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Significant Boycott Launched Against Marvel and Disney After ‘Captain America 4’ Update

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Posted on by Thomas Hitchen 2 Comments
Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America

Credit: Marvel Studios

The internet is in uproar after Kevin Feige’s Marvel Studios dropped the first Captain America: Brave New World (2025) trailer and confirmed that one controversial element has been retained. Fans are now begging others to boycott the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie until it is fully removed.

Anthony Mackie looks at the Captain America shield in Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Credit: Marvel Studios

Formerly Captain America: New World Order, Captain America: Brave New World has had a rocky development process. Three years ago, we saw Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) take up the mantle of Captain America in Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He will soon return to the big screen in next year’s movie from director Julius Onah.

After changing its name, seemingly due to the controversial connotations of “New World Order,” allegedly utilizing a massive budget, and the casting of Israeli actress Shira Haas, Captain America: Brave New World is already facing an uphill climb as the release date nears.

Anthony Mackie looking down at the Captain America Shield as an old Chris Evans looks on
Credit: Marvel Studios

Like every Marvel movie, Captain America: Brave New World—from writers Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson, and Matthew Orton—recently underwent reshoots. These included the addition of an entirely new undisclosed villain character, played by Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian star Giancarlo Esposito.

While controversy has severely surrounded the fourth Captain America movie since Shira Haas’s casting in 2022, there is still excitement for the movie, thanks to its inclusion of Star Wars legend Harrison Ford in his MCU debut.

han solo in rise of skywalker
Credit: Lucasfilm

Ford will replace the late William Hurt as the MCU’s new President of the United States–the former General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. Per the first footage released at CinemaCon 2024, it was revealed that Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross needs Sam Wilson, AKA Captain America, to rebuild the Avengers.

That CinemaCon footage of the fourth Captain America movie also saw the return of Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, who is seen being activated Winter Soldier-style in an action-packed early clip. The return of Lumbly and Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, AKA the franchise’s new Falcon, may suggest that this is truly a Captain America franchise installment.

(L) Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and (R) Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'
Credit: Marvel Studios

The addition of multiple Hulk characters tells another story. Joining Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross in Captain America: Brave New World will be Liv Tyler as Betty Ross and Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns/Leader. Red Hulk, heavily theorized to be played by Ford, is also set to appear.

Brave New World, then, seems to be tying up the loose ends of the Hulk story–the Hulk’s solo film, The Incredible Hulk, came out 16 years ago in 2008–while also following up on Malcolm Spellman’s ending to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which saw Sam fully embody his new role as Captain America.

(Left) Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres AKA Falcon and (Right) Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America in Marvel's Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Credit: Marvel Studios

Sam acquired the iconic shield when Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) passed the legacy on to him in the final moments of Avengers: Endgame (2019).

While fans are very much looking for a return to a more grounded MCU, the inclusion of Shira Haas as a new Israeli character based on Sabra from Marvel Comics is causing people to call for a boycott of the 2025 movie.

Shira Haas as Ruth
Credit: Marvel Studios

Colloquially known as Marvel’s first Israeli heroine, Ruth Bat-Seraph/Sabra debuted on the pages of comic books in 1980’s “The Incredible Hulk #250.” Created by Bill Mantlo and artist Sal Buscema, Sabra appeared wearing a white and blue costume complete with the Star of David and is an agent for the Mossad–the Israeli Secret Service.

Sabra is an extremely controversial character in the Marvel mythos due to the portrayal of conflict between her and Palestinian and Arab characters, which some argue are stereotypical and culturally insensitive. As such, when Sabra was announced as part of the Captain America 4 cast in 2022, tempers flared.

Two individuals, one with short hair and the other with long blonde hair, are inside a dimly lit, narrow corridor, aiming handguns in a tense and focused manner. The background includes control panels and machinery, indicating a possible high-stakes situation reminiscent of Marvel's iconic scenes.
Credit: Marvel Studios

Conflict between Israel and Palestine has always been present in the real world, but the most recent military operation in Israel and Gaza has pulled this casting into focus.

The criticism reached a fever pitch this week after Marvel Studios dropped the first official trailer for Captain America: Brave New World. Watch it here:

This first proper look confirms that Shira Haas will be heavily featured in the movie. As made apparent by the film’s official synopsis, Sabra will not be a like-for-like take on her role in the comics, but instead, a former Black Widow turned United States official with close ties to Ford’s President Ross.

“New to the cast is Shira Haas, who joins as Ruth Bat-Seraph,” writes Marvel.com. “A former Black Widow, Ruth is now a high-ranking U.S. government official who has the trust of President Ross.”

