Tim Blake Nelson had to wait the longest time for a second bite of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but his return as Samuel Sterns/The Leader in Captain America: Brave New World finally allowed him to continue his character’s journey after more than a decade. The question now is whether there is more room for Sterns to play a role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars. While speaking to MovieWeb’s Julian Roman, the actor shared his massive feeling of love and respect for the world Kevin Feige has created and his willingness to return if he can.
“I would certainly be open to it. I love the MCU, and I love working for them. I’m a big admirer of Kevin Feige and his whole team. I loved working for Julius Onah, as well as Louis Leterrier, who directed the original Hulk. So I would say that’s up to them. I’d be eager to do it. You can’t argue with the choices they’ve made. And if they don’t see a future for The Leader, then I will watch all the movies as a cheerleader, and if they want me back on the field, I’m there.”
Some fans believed that Nelson’s Samuel Sterns was done dirty by the MCU, especially when the tease of his transformation into The Leader in The Incredible Hulk in 2008 seemed to have been forgotten. While there were clearly plenty of tricky rights issues surrounding Louis Leterrier’s movie, which was financed by Paramount Pictures before Marvel Studios became the huge success it now is, many believed that the time for characters like Sterns and Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross had sadly passed. Then, Captain America: Brave New World did the impossible and ended up being an unexpected Incredible Hulk reunion.
What Is Next for The Leader in the MCU?
Marvel Studios rarely leaves loose ends hanging forever, even if it takes some teases a little longer than others to pay off. Although some fans still felt that Samuel Sterns was wasted in Captain America: Brave New World, seeing the character back on screen was fun for those who have stuck with the MCU since its inception, and for Nelson himself.
The character underwent several changes during the production of Anthony Mackie’s first Captain America movie, from an originally comic-accurate design to something a little more grounded and grotesque, which became another bugbear for audiences. Despite that, Sterns is now back in play in the Marvel Universe, captive in The Raft along with Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross/Red Hulk and several other former villains of the franchise.
In the post credits scene of Brave New World, Sterns warns Sam Wilson of the multiverse and the threat coming to his world. As Wilson has not been involved in any multiverse storylines, this was news to the character, even though it was nothing new to viewers. However, it does suggest that Sterns could be back again sometime before the MCU as we know it changes forever.
