Tim Blake Nelson’s Original Character Design for Captain America: Brave New World Revealed
The original look of Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns/The Leader for Captain America 4, also known as Captain America: Brave New World, has been revealed.
Nelson played Samuel Sterns in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk and then was not seen in the MCU until 2025’s Captain America 4. The villain is based on the Marvel Comics character created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko who first appeared in 1964’s Tales to Astonish #62.
What was The Leader originally going to look like in Captain America: Brave New World?
On Instagram, special effects and makeup company Blue Whale Studios shared some photos of what Nelson was originally going to look like in Captain America 4.
“The nature of filmmaking asks us to adapt—to respond with creativity rather than react with attachment,” the post reads. “We were originally brought on to design and apply the practical makeup for The Leader on the incomparable Tim Blake Nelson in Captain America: Brave New World. As often happens in film, the story evolved, and during reshoots, the creative direction shifted. Our version was ultimately not used in the final cut. Still, we remain incredibly proud of the work we created.
“Drawing inspiration from the original comic book art, we developed a look that felt both grounded and iconic—true to the source while achieving a refined, natural realism. Technically, we were thrilled with how lightweight and comfortable the final makeup was for the actor—an achievement made possible by the dedication of an extraordinary team.”
Another post, which can be viewed below, further details the process that went into designing Nelson’s character’s makeup.
Captain America: Brave New World also stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America, Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres/Falcon, Giancarlo Esposito as Sidewinder, and Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross/Red Hulk. The Marvel Studios movie is currently available to rent or purchase on digital streaming outlets such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and more.
Originally reported by Brandon Schreur at SuperHeroHype.
