MCU Set Photo Reveals First Look at Giancarlo Esposito's Mysterious Villain (2024)

Giancarlo Esposito is slated to make his debut in the highly anticipated 2025 movie, Captain America: Brave New World. While details about Esposito’s character remain closely guarded, it is confirmed that he will play a villainous role.

The news around his character began to build when Esposito himself hinted at conventions that he had been cast in a mysterious, yet pivotal, villain role that could potentially spearhead a new series within the MCU. The details about his participation in the upcoming Captain America only came to light recently, via The Hollywood Reporter.

Recently, a set photo of Esposito was leaked online showing the actor in full costume during reshoots for the film. Decked in a detailed outfit complete with armor, knife holsters, and a concealed gun, the photos have sparked widespread fan speculation and excitement. Christopher Oquendo, the photographer who captured these images, shared them on Twitter, giving fans their first glimpse of what to expect from Esposito’s character.

Captain America: Brave New World is part of Phase 5 of the MCU and is currently undergoing reshoots, an indication that Marvel is fine-tuning the project to ensure it meets the expectations of its fanbase. The casting of Giancarlo Esposito in "Brave New World" has ignited excitement among fans as the actor is well-known for his compelling performances and commanding presence.

Captain America: Brave New World

PG-13

Superhero

Action

Adventure

Release Date

February 14, 2025

Director

Julius Onah

Cast

Anthony Mackie , Harrison Ford , Tim Blake Nelson , Danny Ramirez , Liv Tyler

Writers

Malcolm Spellman , Julius Onah

Format

Theatrical

Studio

Marvel Studios

Franchise

Marvel

Esposito himself has teased that his role in the upcoming Phase 5 film is one that audiences "won’t predict". He also hinted that his character will initially be introduced in Captain America: Brave New World and will likely be expanded in a future MCU series.

Tim Blake Nelson Excited About His Return as The Leader in Captain America: Brave New World

The lineup of villains for "Brave New World" has already been confirmed. Blake Nelson returns as Samuel Sterns, also known as The Leader, and Harrison Ford is set to take on a new dimension as Thunderbolt Ross, transforming into the Red Hulk. Esposito's character might be independent of these existing antagonists, possibly introducing a fresh adversary to the MCU. In a recent podcast, Nelson shared his excitement and talked about his role as The Leader in the upcoming film.

Nelson shared that the portrayal of The Leader leans heavily on practical effects rather than digital enhancements. This method, he noted, received full backing from Marvel executives, including Kevin Feige and producer Nate Moore, ensuring that the character's revival remains as true to the comics as possible.

"I can tell you about my character that we did everything we could, and this was entirely supported by Marvel and I'm so grateful to [Marvel Studios President and CCO] Kevin Feige and [producer] Nate Moore for supporting this: they were on board 100% to do the character as practically as possible with an absence of digital stuff."

Nelson praised the direction of Julius Onah and the overall production of "Brave New World," expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the MCU film.