Giancarlo Esposito Joins ‘Captain America: Brave New World’

The ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Star Wars’ veteran had hinted about a role in the MCU, and is joining the movie as re-shoots kick off to add fresh footage.

Giancarlo Esposito is Moff Gideon in 'The Mandalorian,' season two, exclusively on Disney+.

Preview:

Giancarlo Esposito is apparently a villain in ‘Captain America: Brave New World’.
His character is being added during additional footage work.
Anthony Mackie stars as Sam Wilson as he takes on the mantle of Captain America.

There have been rumors for a while now –– largely driven by the actor himself –– that ‘Breaking Bad’ veteran Giancarlo Esposito had found another genre nook to conquer following appearances in the likes of ‘Star Wars’ series 'The Mandalorian' and Prime Video’s ‘The Boys’.

He’s been dropping hints about a big-screen role in the MCU, which drove speculation wild around a debut as a major character. Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, we know a bit more about where he’ll show up –– and its turns out, he’ll be a villain in ‘Captain America: Brave New World’.

Captain America: Brave New World

"Enter a brave new world."

Not Yet RatedFeb 14th, 2025

Showtimes & Tickets

After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a... Read the Plot

What’s the story of ‘Captain America: Brave New World’?

Falcon/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in Marvel Studios' 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' exclusively on Disney+.

While the major plot points are, in Marvel tradition, still mostly a mystery, the new movie –– which sees Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson/Captain America (a role his character first took on in small screen outing ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’) dealing with a crisis at the highest levels of government.

Described by Marvel boss Kevin Feige at CinemaCon as more of “relatively grounded action film” (think ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier') albeit set within the MCU, the movie will nevertheless feature plenty of drama (and probably a Hulk).

Who is appearing in ‘Captain America: Brave New World’?

Harrison Ford at D23 Expo 2022.

Alongside Mackie, we can expect to see Harrison Ford (who inherits the role of Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross from the late William Hurt, with the character now President of the United States), Liv Tyler (as Betty Ross from ‘The Incredible Hulk’), Tim Blake Nelson (as villain Samuel Sterns/The Leader also from the MCU Hulk movie), Danny Ramirez (as ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Joaquin Torres, who is the new Falcon) and Rosa Salazar in an unknown role.

As to who Esposito is playing? There are no concrete details yet beyond mention of him as a baddie. We’re left to wonder whether he’ll be a one-off or if this is setting up someone who will recur in later movies (given the actor, our guess is the latter).

What has happened with ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ so far?

Falcon/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in Marvel Studios' 'The Falson and the Winter Soldier' exclusively on Disney+.

Directed by Julius Onah, the movie had its original shoot in early 2023, and after test screenings is now headed for some extensive (though not as much as, say, ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ or ‘The Marvels’) addition footage work, with ‘Moon Knight’s Matthew Orton having cranked out on new script material, which presumably includes Esposito’s character.

There has been much chatter about the movie being in trouble, but extra footage filming is built in to Marvel movie schedules.

Still, there is pressure on the company to get its hit ratio back up after the likes of ‘The Marvels’ didn’t score well at the box office. It only has one movie arriving this year (‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, landing July 26th) and has been having trouble getting other projects, including ‘Blade’ off the ground.

‘Captain America: Brave New World’ itself has shifted release dates at least once already, from its original slot, which was inherited by Deadpool’s latest outing.

When will ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ be in theaters?

Pending another shift, Marvel wants the movie in theaters on February 14, 2025.

Giancarlo Esposito attends the panel for “The Mandalorian” series at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California on May 28, 2022. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney).