Marvel Studios is known for making changes to scripts and projects during production. In the past, this process led to well-known stories, such as how Jeff Bridges, Jon Favreau, and Robert Downey Jr. made new scenes while filming Iron Man. Recently, though, this approach has not brought the same results for the company. The development of Captain America: Brave New World is a clear example.
A new book, “Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World – The Art of the Movie,” reveals details about how the film was made. Julius Onah directed the movie. Anthony Mackie plays Captain America for the first time in a main film after picking up the shield in the Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. However, this movie had a troubled production. Several different writers joined, in addition to original screenwriter Malcolm Spellman.
The film went through a number of script changes and reshoots from January to May 2024. Some characters were changed or removed, such as members of the Serpent Society, who had been seen in set photos. One person on X posted screenshots from the book showing unused ideas, such as a version of The Leader that looked more grotesque, and Serpent Society members who looked closer to the comic books.
Major changes were made to the film’s villains to keep the story more grounded. The group known in the comics as the Serpent Society became just “Serpent” in the movie. Actor Giancarlo Esposito played the main villain as a mercenary without special abilities. Preview images suggest early versions of the film would have kept more comic-style elements in the story.
Some images show that Isiah Bradley, played by Carl Lumbly, could have had a bigger role—wearing a Patriot suit and fighting as a supersoldier. The early version of the film appeared to be more ambitious, but reshoots changed characters and storylines. The main conflict instead involved Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) turning into Red Hulk and battling Captain America in Washington, D.C.
“Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World – The Art of the Movie” proves once again that changes during production have a major impact on the direction of the films and the characters that appear. In this case apparently, not for the better.
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English (US) · 