Captain America 4 Is Breaking A Big MCU Sequel Trend

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Captain America: New World Order is breaking a big sequel trend in the Marvel Cinematic Universe by not including an Avengers co-star. Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson is finally stepping into the spotlight as Captain America with the upcoming Phase 5 solo movie. After appearing as a supporting character in the previous two Captain America movies and multiple Avengers films, Captain America: New World Order will test Sam's ability as the Star-Spangled Man by having him fight multiple Hulk villains. The high stakes of the movie have led to speculation that this could be where the Avengers form again.
It has become common practice for Marvel Studios to put other Avengers in the MCU "solo" movies as the franchise has continued. This has especially been true for the Captain America franchise, as Black Widow was the co-lead of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the entire Avengers team fought against each other in Captain America: Civil War. The MCU sequel trend really began with Black Widow's appearance in Iron Man 2, but Marvel has also used the strategy to put Hulk in Thor: Ragnarok, Iron Man in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The trend will not continue with Captain America 4.
Captain America 4 Does Not Have Another Avenger Co-Star

Marvel Studios is poised to break the MCU sequel trend as Captain America: New World Order's cast does not include another Avenger co-star for Sam Wilson. The movie is going to feature other superheroes, such as Joaquín Torres a.k.a. Falcon (Danny Ramirez) and Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly). However, neither of those characters has connections to the Avengers team. That means that instead of Captain America 4 including some of the MCU's biggest characters opposite Sam Wilson, the movie will prop up two newer heroes introduced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
What Captain America 4 might lack in Avengers co-stars it appears to be making up for with its returning villains. Thunderbolt Ross (Harrison Ford) and The Leader (Tim Blake Nelson) are both returning, as is The Incredible Hulk's Betty Ross (Liv Tyler). No Avengers in Captain America: New World Order should mean that these characters are given plenty of screen time. Furthermore, it should allow the movie to spend even more time focusing on Sam Wilson's story and how he adapts to being Captain America.
Will Other Avengers Appear In Captain America: New World Order?

There is always the chance that other Avengers will appear in Captain America 4, even if they are not co-stars with similarly massive roles as Black Widow or Iron Man in previous sequels. The movie's multiple Hulk-related villains will make it somewhat strange if Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) or She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany) do not appear. The MCU has also built up Sam's friendship with War Machine (Don Cheadle), and his political rise in Secret Invasion could allow him to also play a role in this story. Captain America: New World Order showing Sam reform the Avengers could also help bring new members to the team.
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