Scrapped Comic-Accurate Design for The Leader in CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Revealed in BTS Photo
A newly surfaced behind-the-scenes photo from Captain America: Brave New World is making the rounds online, and it offers a glimpse at a version of The Leader that never made it to the big screen.
This unused look was more comic-accurate, complete with the character’s signature oversized cranium, and is very different than what we got in the film’s final cut. The photo appears to show a on-set test bust of the character.
Marvel fans have had plenty to say about the film’s extensive reshoots and drastic changes, especially given that it’s expected to rank among the MCU’s lower-grossing entries. And while it’s easy to assume Marvel lost its grip on this one, there’s clearly more to the story behind the film’s major pivot.
Notably, early promotional materials, including concept art and Funko Pop figures, had already hinted at a very different version of The Leader. That earlier design was much closer to his comic book roots, but it was ultimately swapped out for a more grounded, distorted version.
Director Julius Onah shed light on the change in a post-release interview with Variety, explaining the decision to steer the character in a more emotionally resonant direction:
“When you think about the arc of his character and the humanity that’s been taken away from him, there’s a monstrosity to him, and I really wanted to lean into that, so the moment you see him, you understand what’s propelling him as a character and his desire for retribution.”
“We started off with an entirely practical version of it. You still see a lot of that practical work, in terms of prosthetics and paint stuff of that sort. It was great for Tim, because he’s very immersive in terms of what he likes to do as a performer.”
“And then when we put it together in the movie, I wanted to push it even further, to make sure that that jump could come [over] on screen,” Onah continued. “So we did enhance with visual effects, just to push it to that edge of something that hopefully wasn’t too off-putting, but again, helped you understand emotionally what was driving him.”
According to reports, The Leader’s role was originally far more prominent, allegedly leading the creation of the Serpent Society and acting as a central mastermind. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see that version of the story.