Why Is Hulk Villain The Leader in Captain America: Brave New World?

While the marketing for the film hasn't yet placed him in the spotlight, fans have been aware since 2022 that Tim Blake Nelson will reprise his role as Samuel Sterns/The Leader in Captain America: Brave New World. Nelson first brought this character to life in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, and after a long hiatus, The Leader is finally making his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

It's exciting to see Marvel tying up this loose end, but it's somewhat unexpected that The Leader is being introduced as a villain in a Captain America film rather than a new Hulk movie. However, this twist is intentional. The Leader represents a type of adversary that Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, wouldn't anticipate facing, which makes him particularly dangerous. Let's delve into The Leader's background and explore why he could be a fitting villain for the next Captain America installment.

The Leader is traditionally considered Hulk's primary archnemesis. Unlike most Hulk villains who seek to outmuscle the Jade Giant, Samuel Sterns is Bruce Banner's intellectual counterpart. After being exposed to gamma radiation, Sterns' intelligence soared to match the Hulk's strength, positioning him as one of the most formidable villains in the Marvel Universe.

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In The Incredible Hulk from 2008, The Leader was set up as a future MCU villain. Tim Blake Nelson portrayed a pre-transformation Samuel Sterns, who initially aids the fugitive Bruce Banner as a cellular biologist in search of a cure for his Hulk condition. However, Sterns has a different agenda; he synthesizes Banner's blood, believing it could unlock humanity's full potential and eradicate disease. His collaboration with General Ross leads to Emil Blonsky's transformation into the Abomination. The film concludes with Sterns in a narrative limbo, his forehead swelling after being exposed to Banner's irradiated blood.

The Return of the Leader in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Incredible Hulk laid the groundwork for a sequel by teasing Sterns' transformation into The Leader. However, Marvel Studios has avoided producing another solo Hulk film due to Universal Pictures holding part of the film rights. Consequently, Hulk's narrative has unfolded in the Avengers films and Thor: Ragnarok, which explains the delay in Nelson reprising his role as The Leader.

Bruce Banner, portrayed by Mark Ruffalo, also appeared in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. In Episode 3, he leaves Earth on a Sakaarian ship to address unfinished business from his gladiator days, returning in the season finale with his son, Skaar. Rumors suggested The Leader might appear in She-Hulk before becoming the main villain in Captain America: Brave New World. Although this didn't happen, the trailers for Brave New World hint at The Leader manipulating other villains behind the scenes.

Why the Leader Is One of the Villains in Captain America 4

The Leader's appearance in a Captain America sequel might seem odd, as he has no direct grudge against Banner. If anything, he might resent General Ross and Emil Blonsky for his transformation. This could be the crux of The Leader's role in Brave New World. Betrayed by a decorated military officer, Sterns might seek revenge against now-President Ross, played by Harrison Ford, aiming to tarnish his reputation and discredit America globally. This could also put him in direct conflict with the new Captain America, Sam Wilson.

Director Julius Onah emphasized that The Leader's danger lies in his unexpected nature as a villain for Sam Wilson. "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 serve as the first major test of Sam's leadership skills. He'll need to rally the Avengers—or whatever team currently represents them—against a 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."

What role do you think The Leader will play in Captain America: Brave New World? Share your theories in the comments below.