Kenya, July 29 -- Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has pinpointed the absence of Chris Evans as a key factor in the underperformance of Captain America: Brave New World, which grossed $370.8 million worldwide against a $180 million budget.
Speaking at a recent press roundtable, Feige stated, "It was the first without Chris Evans," suggesting that the departure of the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, impacted the film's reception.
With a 53% Rotten Tomatoes score and criticism for weak scripting, poor CGI, and lackluster pacing, the film's struggles highlight broader challenges in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) transition to new characters, raising questions about audience attachment and narrative execution.
Captain America: Brave New World, the fourth installment in the franchise, features Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, who assumes the Captain America mantle after Steve Rogers' exit in Avengers: Endgame. Despite a strong cast, including Harrison Ford as Red Hulk and Giancarlo Esposito as Sidewinder, the film fell short of expectations.
Box Office Mojo reports it earned $370.8 million globally, trailing far behind Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($714.1 million) and Civil War ($1.15 billion). Critics panned the film's disjointed story, with a 53% Tomatometer score reflecting issues like "weak scripting" and "poor CGI."
Fans on X echoed these sentiments, with one user posting, "Sam Wilson's Cap is great, but the script and CGI in Brave New World felt rushed." Others noted "lackluster pacing" diminished the film's impact, despite Mackie's praised performance.
The film's troubled production, marked by extensive reshoots and the scrapping of the Serpent Society subplot, contributed to its uneven execution.
Originally, Tim Blake Nelson's Leader and characters like Rosa Salazar's Diamondback were set to play larger roles, but last-minute changes prioritized Esposito's Sidewinder, hinting at future MCU arcs.
The heavy marketing of Ford's Red Hulk, who appeared for only five minutes, also frustrated fans, with one X post stating, "Red Hulk was hyped up but barely in the film!" Feige's comments suggest that Evans' absence loomed large, as Steve Rogers' decade-long presence defined the franchise's emotional core.
However, analysts argue that deeper issues, including Marvel fatigue and audience reluctance to embrace new characters, played a significant role.
The MCU's Phase 5 has faced scrutiny for its pivot to new heroes like Sam Wilson, Yelena Belova (Thunderbolts), and Riri Williams (Ironheart).
Feige acknowledged audience fatigue, noting that projects like Thunderbolts, despite positive reviews, suffered from requiring familiarity with Disney+ series.
"People feel they need to watch every show to understand the films," he said, announcing plans to scale back to one TV series annually to make the MCU less like "homework." Brave New World's B- CinemaScore, the lowest for any Marvel film, and its 80% Popcornmeter score indicate a disconnect between critics and audiences, though fans appreciated Mackie's nuanced portrayal.
The film's $100 million opening over Presidents' Day weekend was solid but trailed Civil War's debut, with a 68% second-weekend drop signaling weak word-of-mouth.
Kenya's film industry, while not directly tied to the MCU, offers a contrasting perspective on audience engagement. Local productions like Nairobi Half Life have thrived by focusing on authentic storytelling, a lesson the MCU could heed.
Brave New World's global box office, while surpassing The First Avenger ($370.6 million), remains among the MCU's lowest earners, alongside The Marvels ($199.7 million) and The Incredible Hulk ($265.6 million).
The film's third-lowest Tomatometer score (53%) underscores execution flaws, with critics noting it felt like an "extended episode" of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. As Marvel prepares for Avengers: Doomsday in 2026, with rumors of Evans' potential return, the studio faces pressure to refine its approach to new characters and standalone stories.
The Captain America 4 underperformance reflects broader MCU challenges, including balancing legacy heroes with fresh faces.
While Mackie's Sam Wilson carries forward themes of leadership and identity, the film's narrative missteps and production woes hindered its potential.
With The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Thunderbolts looming, Marvel must address fan expectations and streamline storytelling to recapture its box office dominance. For now, the shadow of Chris Evans' Steve Rogers looms large, but the MCU's future hinges on making new heroes resonate.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.