The Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen its fair share of ups and downs (perhaps more downs than ups in the past two years), with each release under intense scrutiny from its fans and critics alike.
As the multi-billion-dollar cinematic universe moves on towards its next phase, the next Captain America film, officially titled Captain America: Brave New World, which stars a new Captain America in Anthony Mackie, seems to have a knack for finding itself at the center of controversy even before its release.
Case in point, the film’s most recent test screenings have sparked conversations about its future and how its impact on subsequent MCU films.
I've been able to get some insight into what some of the main issues were at the Captain America: Brave New World test screenings. Apparently audiences were unimpressed by the film's action scenes and the chemistry between Cap and his love interest. However, the biggest issue…
— Oh How I Marvel At Those Marvels (@OHIMATM) March 15, 2024
As per Oh How I Marvel At Those Marvels, the initial reactions from test screenings are indicating a mixed response, particularly concerning the film’s action sequences and the chemistry between Mackie and his love interest. However, it is the handling of political content that seems to have disappointed audiences the most. Viewers are said to have described the political themes as “uninspired and unengaging,” expressing concerns over its lack of nuance and its tendency to bog down the pacing of the film with overly expository dialogue.
In response to these criticisms, it’s reported that Marvel Studios is considering making significant changes, including rewrites and alterations to the cast. These changes are intended not only to address specific scenes but to refine the film’s overall direction. But Marvel’s reported insistence on premiering in February 2025 is the larger issue at hand.
The MCU has already been criticized for its noticeable drop in quality in recent years. By pushing the release date of Captain America 4 back, perhaps to May, it could buy itself more time to do reshoots and additional refinement.
Although this could potentially affect other MCU projects such as Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four, there are ways way to work around the calendar to make sure that each film premieres as intended with the quality that audiences deserve.
The Captain America films have played a pivotal role in shaping the rest of the MCU. Its previous installments, particularly The Winter Soldier and Civil War, are notable for their fight scene choreography and strong character moments, respectively. In the latter, we saw Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man deliver one of the best monologues in the series, as he told the story of Charlie Spencer and how, because of the lack of oversight over the Avengers, he can never fully realize his potential. It was the moment the film showed us that neither Iron Man or Captain America would back down, ultimately leading to the Avengers breaking up. Perhaps it comes off as to no surprise that Civil War became one of the highest-grossing films of 2016 and the MCU’s second non-Avengers billion-dollar outing, at the time.
The success of the original Captain America trilogy may cast a tall shadow over Captain America 4 but it also highlights its potential to carry forward the same legacy, provided that it can navigate its current challenges.
Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson has never had a chance to shine, which is doing an actor of his caliber a disservice. Criticisms about the MCU’s supposed choice of lead character being based on diversity than narrative depth speaks more about the weak writing that has been more evident in the recent MCU outings. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, in particular, held immense potential. The show could’ve been an opportunity to convince us audiences that Sam deserved to be Captain America and show us what Rogers saw in Wilson, much like how Dr. Abraham Erskine chose him because he was a “good man.”
Instead, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier brings in his troubled home life, a black and “forgotten” Captain America, a failed attempt at making a new Captain America, and a bunch of anti-nationalist villains led by someone that the MCU tried so hard to paint in a sympathetic light.
To regain the fan goodwill it lost and ensure the MCU’s continued success, Marvel must deliver a project that resonates with audiences and lives up to the high standards set by its predecessors.
The coming months will be critical as the studio decides how best to address feedback from test screenings and refine the film into a worthy addition to the Captain America saga and the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Captain America: Brave New World is currently set to premiere on February 14, 2025.