Sabra flying in Marvel Comics
Credit: Marvel Comics

This character change comes after Marvel Studios acknowledged the criticism of casting Haas many months ago.

“While our characters and stories are inspired by the comics, they are always freshly imagined for the screen and today’s audience, and the filmmakers are taking a new approach with the character Sabra, who was first introduced in the comics over 40 years ago,” Marvel told The New York Times (via The Hollywood Reporter) in late 2022.

While this is a move away from the controversial character created over 40 years ago, many still take issue with the inclusion of the reimagined character.

Anthony Mackie as MCU's Captain America marvel
Credit: Marvel Studios

Related: Marvel Ending Troubled Multiverse Saga, Updates Given

Haas herself is a former Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) volunteer, and this, combined with Sabra’s history in the comics, has caused Disney and Marvel to come under severe scrutiny. Calls to boycott Julius Onah’s movie have flooded online.

Following the update about Haas’ character, users took to social media to condemn the House of Mouse for continuing to work with Shira Haas and including an Israeli hero character in Captain America 4.

Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America
Credit: Marvel Studios

Tariq R. (@tariq_raouf) wrote:

I am quite literally begging everyone I know to boycott this new Captain America film. Do not cover, review, or give any positive attention to this film!!!

Despite the genocide, Sabra is very much a lead in this and by supporting this film you are supporting Israeli propaganda!

Another post to X (formerly Twitter) from @yujinsknight read:

just a HUGE reminder that sabra, an idf soldier turned israeli superhero, is still heavily involved in this movie with the actress being a massive zionist so please PLEASE heavily boycott this movie in particular.

@ihcentoo took to social media to write:

This will be featuring an ‘Israeli’ superhero named Sabra. Sabra is also the name of the village where thousands of Palestinians & Lebanese were massacred.

The actress playing the role was [exempted] from military service but enlisted voluntarily in the IOF. Boycott this shit

This user is correct in noting that Sabra is also the name of a tragic massacre that happened in Lebanon, but as The Hollywood Reporter writes, there is a misconception about the naming of the Marvel character.

“[I]t’s also the name of a Lebanon refugee camp where a militia massacred hundreds of Palestinians while Israeli troops stood by in 1982,” THR states. “This was two years after the character first appeared, which is another bit of misinformation circulating online–some are claiming Marvel deliberately named the character after the massacre.”

Anthony Mackie holding onto Captain America's shield in Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Credit: Marvel Studios

Despite Marvel not using the name Sabra for Haas’ character, boycott action is being pushed widely.

Endymion (@EndymionYT) wrote online:

I literally said this a year ago lol Marvel keeping Sabra in Captain America Brave New World is going to cause so much backlash dude. Genuinely wondering if people will boycott it because of her & the actor playing Sabra. It’s gonna be a shit storm

Marvel once again finds itself at the crux of important conversations, and it won’t be until those first pre-sale ticket prediction numbers come closer to its February 2025 release.

While the MCU’s prospects were looking up with the record-breaking ticket sales for this month’s Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), it could just be a one-and-done deal if a Captain America 4 boycott takes place. Brave New World will be the next MCU film after Shawn Levy’s Deadpool movie, which stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in the titular roles.

Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) giving the time-out gesture with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) in the background
Credit: Marvel Studios

Related: Marvel Is Being Forced to Scrap Troubled MCU Movie as New Information Comes To Light

Captain America: Brave New World also includes Xosha Roquemore, Seth Rollins, Rosa Salazar, and Phuong Kubacki. Sebastian Stan, the MCU’s Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, will not be appearing in this fourth Captain America movie after starring in all previous entries: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), and Captain America: Civil War (2016).

What are your thoughts on this new development for Captain America: Brave New World? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!

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Thomas Hitchen

When he’s not thinking about the Magic Kingdom, Thomas is usually reading a book, becoming desperately obsessed with fictional characters, or baking something delicious (his favorite is chocolate cake -- to bake and to eat). He's a dreamer and grew up on Mulan saving the world, Jim Hawkins soaring through the stars, and Padmé Amidala fighting a Nexu. At the Parks, he loves to ride Everest, stroll down Main Street with an overstuffed pin lanyard around his neck, and eat as many Mickey-shaped ice creams as possible. His favorite character is Han Solo (yes, he did shoot first), and his favorite TV show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer except when it's One Tree Hill. He loves sandy beach walks, forest hikes, and foodie days out in the Big City. Thomas lives in England, UK, with his fiancée, baby, and their dog, a Border Collie called Luna.

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