As you're probably aware, the teaser for Captain America: Brave New World has landed. Marvel's latest tantalising snippet got over a million views on YouTube in less than an hour, unsurprisingly. And there is a lot to take away from the sub-two minute video.
Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross (Harrison Ford) is now the President of the United States. Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is still fighting the good fight, with Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) by his side. Torres may even take on the title of 'Falcon' - given that two winged warriors can briefly be seen. Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) also returns, and it seems the troubled super soldier has been brainwashed into going after the President. I wonder who could have done that. The prime suspect isn't exactly seen - beyond silhouette, anyway - although what is likely to be his creepy little lab certainly is, and he can be heard sharing a snippet of his philosophy.
The question is; what does all this have to do with the dead, partially emerged Celestial from Eternals? Yes, several countries are after the rich in resources island/statue now sticking out of the ocean. This could be the MCU's equivalent of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which suggests a tense and action-packed finale. But it's unclear whether our unseen friend is interested in Celestial Island, or if he's simply using the tense situation to enact his plan. Maybe he's looking to get in on the lucrative holiday market by opening a luxury resort on the island. What is clear is that all is not what it seems within Ross' administration, and Giancarlo Esposito's unknown character is behind a great deal of the chaos. Could that be why the President is looking to mend fences with Sam Wilson and once again make Captain America an "official military position"?
It would seem, however, that Sam is still figuring out who he is as Captain America, and I can't imagine he's going to see eye-to-eye with Ross on many things. But after resisting being under Ross' thumb before, and seeing the trouble it caused, how will Sam feel about it now that he's the man carrying the shield?
The teaser suggests that Brave New World has a similar feel to that of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, with themes of conspiracy, infiltration and political upheaval - no bad thing, The Winter Soldier is still one of the top movies in the MCU, and one of my personal favourites. "Global power is shifting", according to our unseen friend. Maybe he's not planning to open a holiday resort. Either way, politics looks to play a big part. Which probably explains why Marvel's big red friend shows up... because nothing is more rage inducing than politics! Yes that's right, Red Hulk is set to make his MCU debut. Begging the question; what sets him off? Why does Red Hulk smash? And is that him tearing up the White House? I get the feeling that shot of the President's humble abode disintegrating has had something removed, as is Marvel's habit with trailers. They're always holding something back.
However the biggest revelation of the trailer, political or otherwise is Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross without a moustache. In what is actually a rather nice tribute to the late, great William Hurt, Sam points out that he's "still getting used to the new look". Well I have to agree. But as we all know, a career in politics can demand a lot, as President Ross points out; "They said lose the moustache or lose the election". Apparently the price of the presidency is a moustache. It's a funny joke, but in the opinion of this movie blogger, a bad sentiment. In fact, more heart-breaking words have never been said in all the MCU! Ross giving up his beloved moustache is akin to Iron Man losing the suit. That said, Steve Rogers lost his shield, Hawkeye lost his hearing, and Thor lost his hair and his hammer... and pretty much everything else, and they all survived. And who knows? Part of Ross' transformation into Red Hulk may involve a regrowing of the moustache. Wouldn't that be something?
Might there be a deeper reason behind the choice to take away Ross' moustache, however? Could it be that Harrison Ford can't pull off a moustache? I mean, can he? Check out the above pictures and let me know what you think. The man is a cool looking dude, even today. He's made blasters, bullwhips, fedoras, and jumping off buses look cool. Who would have thought that old man Indiana Jones could be cool? Well probably most of us, but it was Ford who made it happen. So it might just be that Ford and moustache don't go well together. Judging by the above pictures it's not exactly a great look for him, but he does look particularly Ross-like. I guess we'll never know how a moustachioed Ford would have worked out, and a moustache is a small price to pay to see both Thaddeus Ross return and Harrison Ford in the MCU. It also differentiates nicely between William Hurt's portrayal of the character, and Ford's, so we don't forget who got us here, to the point where Red Hulk could join the MCU.
So the first teaser for Captain America: Brave New World is very exciting. There's lots of action and intrigue, albeit without the moustache. I like the fact that this has similar feels to The Winter Soldier, with a more grounded story, by MCU standards, anyway. That certainly seems like a high bar, but still a good one to aim for. However, I'm still hoping for a moustachioed Red Hulk!
Captain America: Brave New World is set to hit cinemas on 14th February 2025.
What are your thoughts on the Captain America: Brave New World teaser? Leave a comment below or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads. You can also email us at moviemoustache@gmail.com.
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