Captain America: New World Order Director Reveals That The Film Will Dive Into Sam Wilson’s Leadership Abilities

Captain America: New World Order director Julius Onah reveals that the upcoming film will highlight Sam Wilson’s leadership skills.

It’s been over a year since we’ve fully witnessed Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson embrace the title of becoming the new Captain America. His whole journey as the new Captain America started when he first appeared in Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014. He was one of Steve Rogers’ most trusted allies and The Falcon back then.

Since 2014, Mackie’s Sam Wilson has appeared in various MCU films and starred in his own Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. We remember that in Avengers: Endgame, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) entrusted him with the trademark vibranium-made shield.

After The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson is returning as Captain America in Captain America: New World Order. While the plot details for the upcoming fourth standalone film for Captain America remain under wraps, its director shares a few details about it.

Early this year, Marvel announced that Julius Onah would be directing the feature film. Onah has previously worked on Netflix’s The Cloverfield Paradox in 2018. In 2019, he co-wrote, produced, and directed the social thriller drama Luce, which has received positive reviews from critics worldwide.

More details about the film were revealed at the recent D23 Expo. A character from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk appears to come back and serve as the main antagonist for Captain America: New World Order. The movie will begin its production early next year and is expected to come to theatres in the spring of 2024. The film will be at the latter end of MCU’s Phase 5 and will hit the cinemas just months before Thunderbolts. 

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Captain America: New World Order will test Sam Wilson’s leadership

Aside from the casting and production details, Onah has hinted more about what to expect for the upcoming movie. He mentions that Captain America: New World Order will be different compared to the previous Captain America standalone films.

Onah emphasizes this difference in his interview with ET at D23 Expo. The director reveals that the film will test Sam Wilson’s character and leadership in ways he’s never tested. This is an exciting dimension to focus on, especially when it’s Sam’s character.  You can check Onah’s full statement below:

“We’re really testing him. And now that he’s taken the mantle of Captain America, he’s really going to question what it means to lead. And all the action and all the emotionality of the story is really built around him answering that question. His values are going to determine so much of what’s going to happen moving forward. We’re putting that to the test in this film.”

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has slightly touched upon the pressure Sam Wilson has on his shoulders after taking the title of Captain America. Throughout the series, Wilson is combating the thought and pressure of being the new Captain America. It was only until the last episode that he finally embraced it. During his introduction to the MCU, Sam Wilson was more a sidekick than the main hero. And this would be an interesting layer that the movie will touch upon, especially in a post-Thanos timeline. 

Based on Onah’s words, we’ll see another side of Mackie’s Sam Wilson in this movie. Perhaps we’ll see Wilson’s Captain America lead his own team just like Steve Rogers did during his tenure as Cap. We might have to wait a few more months before we actually know what the movie will be about. Surely, what will happen in the film will affect the rest of Phase 5’s films.

Captain America: New World Order will hit theatres in 2024. Meanwhile, you can watch The Falcon and the Winter Soldier exclusively on Disney+.

Paul is many things. He's a fan of anime, superheroes, and everything in between. He dedicates his downtime to annoying the heck out of his cats and dog.