Warning! This article contains major spoilers for Captain America: Brave New WorldCaptain America: Brave NewWorldfinally addressed the future of theMCU’s Avengers six years after they last assembled inAvengers: Endgame,although Sam Wilson expressed doubt about bringing them back after everything that happened. Given Sam Wilson’s predecessor, Steve Rogers, was the leader of theAvengers throughout their MCUtenure, it stands to reason that Sam would be the one to address their absence now that he holds the Captain America mantle. This is especially true after other key colleagues like Thor and Bruce Banner failed to even attempt a reunion in their most recent appearances.
Still, it isn’t as if Sam Wilson is the one to float the idea inCaptain America: Brave New World. Instead, President Thaddeus Ross requests that the new Captain America reassemble the team despite playing a key role in their dissolution inCaptain America: Civil War, a point that isn’t lost on Sam. While the Avengers would unwittingly reassemble inAvengers: Endgamein the immensely consequential Battle of Earth, it didn’t take long for the aftermath to take its toll and immediately see them disband once again. Now, it’s only a matter of time beforea new Avengers lineupforms.
Why The Avengers Fell Apart After Endgame
The Team Were Ultimately Rudderless Before Going Their Separate Ways
Despite the movie’s title, the Avengers didn’t technically reform inAvengers: Infinity War, with their disparity being a key factor in Thanos' victory. This was due to the rift driven between the members inCaptain America: Civil War, though they would be compelled to reassemble in a last-ditch attempt to reverse the Snap inAvengers: Endgame. After successfully enacting the Time Heist to reverse the Snap, the largest iteration of the team would then rally against atime-traveling Thanos in the Battle of Earth. Following this,various circumstances would pull them apartonce more.
Traveling the cosmos
Deceased
War Machine
Continued working for the United States government or was possibly replaced by a Skrull betweenAvengers: EndgameandSecret Invasion.
Continued his studies before causing everyone to forget Peter Parker.
Rocket Raccoon
Joined back up with the Guardians of the Galaxy before leading the newest iteration.
Nebula
Joined back up with the Guardians of the Galaxy before leaving to help Knowhere.
Ant-Man
The closest the team has come to reassembling is inShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, where Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers consult Shang-Chi, Katy, and Wong about the Ten Rings. Ultimately, while several erstwhile Avengers members continued to operate afterAvengers: Endgame,the absence of any leader following Steve Rogers' retirement and Tony Stark’s death left a vacuum that has yet to be filled. While this responsibility is most likely to land at the new Captain America’s feet, therefore, Sam Wilson expressed reticence when asked inCaptain America: Brave New World.
Why Sam Wilson Doesn’t Want To Bring Back The Avengers
Sam Wilson Is Concerned About Government Oversight
After finally embracing the role inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the new Captain America returned inCaptain America: Brave New Worldas a foremost agent of the United States government. Following Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross' presidential win, Sam shares concerns about working with a once decidedly antagonistic figure, though he ultimately defers to the authority of the office.This culminates in Sam Wilson balking at the idea of reforming the Avengers under President Ross' purviewwhen Ross makes his request soon after winning his election campaign.
Captain America: Brave New World Cast & Marvel Character Guide
Sam Wilson’s big-screen debut as the MCU’s Captain America will bring back several familiar faces, while also introducing new and exciting characters.
Sam’s reticence mirrors that of Steve Rogers, further exemplifying why his predecessor chose him for the role. Steve’s rebellion against theSokovia Accords inCaptain America: Civil Waris partly out of concern that the Avengers (and other superheroes) would be constrained by the government’s whims. Sam addresses this concern with Ross,asking what would happen should Ross and the Avengers disagree on how to approach a situation- though Ross dismisses the eventuality as something they can circle back to should it ever arise.
Why Sam Decides To Bring Back The Avengers
Sam Realizes The World Needs The Avengers After The Events Of Captain America: Brave New World
President Ross offers Captain America enough time to consider the request before answering. Sam’s decision is then made a lot easier by subsequent events, wherein Samuel Sterns nearly orchestrates a war between the USA and Japan and successfully causes President Ross to transform into the Red Hulk and wreak havoc in the Capitol. Sam is consistently aware of his physical shortcomings in the face of such threats, reiterating that he should have taken the super soldier serum beforeultimately resolving that help in the form of other superheroes would have been particularly useful during his close call with Red Hulk.
Sam acknowledges that Red Hulk could kill him with a single punch, and only survives his encounter through the use of his vibranium wings and shield before talking Red Hulk down.
Thankfully, President Ross' rampage would cause him to step down from the presidency and face incarceration on the Raft, further alleviating the pressure of Sam’s decision. After visiting Ross aboard the Raft, Wilson visits an injured Joaquin Torres in hospital where he floats the idea of the newly minted Falcon being among the first members of the new team. While his decision to reform the Avengers atthe end ofCaptain America: Brave New Worlddoesn’t circumvent possible governmental oversight, it seems as though Sam Wilson has resolved to prioritize providing the world with the Avengers.
