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Credit: Marvel StudiosWith Captain America: Brave New World set to release in just a few days, anticipation is building for Sam Wilson’s first solo outing as Captain America.
The film is expected to deliver a blend of action and political intrigue, featuring a stacked cast that includes Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus Ross, and the return of Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley.
As Marvel’s next big superhero entry, Brave New World has already generated plenty of buzz—not all of it positive. The film underwent significant rewrites and reshoots, leading to speculation about what might have changed behind the scenes.
Early reports suggested that several key sequences had been cut, and now we have confirmation that one character’s removal has disappointed a major segment of the MCU fanbase.
For those keeping up with Marvel’s slow but steady introduction of the Young Avengers, Brave New World seemed like the perfect opportunity to set up the team’s next member. Unfortunately, recent statements from Marvel Studios confirm that this opportunity won’t be realized.
A Key Young Avenger Won’t Make the Final Cut
Eli Bradley, also known as Patriot in the comics, will not be appearing in Captain America: Brave New World.
First introduced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Eli (played by Elijah Richardson) was the grandson of Isaiah Bradley, the forgotten Black super soldier whose tragic history was a major part of the Disney+ series. While Isaiah is set to return in Brave New World, Marvel has decided to leave Eli out of the story.
Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore addressed the decision, calling it a difficult but necessary cut. “There were early drafts of the script where Eli was in it, but we started to feel like there were too many characters to track,” Moore explained. “And we wanted to make sure if a character is in the film, they have something to do.”
Moore elaborated that the film needed to focus on Isaiah Bradley’s relationship with Sam Wilson, allowing Isaiah to take on more of a mentor role. The concern was that bringing in Eli as well would dilute the core themes of the movie. “This film is very much about establishing that Isaiah has become not only a mentor to Sam, but a training partner,” Moore said.
While this explanation makes sense from a storytelling perspective, it’s little consolation for fans who were hoping to see Eli’s character developed further.
Many believe Brave New World was the perfect place to showcase his journey toward becoming a Patriot, much like how Kate Bishop (Hawkeye) and America Chavez (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) were given solid introductions in previous MCU projects.
Marvel’s Young Avengers Dilemma
The decision to cut Eli Bradley has reignited concerns about how Marvel is handling the slow rollout of the Young Avengers. Over the past few years, the MCU has introduced several members of the team—Cassie Lang (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), Billy and Tommy Maximoff (WandaVision), and even Kid Loki (Loki)—but there has been little movement in bringing them together.
Eli’s removal from Brave New World suggests that Marvel is in no rush to establish the Young Avengers, despite the growing number of characters who could form the team.
Unlike Kate Bishop and Ms. Marvel, who had their own Disney+ series, Eli was never given a significant role beyond his brief introduction in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Cutting him from Brave New World only adds to the perception that his character is being sidelined in favor of others.
Adding to the frustration, some fans are questioning why Eli was cut while other, more controversial characters remain in the film. One of the most debated inclusions is Ruth Bat-Seraph (better known in the comics as Sabra), an Israeli superhero whose presence in the MCU has already sparked controversy.
Many fans have argued that if Marvel needed to trim the cast, it would have made more sense to remove Ruth instead of Eli, especially since the Young Avengers seem to be a more natural fit for the MCU’s future.
On social media, fans have been vocal about their disappointment, with many pointing out that Brave New World could have been the perfect moment to introduce Eli’s superpowers. One tweet summed up the sentiment: “Marvel really cut Eli Bradley but kept Sabra? Make it make sense.”
What’s Next for Eli Bradley?
Despite his absence in Brave New World, Eli Bradley’s story isn’t necessarily over. Given that the MCU has already introduced him, there’s still a chance he could show up in a future project. Some fans are speculating that he might make an appearance in Thunderbolts (2025) or even in a potential Young Avengers film or Disney+ series down the road.
However, the way Marvel handles his character moving forward will be crucial. If Eli’s superpowers are introduced off-screen or in a throwaway post-credits scene, it will likely feel like a missed opportunity. Other Young Avengers like Kate Bishop and Ms. Marvel have been given meaningful screen time to develop, and Eli deserves the same treatment.
For now, Brave New World is shifting its focus elsewhere. The film will explore Sam Wilson’s new role as Captain America, his dynamic with President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), and the rise of new threats, including the Serpent Society. But for fans of Eli Bradley, this latest update is a frustrating reminder that some characters in the MCU are still waiting for their moment to shine.
Final Thoughts
Marvel Studios has always had a delicate balancing act when it comes to its sprawling universe of characters. Some cuts are inevitable, and Brave New World was never going to be able to include everyone. But Eli Bradley’s exclusion still stings for many fans who hoped to see the Young Avengers take a step closer to reality.
With Captain America: Brave New World hitting theaters on February 14, 2025, it remains to be seen whether Marvel will address this decision in any way. Perhaps a post-credits scene will tease Eli’s future, or maybe he will get his moment in another project. Until then, fans will have to wait—and hope—that Patriot’s time in the MCU is still coming.