Hulk Villain Leader's Role in Captain America: Brave New World Explained

While the marketing for the film may not have spotlighted him yet, fans have been eagerly anticipating Tim Blake Nelson's return as Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader, in Captain America: Brave New World since at least 2022. Nelson originally brought this character to life in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, and his comeback marks a significant development in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Although it might seem unusual for The Leader to appear as a villain in a Captain America film rather than a new Hulk movie, this twist is precisely what makes him such a formidable adversary for Sam Wilson, the new Captain America.

The Leader stands out as one of Hulk's primary adversaries, but his approach is starkly different from other Hulk villains. Instead of trying to overpower the Hulk with brute strength, Samuel Sterns leverages his intellect, which was amplified to extraordinary levels after exposure to gamma radiation. This makes him as intellectually formidable as the Hulk is physically, positioning him as one of the most dangerous villains in the Marvel Universe.

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In 2008's The Incredible Hulk, The Leader was set up as a future MCU villain. Tim Blake Nelson portrayed a pre-transformation Samuel Sterns, a cellular biologist who initially aids Bruce Banner in his quest to cure his Hulk condition. However, Sterns has his own agenda, intrigued by the potential of Banner's blood to eradicate disease and enhance human capabilities. His collaboration with General Ross leads to the transformation of Emil Blonsky into the Abomination. The film concludes with Sterns on the brink of transformation, his head swelling due to exposure to Banner's irradiated blood, leaving his story hanging.

The Return of the Leader in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Incredible Hulk teased a sequel with Sterns' transformation into The Leader, but due to Universal Pictures owning part of the film rights, Marvel Studios has not produced another standalone Hulk film. Instead, Hulk's narrative has unfolded through the Avengers movies and Thor: Ragnarok. This has also delayed Nelson's return as The Leader. Meanwhile, in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Bruce Banner departed Earth in Episode 3, only to return in the 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 he didn't appear in She-Hulk, the trailers for Brave New World suggest he may be 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 film might seem unexpected, given his lack of direct conflict with Banner. However, his transformation and subsequent betrayal by General Ross could fuel a vendetta against the US military and its figures, including the new President Ross, now portrayed by Harrison Ford. This vendetta might extend to tarnishing America's image globally, putting the new Captain America, Sam Wilson, directly in his crosshairs.

Director Julius Onah emphasized that The Leader's unexpected nature makes him especially dangerous. "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 confrontation will serve as the first major test of Sam's leadership, requiring him to rally the Avengers against an unconventional 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? Let us know your theories in the comments below.