While the marketing for the film may not have put him front and center yet, fans have known since at least 2022 that Tim Blake Nelson will reprise his role as Samuel Sterns, also known as The Leader, in Captain America: Brave New World. Nelson first portrayed this character back in 2008's The Incredible Hulk and has been absent from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) until now.
It's exciting to see Marvel finally addressing this long-standing loose end, though it's somewhat unexpected that The Leader is being positioned as a villain in a Captain America film rather than leading a new Hulk movie. However, this choice is strategic. The Leader represents the kind of adversary that Sam Wilson, as the new Captain America, wouldn't anticipate, making him particularly dangerous. Let's delve into The Leader's background and explore why he might be the perfect villain for the next Captain America installment.
The Leader: Who Is Tim Blake Nelson's Character?
The Leader is widely recognized as one of Hulk's most formidable adversaries. Unlike other Hulk villains who focus on brute strength, Samuel Sterns embodies the intellectual counterpart to Bruce Banner. After exposure to gamma radiation, Sterns' intelligence soared to levels that match the Hulk's physical prowess, making him one of the most dangerous villains in the Marvel Universe.
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In The Incredible Hulk from 2008, The Leader's origin story was set up with Tim Blake Nelson playing a pre-transformation Samuel Sterns. Initially an ally to Bruce Banner, Sterns is a cellular biologist who aids the fugitive Banner in seeking a cure for his Hulk condition. However, Sterns has his own ambitions, synthesizing Banner's blood to explore its potential for eliminating diseases and enhancing human capabilities. Pressured by General Ross, Sterns helps transform Emil Blonsky into the Abomination.
The film concludes with Sterns in a narrative limbo, his forehead cut exposed to Banner's irradiated blood, initiating his transformation into The Leader.
Expect Nelson's character to look quite different when he returns in Captain America: Brave New World.
The Return of the Leader in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Incredible Hulk laid the foundation for a sequel by hinting at Sterns' transformation into The Leader. However, due to Universal Pictures owning part of the film rights, Marvel Studios has avoided producing another solo Hulk movie. Instead, Hulk's narrative has been woven into the Avengers films and Thor: Ragnarok, which explains the delay in Nelson reprising his role as The Leader.
Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo, also appeared in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. In Episode 3, Banner leaves Earth on a Sakaarian ship to address unfinished business from his gladiator days, only to return with his son, Skaar, in the season finale.
Rumors suggested The Leader might appear in She-Hulk before transitioning to the main antagonist in Captain America: Brave New World. Episode 3 introduced the Wrecking Crew, a group of construction workers using stolen Asgardian tools. Their failed attempt to steal Jen Walters' blood hinted at The Leader's involvement, but that plot didn't materialize. However, trailers for Brave New World suggest The Leader is manipulating a different set of villains.
Why the Leader Is One of the Villains in Captain America 4
The decision to feature The Leader in a Captain America sequel might seem odd at first glance, especially since he has no direct grudge against Banner. If anything, his transformation might fuel resentment towards General Ross and Emil Blonsky.
This resentment could be central to The Leader's role in Brave New World. Betrayed by a high-ranking military officer, Sterns might seek revenge against the now-President Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford. His plan could involve tarnishing Ross's reputation and undermining America's global standing, directly challenging the new Captain America, Sam Wilson.
Director Julius Onah emphasizes The Leader's unexpected nature as a key factor in his danger level. "Actions have consequences, and that's what's so great about what the MCU has been able to build," Onah told IGN at D23 in 2022. "In this universe, in this world, things that people do come back in ways that are surprising and unexpected, and Tim Blake Nelson coming back as The Leader is such an exciting thing to explore because his story now is going to challenge Sam Wilson, our new Captain America, in a way that he never expected. So it's really, really thrilling. And I think a lot of things that got set up and established years ago will allow the MCU to actually go in new directions that audiences are going to really, really be excited about."
Onah also highlighted that this crisis will test Sam Wilson's leadership skills for the first time. He'll need to rally the Avengers—or their current equivalent—against this unique threat.
"We saw what it means for somebody like him to take the shield," Onah said. "But it is also a very different MCU. It's a post-blip MCU. It's a post-Thanos MCU. So the world has changed a lot too. And the role of a hero has changed. What does that mean? The decisions he's going to have to make, and the situations he's going to be confronted with, are radically different from what Steve Rogers had to deal with. And as a result of that, because he's a leader now of this team, he's got to make decisions that are going to have massive implications. So the world has changed around him and he's a changed man, and I think that leads to some really exciting storytelling."
Sam Wilson has faced some of the MCU's most powerful villains and emerged victorious, but he's never encountered someone as intellectually formidable as The Leader. Whether he's up to this challenge remains to be seen. Interestingly, Captain America 4 sets the stage not for the next Avengers film but for the Thunderbolts movie, suggesting The Leader's actions may destabilize the symbol of Captain America, paving the way for a darker era in the MCU.
What role do you think The Leader will play in Captain America: Brave New World? Share your theories in the comments below.
