strength, speed, and durability (Marvel.com (official studio site)).
Where can I watch all Captain America movies?
All Captain America films are available on Disney+ starting May 28, 2025 for Brave New World (Variety (entertainment industry news)).
How many Captain America solo films are there?
There are five live-action Captain America films: The First Avenger (2011), The Winter Soldier (2014), Civil War (2016), Brave New World (2025), and the upcoming untitled sequel (Marvel.com (official studio site)).
Will there be a Captain America 5?
Marvel has not officially confirmed a fifth solo film, but Sam Wilson’s arc in Brave New World sets up potential sequels (Marvel.com (official studio site)).
What is the connection between Captain America and the Avengers?
Captain America is a founding member of the Avengers, first assembling in the 2012 film. His key relationships include Iron Man, Bucky Barnes, and Falcon (Marvel.com (official studio site)).
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Monitor, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.