Summary
- Captain America movie offers subtle nods to MCU history and comics.
- Adamantium’s introduction hints at future X-Men plotlines.
- The Leader’s mind control and Sterns’ role set the stage for MCU’s future.
Captain America: Brave New World is packed with hidden details, callbacks, and nods to the rich history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the comics that inspired it. As the first solo Captain America film since Sam Wilson took up the mantle, the movie delivers plenty of Easter eggs that longtime fans will appreciate.
Whether you’re a die-hard Marvel fan or just love catching hidden details, this film has plenty to uncover, from deep-cut character references to subtle world-building hints about the MCU’s future. Here are the best Easter eggs and references in Captain America: Brave New World.
Spoilers For The Entire Movie!
A Nod To The Late William Hurt
While Marvel tries to keep the same actor in the same role for as long as possible, real life has a way to stand in the way of fiction. In the case of the character Thaddeus Ross, the character needed to be recast for the movie due to the unfortunate passing of William Hurt (the original actor) back in 2022.
This is alluded to by Sam when he first meets President Ross in the White House, saying that he is still getting used to the ‘new look.’ Of course, in-universe he is referring to Ross having shaved his iconic mustache, but it also works as a nod to the legendary actor that played Ross for so many years before Harrison Ford.
6
The Source Of Adamantium
The Stage Is Set For The X-Men
A big nod made by the film is to the celestial that nearly destroyed the Earth in the Eternals movie. It’s less of a nod and more of a plot point, where several countries are fighting for control over the new mineral that the corpse of the celestial is made out of: adamantium.
It seems this celestial is unique to others due to how Sersei dealt with it, hence why other dead celestials, like the one from Knowhere, aren’t made of adamantium.
The mention of adamantium is actually key for future plots, specifically about a new introduction for the legendary Wolverine. This is due to his bones being famously made out of adamantium, so we can expect the mutant to have a new introduction in the MCU in the not-so-distant future.
5
The Mr. Blue Song
A Callback To The Original Film
Throughout the film, Samuel Sterns (known as the Leader in the comics) manages to pull the strings from behind the scenes thanks to his mind control technique. This process has two steps: brainwashing someone with flashing lights (likely many times during a long period of time) and then activating them by playing a song.
Related
Marvel Rivals: The Story So Far
So, what’s with all the point capturing and galaxy eating? Here’s the complete story of Marvel Rivals so far.
The song chosen by the Leader is Mr. Blue by The Fleetwoods, a clever nod to the 2008 movie The Incredible Hulk. In it, Bruce Banner was in contact with a mysterious man of science known only as Mr. Blue, who he later meets in New York City, and it turns out to be Samuel Sterns.
4
Congressman Bucky
Getting Ready For The Thunderbolts
In the aftermath of the battle at Celestial Island, Sam is watching over Joaquin, the new Falcon, who was gravely injured during the confrontation. He contemplates his companion alone until someone else joins him in the waiting room: Bucky Barnes, his old friend who is currently running for congress.
This moment is a reference to the past and the future, even if it isn’t apparent at first glance. For one, their conversation clearly references their time together during the show Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but Bucky’s role as congressman is a nod to his role in the upcoming movie The Thunderbolts.
3
Acknowledgment Of Other Hulks
Red Is A New Color For Them
Someone transforming into a big, muscular, monochrome version of themselves shouldn’t be something new for the people of Earth, since both Hulk and She-Hulk were prominently shown in the media and are known public figures.
What is new is the red hue that makes Ross’ version of the Hulk so iconic, which is referenced by a journalist with the comment ‘since when were they red.’ However, the military seems to have less knowledge of Hulks in general, since they keep shooting regular bullets at something that is unfazed by them.
2
Betty Ross
Liv Tyler Is Back
A big plot point in the Incredible Hulk movie was how displeased general Ross was at his daughter Betty for being romantically involved with Bruce Banner. Both Ross and Banner were recast for different reasons, but the character of Betty was never used again, nor was her relationship with Bruce ever relevant.
Well, Betty is back briefly in Captain America: Brave New World, specifically to rekindle her relationship with her father. This also marks the return of Liv Tyler to the MCU, although it is doubtful her return is anything more significant than a way to give closure to the story of Ross.
1
The Multiverse Calculations
The Leader Is On To Something
The post credits scene of Captain America: Brave New World has Sam meeting with Sterns in the Raft. There, the Leader gives an ominous speech about heroes, other worlds, and the multiverse at large, a clear nod to stories to come like the Fantastic Four and the Avengers films.
We already know that the stories of the MCU cover aspects of the multiverse, since they have been doing so for a while. But these tales haven’t been widespread knowledge for characters like Sam Wilson, something that will soon change in upcoming movies.
