Captain America Brave New World Cuts Serpent Society Villains

Captain America: Brave New World, released in early 2025 and starring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, underwent significant changes during production, including the removal of the Serpent Society supervillain group from the final cut. New concept art by Michael Blackbear Uwandi reveals the originally intended version of Captain America battling the Serpent Society, featuring snake-themed villains with cybernetic enhancements, such as Asp, Cobra, Constrictor, Diamondback, and Rattler. WWE Superstar Seth Rollins and Rosa Salazar were cast as members of this group, but their roles were cut as the film shifted from a heightened, more campy tone to a grounded spy-thriller style, as explained by director Julius Onah. Despite the cut, Giancarlo Esposito’s character Sidewinder, originally conceived as part of the Serpent Society, remained in the film to fulfill the group's narrative function. The Serpent Society's removal disappointed fans who had expected a more comic-accurate and superpowered villain team, but Marvel opted for a more realistic approach in line with the film’s final tone. The movie also featured other villains, including Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk and Tim Blake Nelson’s The Leader, and is now streaming on Disney+.