DUBAI: In the latest, long-delayed, chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe — “Captain America: Brave New World,” directed by Julius Onah — audiences are ushered into a transformative new era as Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson takes up the iconic shield last wielded by Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers. 

Mackie says the role redefines what it means to be a superhero, especially because, unlike his predecessor, Wilson doesn’t have the advantage of taking a super-soldier serum. 

“I think (the film) has a huge amount of hope and empathy. Sam Wilson never took the super-serum. Being a counsellor and a humanitarian and a leader, there’s a certain amount of empathy and understanding that he has to go into conflicts with; brute force cannot be his first option. Because, for him, there’s consequences. He can actually die. He’s a regular person,” Mackie told Arab News. “I want people to see Sam Wilson and recognize a bit of themselves in him, because of how humane, humble, and kind he is.” 

Joining Mackie in this new era is Hollywood icon Harrison Ford, making his Marvel debut as President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, a role he inherited from the late William Hurt. 

For Ford, who also portrays the Red Hulk in the film, stepping into the MCU was an unexpected but exciting challenge. 

“I (know) how successful and beloved these films are, and I thought it was an intriguing world to explore,” Ford said. “They brought me a part that had a little taste of everything. To play the president and the Red Hulk in the same film? I’ve never been offered anything like that before.” 

Beyond the spectacle, Ford was drawn to the film’s emotional core, particularly his character’s personal struggles. “I think we made a very entertaining film, but also one with real humanity. What attracted me was the dilemma he faces with his daughter, his estrangement, his past mistakes, and his desire to fix them. That failure intrigued me, especially in a Marvel film.” 

Producer Nate Moore says he’s especially grateful for Ford taking on the role. 

“He’s a Hollywood legend — incredibly talented. And what’s great about Harrison is that he really loves Bill Hurt’s performance, and felt like he wanted to build on that, rather than do an imitation. So this Thunderbolt Ross is something Harrison crafted on his own, but based on where the character had been before,” said Moore. 

“And I think narratively, what’s cool is both Ross and Sam find themselves trying to fill really big shoes and ultimately find themselves on the opposite side of an issue that that puts them on a direct collision course, which is a ton of fun.” 

The film’s production hasn’t been without controversy. Apart from rumors of lengthy and extensive reshoots, “Brave New World” ran into further trouble when Israeli actress Shira Haas got the role of Ruth Bat-Seraph, aka Sabra, an Israeli superhero and Mossad agent. 

While the character’s Mossad ties and background have been scrubbed for the film, the character is still Israeli. 

“The Ruth Bat-Seraph that we meet in ‘Brave New World’ is different to her comic counterpart, as a lot of our heroes are,” Moore said. “Very rarely can we do a one-to-one translation of a comic book, because comics occupy such a different space, and sometimes they’re incredibly dated. But what we thought was interesting was our Ruth Bat-Seraph works within the US government, very close to President Ross, so her perspective on him is different to Sam’s, and that puts these two characters at odds.” 

Regardless of the film’s challenges, Moore believes it will resonate with audiences. 

“I think the film may be surprisingly emotional for some people, because it really asks the questions ‘Can a man be redeemed?’ And ‘Is there a way to find common ground with somebody who you assume to be in opposition to yourself?’ Art can only do so much, but I do think we live in a world that is increasingly complicated, where opinions are increasingly stratified, and Sam’s superpower is his empathy; he tries to build connections with people. And if people take that away with them, I think that’s a win.”