It's been a long time since I got excited about a Marvel movie. Not because they're bad—they're not—but because they've become… expected. Same stakes. Same glow-up arcs. Same post-credits tease. But then there's this one line from Carl Lumbly in that new JustWatch piece and—boom—it hits different.
“A movie that encourages you to stand up wherever you are.”
That's it. That's the whole vibe.
I mean, what even is bravery these days? Is it yelling at your screen during a political debate? Posting a hot take and hoping nobody DMs you? Or maybe it's just getting out of bed knowing the world feels like it's melting?
Captain America: Brave New World dropped May 28th, 2025, on Disney+—not some splashy premiere or red carpet fest. Just a quiet release. Like it didn't want to scream, “Look at me!” It just wanted to exist.
And maybe that's the point.
Sam Wilson's version of Cap has always felt more grounded than Steve Rogers'. Less symbol, more soldier. More boots-on-the-ground messy. And Isaiah Bradley—Lumbly's character—is back, full circle. Which makes sense. He's the guy who lived through the worst of it. The forgotten soldier. The one who paid the price before anyone cared.
So when Lumbly says the film speaks to “legacy and hope,” I don't roll my eyes. Because he's earned it. His performance isn't just another Marvel cameo—it's a reminder of how far we've come and how much further we still need to go.
This isn't the shiny ‘Murica of the 40s. This is now. This is messy. This is us.
And honestly, I respect that.
They could've gone for spectacle. For another alien invasion. Another CGI slugfest with quippy one-liners. Instead, they leaned into the human stuff. The hard part. The standing up part.
Because courage isn't about being fearless. It's about choosing to do something anyway. Even if no one sees it. Even if you don't get a statue for it.
Like I said—hits different.
