2 Upcoming MCU Releases Will Finally Break A Super Soldier Trend That Defined Phase 4

Since the beginning of Phase 4, the MCU has seemingly shifted the way super soldiers are portrayed in the universe, but two upcoming films look to bring back the idea of how powerful these soldiers can be. Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* are the first two Marvel films for 2025, and will each feature a number of super soldiers in significant roles, including the addition of a few that could change the MCU forever.

Over the course of the MCU timeline, the siginificance of super soldiers has seemed to diminish as time goes on, especially after Avengers: Endgame, and throughout most of Phase 4. Now that a number of super soldiers will be incredibly important for a few MCU projects in 2025, the idea is that the MCU might be turning a corner again on the idea of super soldiers, bringing them back into the spotlight and showing how powerful they can be.

Marvel Undid The Super Soldier Mythology In Phase 4

Close

Throughout the first three phases of the MCU, super soldiers were incredibly powerful and the threat of the rest of the Winter Soldiers activating in Captain America: Civil War caused Bucky and Steve Rogers to go and try to stop them. In fact, the existence of Captain America and how strong and essentially invincible he was, showed just how powerful super soldiers were in the universe. That changed a bit post-Avengers: Endgame a bit, making characters like Bucky and John Walker stand out from other super soldiers.

Related MCU Timeline Phase 5 Explained: How All Upcoming Marvel Movies & TV Shows Fit Into The Story Marvel's Phase 5 has had its ups and downs, but overall it's done some pretty exciting things for the MCU timeline (and multiverse) ahead of Phase 6.

It seems like the idea of super-soldiers was toned down a bit more, especially in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier with the Flag Smashers. The Flag Smashers were a terrorist organization consisting of super-soldiers, but also showed that those that were affected by the serum aren't nearly as invincible as once thought. Most of the Flag Smashers were killed by the end of the series, making it seem like the MCU wanted to tone down the strength and invincibility of super soldiers.

2 Marvel Movies In 2025 Will Revive The Age Of Super Soldiers

Close

Super Soldiers In Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World Name First Appearance Bucky Barnes Captain America: The First Avenger Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian Black Widow John Walker / U.S. Agent The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Bob / Sentry Thunderbolts* Isaiah Bradley The Falcon and the Winter Soldier President Ross / Red Hulk The Incredible Hulk

There are two upcoming MCU films that seem to want to change this super soldier trend for the better. The first is Captain America: Brave New World, reintroducing a super soldier from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, while also showing Presidents Ross' eventually transformation into the Red Hulk. The second is Thunderbolts*, featuring a number of returning super soldiers and a brand new one joining the MCU.

Isaiah Bradley returns in the film, and the trailer makes it seem like he is trying to assassinate Ross, being used as a weapon he was always intented to be. President Ross has been working with super serum since The Incredible Hulk, but is finally turning into the Red Hulk, most likely as a result of taking the serum himself. These two characters look to be incredibly important to Captain America's story, showing the power that super soldiers could still possess.

Related "We've Only Just Begun": Marvel Reveals 4 Upcoming 2025 MCU Releases With New Footage Several upcoming Marvel Studios releases get highlighted in a new sizzle reel, showcasing what is next for the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 5.

Thunderbolts* features a large cast of characters brought together under mysterious circumstances to carry out missions. There are multiple super soldiers on the team, including Bucky, U.S. Agent and Red Guardians. Perhaps the most significant super soldier addition is Bob, better known as Sentry. Sentry is one of the most powerful heroes in the Marvel Universe whose origins are tied to the super serum, meaning the MCU will gain an incredibly powerful super soldier moving forward.

Why Super Soldiers Actually Improve Sam's Captain America Story

The idea of super soldiers have been so prevelant in the MCU for so long, that some may feel that they have run their course. It could be argued, though, that the continued existence of super soldiers actually elevate Sam Wilson's story as Captain America, making him even more of a hero. Unlike Steve Rogers and John Walker, Sam isn't a super soldier, so him stepping into the role of Captain America is even more significant. His willingness to embrace being Captain America despite that makes his will and dedication incredibly impressive.

Steve Rogers believed he was the one that should carry on the legacy of Captain America.

It also highlights the character that Sam Wilson has. Even though he isn't super powered, Steve Rogers believed he was the one that should carry on the legacy of Captain America post-Avengers: Endgame. It was a massive expectation placed on him which Sam had to wrestle with during the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. By the end of the series, he was ready to step into the role for Captain America: Brave New World.

Super soldiers will always be significant in the MCU's history. Steve Rogers showed that someone good injected with the serum could be something incredible, while most others showed the dark side of trying to acquire too much power. Super soldiers' role in the MCU seemed to be dimished post-Avengers: Endgame, but Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World have the chance to show the power super soldiers possess once again.

Upcoming MCU Movies