Chris Evans Says ‘Sam Wilson is Captain America’ Ahead of 4th Movie: Everything to Know About Anthony Mackie’s Marvel Film

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Chris Evans Says 'Sam Wilson is Captain America' Ahead of 4th Movie: Everything to Know About Anthony Mackie's Marvel Film

A new leading man. Captain America 4 will feature Anthony Mackie playing the star-spangled superhero, a fact Chris Evans emphasized when addressing speculation that he'd return to the big screen as Steve Rogers. "Sam Wilson is Captain America," Evans tweeted in July 2022 after a tweet from The Hollywood Reporter claimed it was "unclear" if he'd return as Cap after leading the first three flicks. "It is unclear if Chris Evans would reprise his role as the first #CaptainAmerica (though if the question of who is entitled to carry the shield continues, all bets are off)," THR tweeted at the time. "Having stacked casts in solo outings is a key Marvel ingredient at this point." It's worth noting that Evans didn't deny speculation that he'd appear, but he confirmed what fans have known since Avengers: Endgame — Steve Rogers is no longer Captain America. The Brooklyn-born hero passed the title to Sam Wilson (F.K.A. Falcon) at the end of the 2019 movie, which was Evans' final appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Audiences saw Mackie's character come to terms with the weight of Steve's legacy and eventually accept his role as the new Captain America in the 2021 Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. In the final episode's credits, a title card read Captain America and the Winter Soldier, confirming that Sam has worked through his concerns and fully accepted the mantle. The Lightyear star has been supportive of Mackie's promotion. “No one better to do it. I mean, [Mackie] honestly does it justice," Evans told Yahoo in June 2022. "I’m so proud of him. I can’t wait to see what they do in the future with it, but if there’s any tearshed, it’s just for the sweet memories I had.” While the Boston native made it clear that Steve Rodgers is no longer the superhero wearing the stars and stripes, there's always the possibility that he could appear. His character survived Endgame and went back in time to reunite with his love Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). The Knives Out star doesn't want to ruin that ending. "That seems to be something people would like to see," Evans told ComicBook.com in June. "I don't want to disappoint anybody but it's tough to ... It was such a good run and I'm so happy with it. It's so precious to me. It would have to be perfect. It just would be scary to rattle something that is, again, so, so dear to me. That role means so much to me. So, to revisit it, it would be a tall order." At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2022, Marvel boss Kevin Feige revealed that Captain America: New World Order is part of Phase Five of the cinematic universe and is set to come out in 2024 — just a couple months before The Thunderbolts hits theaters. Scroll down to find out everything we know so far about Marvel Studios' fourth Captain America movie:

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Does 'Captain America 4' Have a Release Date?

Marvel Studios announced in July 2022 that Captain America: New World Order is expected to hit theaters on May 3, 2024. However, the movie got a new title and release date in June 2023. Amid the Writers Guild of America strike, the film — now titled Captain America: Brave New World — will not hit theaters on July 26, 2023.

It's assumed that it will hit theaters first. Marvel's TV shows go straight to Disney+, the films typically earn the big bucks at the box office before streaming starts a few months later. 

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What Is the Title?

The fourth film was originally titled Captain America: New World Order, Marvel confirmed in at San Diego Comic-Con 2022. However, nearly one year later, they changed the title to Captain America: Brave New World.

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Who Is In the Cast?

Mackie was the first confirmed cast member. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier viewers will also recognize Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Sam's army liaison, and Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, an older veteran who received the super soldier serum, Marvel Studios confirmed at D23 Expo in September 2022.

During the panel in Anaheim, California, it was revealed that the Cap 4 cast will also introduce Shira Haas as Sabra, an Israeli superhero in the Marvel Comics, Variety reported.

Meanwhile, Marvel also confirmed an unexpected return. Tim Blake Nelson will come back as Samuel Sterns/The Leader. He was last seen as the villain in 2008's The Incredible Hulk.

Sebastian Stan, who plays Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, has not been confirmed as a cast member. He'll be appearing in the Thunderbolts, which will hit theaters two months after Mackie's Cap movie debuts. 

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What Kind of Movie Is 'Captain America: Brave New World'?

Marvel movies can range from comedy to horror and everything in between, but Captain America: Brave New World will be a "paranoid thriller," Onah told audiences at D23. 

Mackie said he's excited to try something new. “I’m nervous! I’m excited. It’s everything I expected it to be," he gushed during the presentation.

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Will Chris Evans Be In the 4th Film?

The actor has said it would be a "tall order" to get him back as Steve Rogers, but he has not confirmed or denied if he'll appear in the fourth film. 

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Who Is Directing 'Captain America 4'?

Julius Onah will direct the film, THR reported in June 2022. Malcolm Spellman, who led the writing team on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, will pen the script. 

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When Does Filming Start?

“We're getting it all together to start shooting next year,” Mackie told E! News in September 2022, noting they were in pre-production. Filming started in spring 2023.

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Is There a Specific Scene Anthony Mackie Wants to Include?

“I want a fight scene that rivals Chris Evans' fight scene in the elevator [in Captain America: The Winter Solider],” the new leading man told E! News in September 2022. “When he fought like 10 dudes in the elevator. That was a badass scene. The first time I saw that I was like, ‘That's crazy.' So I just want a fight scene that rivals that.”

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Who Is Harrison Ford Playing In 'Captain America: New World Order'?

General Thadeus Ross was previously played by William Hurt, who died in March 2022 at age 71. Harrison Ford will take over the role in the fourth Captain America film, The Hollywood Reporter revealed in October 2022.

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Who Is Xosha Roquemore Playing In the 4th 'Captain America' Movie?

The actress, who previously starred in The Mindy Project and Black Monday, joined the cast in a top secret role, Deadline reported in January 2023. "So excited!!!!!!!!!" Roquemore tweeted after the news broke.  

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How Will the President Factor Into 'Captain America: New World Order'?

General Ross is now the President of the United States, and he'll have to work alongside Sam's Captain America.

"There's a dynamic between President Ross and Sam Wilson," Feige explained to Entertainment Weekly in February 2023. "They have a history together, but in this film, we'll be seeing the dynamic between Captain America and the president of the United States in a way that is just incredible."

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Will Liv Tyler Return as Betty Ross?

Yes, Tyler will make an appearance as the scientist she only played once in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, the second movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed in March 2023. Captain America: Brave New World will be the 34th film in the franchise.

Betty was Hulk's love interest and the daughter of General Thaddeus Ross in the film. The MCU has since recast Edward Norton's Hulk with Mark Ruffalo and General Ross has been recast with Harrison Ford following actor William Hurt's death.