While the marketing for the film may not have prominently featured him yet, fans have been aware since at least 2022 that Tim Blake Nelson will reprise his role as Samuel Sterns, also known as The Leader, in Captain America: Brave New World. Nelson first brought this character to life in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, and now, after a long hiatus, The Leader is making his much-anticipated return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

It's exciting to see Marvel tying up this loose end, though it's unexpected that The Leader is being introduced as a Captain America villain rather than starring in a new Hulk movie. However, this choice is strategic. The Leader represents a type of adversary that Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, would least expect to confront, making him a formidable and unpredictable threat. Let's delve into The Leader's background and explore why he might be a fitting villain for the next Captain America installment.

The Leader is undeniably one of the Hulk's most iconic adversaries. Unlike other Hulk villains who focus on brute strength, Samuel Sterns is the intellectual counterpart to Bruce Banner. After being exposed to gamma radiation, his intelligence surged to extraordinary levels, positioning him as a villain whose brainpower rivals the Hulk's physical might. This makes The Leader one of the most dangerous threats in the Marvel Universe.

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In The Incredible Hulk from 2008, the groundwork was laid for The Leader's emergence as a future MCU villain. Tim Blake Nelson portrayed a pre-transformation Samuel Sterns, a cellular biologist assisting the fugitive Bruce Banner in finding a cure for his condition. However, Sterns had a different vision for the Hulk's power, synthesizing Banner's blood in hopes of eradicating disease and unlocking human potential. Coerced by General Ross, Sterns also played a role in transforming Emil Blonsky into the Abomination.

The film left Sterns in narrative limbo, his head swelling after exposure to Banner's irradiated blood, hinting at his transformation into The Leader.

Expect Nelson's character to look notably different when he returns in Captain America: Brave New World.

The Return of the Leader in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Incredible Hulk set the stage for a sequel featuring The Leader, but Marvel Studios has avoided producing another standalone Hulk film, largely due to Universal Pictures retaining part of the film rights. This has led to Hulk's story unfolding in the Avengers films and Thor: Ragnarok, delaying Nelson's return as The Leader.

Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo, also appeared in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, where he left Earth in Episode 3 on a Sakaarian ship, returning in the season finale with his son, Skaar. Rumors suggested The Leader might appear in She-Hulk, possibly setting him up as the main villain for Captain America: Brave New World. Episode 3 introduced the Wrecking Crew, villains linked to a mysterious benefactor interested in gamma science. Although The Leader wasn't revealed as their mastermind, trailers for Brave New World suggest he might be pulling the strings of other villains.

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

The Leader's appearance in a Captain America film rather than a Hulk movie might seem odd, especially since he has no direct vendetta against Bruce Banner. If resentment exists, it would be towards General Ross and Emil Blonsky for his transformation. This could be a key factor in his role in Brave New World. With Harrison Ford now portraying the now-President Ross (replacing the late William Hurt), The Leader might seek to tarnish Ross's reputation and destabilize America's global standing. This could lead him to target the new Captain America, Sam Wilson.

Director Julius Onah has emphasized that The Leader's danger lies in his unexpected nature as a villain for Sam Wilson. At D23 in 2022, Onah told IGN, "Actions have consequences, and that's what's so great about what the MCU has been able to build. 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 conflict will serve as the first major test of Sam's leadership skills, requiring him to rally a new version of the Avengers against an unconventional threat. He noted, "We saw what it means for somebody like him to take the shield. 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.