Marvel Studios’ controversial and mysterious Phase 5 storyline will finally be revealed in the future movie “Captain America: Brave New World.”
After the final episode of 2021's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier premiered on Disney+, marking the final transformation of Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson into the MCU's new Captain America, Marvel Studios confirmed that he will be in Returning to the big screen in Captain America: Brave New World.
The movie is scheduled to be released on February 14, 2025, and will pit Sam Wilson's Captain America against a super soldier villain and a new President of the United States.
Marvel Studios debuted the trailer for Captain America: Brave New World at Cinemacon 2024 and provided the latest plot details about the Phase 5 project.
This included a look at Sam Wilson's new Captain America suit and gave audiences the first glimpse of new President Thaddeus Ross, played by Harrison Ford. The key role was recast following the tragic death of William Hurt in 2022.
Ross was set to be the President of the United States in Captain America: Brave New World, sparking curiosity about the series' former President Ritson (played by Dermot Mulroney). The last time we saw Ritson was in 2023's Secret Invasion, he made a shocking declaration at the end of the series.
War declaration doesn’t work?
In Marvel Studios' Secret Invasion series, President Ritson's office is quietly run by members of the Skrull rebels, including the Skrull Rava who replaced Don Cheadle's Rhodey.
Roddy rose through the ranks of the U.S. government and became Ritson's assistant. At the same time, he planned multiple assassination attempts and conspired to provoke World War III.
Although these plans failed, Ritson's newfound awareness of the dangerous Skrull impostors on Earth eventually led him to declare war on all alien species among humanity, which could threaten innocent Skrulls, The citizens of New Asgard and even a few Avengers pose a threat.
President Ritson's declaration of war on aliens in Secret Invasion triggers a wave of violence. This mainly manifested itself in the humans' targeting of the Skrulls, or what they considered the Skrulls, leading to the deaths of Skrull news anchor Chris Stearns and British Prime Minister Pamela Lawton.
A plot of this magnitude could only hold up if every subsequent project in the Marvel Cinematic Universe promised it, but that's not the case, as Secret Invasion's disappointing performance almost allowed the story to be ignored entirely.
Although "Captain Marvel" is basically a sequel to "Secret Invasion", the movie does not mention "Secret Invasion" at all.
Is the suspense of Secret Invasion a thing of the past?
Although the unresolved ending of "Secret Invasion" may be important and fascinating to explore in the future of the MCU, Marvel Studios seems to be more inclined to gloss over President Ritson's declaration of war.
This is all due to the poor performance of "Secret Invasion". The events of this series may be mentioned in the MCU's upcoming projects, or even reinterpreted.
"Captain America: Brave New World" is undoubtedly the best stage for this transformation. Most notably, Thaddeus Ross becoming president in Brave New World means that Ritterson no longer holds the position, so Marvel could actually overthrow Ritter with a presidential replacement quite simply Sen's decision.
At present, there is no confirmation that "Secret Invasion" will have a direct sequel project, and this situation seems extremely unlikely, because this fifth phase project is one of the lowest-rated projects in the MCU.
Because of this, other MCU projects must resolve the unresolved issues in Secret Invasion.
After "Captain Marvel" made no mention of "Secret Invasion" at all, "Captain America: Brave New World" became the best choice to solve those problems.
The first trailer for Captain America: Brave New World confirms that there will be a reference to President Ross's election, so there may be a reference to Ritson and his decision to go to war against the aliens, before the war actually begins. That might put an end to this.
In addition to the return of Sam Wilson and Thaddeus Ross, "Captain America: Brave New World" stars Samuel Stearns, Betty Ross, Joaquin Torres and Isaiah Blood Leigh will also return to the Marvel Universe.
remaining questions still need to be answered?
President Ritson's crusade against aliens is not the only unresolved suspense after the end of "Secret Invasion." The fifth phase of the series also revealed that there are approximately one million Skrulls hiding among human society on Earth, however this fact seems to have minimal impact on the MCU.
The ending of Secret Invasion also hinted at a new team-up consisting of Sonya Falsworth and Gia the Skrull. Gia has absorbed the abilities of many well-known MCU characters, which is still one worth tracking down. Interesting clues.
Captain America: Brave New World may gloss over some of the legacy of these stories, but not all stories should be glossed over.
