While the marketing for the film hasn't yet placed him in the spotlight, fans have known since at least 2022 that Tim Blake Nelson will reprise his role as Samuel Sterns, also known as The Leader, in Captain America: Brave New World. Nelson first brought this character to life in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, and after a long hiatus, The Leader is finally making his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

It's exciting to see Marvel tying up this loose end, but it's somewhat unexpected that The Leader is being positioned as a villain in a Captain America film rather than a new Hulk movie. However, this twist is intentional. The Leader represents a type of adversary that Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, wouldn't typically expect to face, which makes him particularly dangerous. Let's delve into The Leader's background and explore why he might be a fitting villain for the next Captain America installment.

The Leader is traditionally considered Hulk's primary archnemesis. Unlike most of Hulk's foes who seek to outmatch him in strength, Samuel Sterns is the intellectual counterpart to Bruce Banner. After being exposed to gamma radiation, Sterns' intelligence surged dramatically, making him as brilliant as the Hulk is powerful. This makes him one of the most formidable villains in the Marvel Universe.

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In The Incredible Hulk from 2008, The Leader was set up as a future MCU villain. Tim Blake Nelson portrayed a pre-transformation Samuel Sterns, who initially aids Bruce Banner, a fugitive seeking a cure for his Hulk condition. As a cellular biologist, Sterns synthesizes Banner's blood, believing it could unlock humanity's full potential and eradicate diseases. However, his ambitions are manipulated by General Ross, leading to Emil Blonsky's transformation into the Abomination. The film concludes with Sterns' transformation into The Leader hinted at, as his forehead swells after being exposed to Banner's irradiated blood.

The Return of the Leader in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Incredible Hulk laid the groundwork for a sequel featuring The Leader, but Marvel Studios has avoided producing another standalone Hulk film due to Universal Pictures holding part of the film rights. Instead, Hulk's narrative has unfolded in the Avengers films and Thor: Ragnarok, which explains the delay in Nelson reprising his role as The Leader.

Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo, also appeared in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. In Episode 3, he leaves Earth on a Sakaarian ship to address unfinished business from his gladiator days, and by the season finale, he returns with his son, Skaar. Rumors suggested The Leader might appear in She-Hulk before becoming the main villain in Captain America: Brave New World. Although this didn't happen, the trailers for Brave New World hint at The Leader manipulating other villains behind the scenes.

Why the Leader Is One of the Villains in Captain America 4

The Leader's appearance in a Captain America sequel might seem odd, as he has no direct grudge against Bruce Banner. If anything, he might resent General Ross and Emil Blonsky for his transformation. This could be the driving force behind his role in Brave New World. With Harrison Ford now playing the role of President Ross (replacing the late William Hurt), The Leader might seek to tarnish Ross's reputation and discredit America on the global stage, which could also put him in direct conflict with the new Captain America, Sam Wilson.

Director Julius Onah emphasized that The Leader's danger lies in his unexpected nature as a villain for Sam Wilson. "Actions have consequences, and that's what's so great about what the MCU has been able to build," Onah told IGN at D23 in 2022. "In this universe, in this world, things that people do come back in ways that are surprising and unexpected, and Tim Blake Nelson coming back as The Leader is such an exciting thing to explore because his story now is going to challenge Sam Wilson, our new Captain America, in a way that he never expected. So it's really, really thrilling. And I think a lot of things that got set up and established years ago will allow the MCU to actually go in new directions that audiences are going to really, really be excited about."

Onah also highlighted that this crisis will serve as the first major test of Sam's leadership skills. He'll need to rally the Avengers—or whatever team currently represents them—against a unique threat. "We saw what it means for somebody like him to take the shield," Onah said. "But it is also a very different MCU. It's a post-blip MCU. It's a post-Thanos MCU. So the world has changed a lot too. And the role of a hero has changed. What does that mean? The decisions he's going to have to make, and the situations he's going to be confronted with, are radically different from what Steve Rogers had to deal with. And as a result of that, because he's a leader now of this team, he's got to make decisions that are going to have massive implications. So the world has changed around him and he's a changed man, and I think that leads to some really exciting storytelling."

What role do you think The Leader will play in Captain America: Brave New World? Let us know your theories in the comments below.