Photo courtesy of IMDB
Actors Harrison Ford (left) and Anthony Mackie talk off camera during filming of ‘Captain America: Brave New World.’

It will be a “Brave New World” for Captain America, which is expected to be another blockbuster for the Marvel Universe.

The fourth Captain America film certainly lived up to the hype, especially with the addition of the seemingly timeless Harrison Ford playing newly-elected United States President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and Red Hulk. Ford said during promotional interviews that deciding to do the role wasn’t a “terribly difficult acting proposition.”

Although in different eras, the Marvel Universe flicks are on the same scale as his Han Solo character from the George Lucas “Star Wars” franchise, one of the most successful and groundbreaking films of all time.

Ford solidified his status as a leading actor with “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” an action-adventure collaboration between Lucas and Steven Spielberg that gave Ford his second franchise role as the heroic, globe-trotting archaeologist Indiana Jones.

With today’s computer-generated images, Ford doesn’t have to do stunts or anything physically demanding in “Captain America: Brave New World.” Despite being 73, Ford filling the role was just “another day at the office.”

The film sees Anthony Mackie reprise his role as the high-flying hero Sam Wilson, who’s officially taken up the mantle of Captain America. Ford plays Ross, a character previously played by William Hurt, who passed away in 2022.

He was more concerned about over the role from Hurt and being unfamiliar with the Marvel Universe. “I live in another universe, but I have watched a number of Marvel films with wonderful actors, apparently having a good time. And I thought, ‘Well, why not me?'”

Director Julius Onah worked on “Brave New World” alongside producers Kevin Feige and Nate Moore; as well as executive producers Louis D’Esposito and Charles Newirth. Onah praised Ford’s performance in the movie, calling his depiction of Red Hulk “mind-blowing.”

After meeting with Ross, who becomes the super-powered Red Hulk in the film, Wilson finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

Danny Ramirez is a pleasant surprise as Joaquin Torres, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force who takes on Wilson’s former role of Falcon, using a wing pack similar to his; Shira Hass as Ruth Bat-Seraph, an Israeli former Black Window and close ally of Ross; and Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, an African-American Korean War veteran and super soldier who was imprisoned and experimented on for 30 years.

Rounding out the cast are Xosha Roquemore as a Secret Service agent; Giancarlo Esposito as Seth Voelker and Sidewinder, a scientist who is the leader of the Serpent Society; Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns and Leader, a cellular biologist who was accidentally cross-contaminated with the Blood of Bruce Banner and Hulk during the events of the 2008 film “The Incredible Hulk” and gains superhuman intelligence; and Liv Tyler, who plays Betty Ross, a cellular biologist and Ross’s daughter.

Although it still takes some getting used to having Wilson play the Star-Spangled hero, Wilson is phenomenal and “Brave New World” is a must-see.

You don’t need me to tell you that. Seeing Ford’s name on the marque should be enough.

Grade: A-

•••

Greg Williams is a reporter and Weekend Editor for The Sentinel. A Mifflin County native, he has been writing for The Sentinel since 1991.