Movies

Captain America 4’s Leader Had a WAY Better Original Design!

BBG News

In the movie “Captain America: Brave New World,” Samuel Sterns (also known as The Leader) underwent a significant transformation in appearance, and it has been verified that his character’s design went through various modifications during filming.

In an earlier film titled “The Incredible Hulk”, Tim Blake Nelson first appeared as the character Sterns. This initial appearance established Sterns as a scientist, eventually leading to his transformation into the villainous comic book character. Nearly two decades later, Nelson reappeared in “Captain America: Brave New World”, where he portrayed The Leader with an uncanny, inhuman appearance.

Audience members expected The Leader to stir up problems for Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in Captain America 4, but they were taken aback by the surprising identity of the character on the big screen.

The Leader’s Original Design In Captain America 4 

Blue Whale Studios, the makeup firm, unveiled a sneak peek of The Leader’s authentic design for Captain America 4 on their Instagram post.

In the first on-set portrayal of Nelson, the actor is depicted with a pasty green complexion, a stretched skull, and an extended forehead.

The Character stands out due to a resemblance in appearance from Marvel Comics, where his extraordinary intellect is demonstrated by having a larger brain. He acquired his abilities when a wound on his head came into contact with Bruce Banner’s (The Hulk) gamma-enhanced blood, leading to a swift transformation – this is why he has green skin.

In their post, Blue Whale Studios mentioned taking inspiration from classic comic book illustrations, aiming to create a style that is both rooted in tradition and instantly recognizable.

By taking cues from the original comic book illustrations, we crafted a style that exuded authenticity and uniqueness, staying faithful to the source material yet presenting a polished, realistic aesthetic. From a technical standpoint, the end result was a remarkably lightweight and comfortable makeup for the actor, a feat made possible by the tireless efforts of an exceptional team.

The team shared that they started working with a digital model of Nelson, enabling them to create a clay statue that perfectly matched the original comic book style and fit.

The cosmetic shade aligns with the initial depiction of The Leader as presented in Marvel Studio’s promotional materials; however, this portrayal ultimately proved to be deceptive.

According to Blue Whale Studios, over the course of the project, the creative vision changed, resulting in alterations during reshoots.

Initially, we were tasked with creating and applying the makeup for The Leader character, portrayed by Tim Blake Nelson, in ‘Captain America: Brave New World’. However, as is common in movie production, the plot changed during reshoots, leading to a shift in creative direction. Unfortunately, our interpretation didn’t make it into the final version of the film.

As a dedicated movie buff diving into the world of Captain America: Brave New World, I was quite taken aback by the drastic transformation of The Leader compared to early makeup tests and his comic book counterpart. In the cinematic version, Sterns underwent a chilling metamorphosis, with his skull revealing his twisted brain and balding entirely.

Why Did Marvel Studios Alter The Leader’s Look?

It’s striking to discover that the initial concept for the villain in “Captain America: Brave New World” by Marvel, which was met with some opposition, originally featured a design closer to its comic book counterpart.

It seems that the choice to alter The Leader’s appearance occurred during the extensive reshoots for Captain America 4.

According to director Julius Onah, he initially created a completely realistic version of The Leader’s makeup, but decided to take it a step further during the production process when speaking with Variety.

Initially, we developed a very functional version of it. Today, you’ll find plenty of this practical application in areas like prosthetics and set decoration. When it came to the movie, I wanted to go beyond the basics, aiming to make a striking impact on-screen. So, we added visual effects to take it to the limit, ensuring it wasn’t too jarring but instead helped convey the emotional motivation behind the character.

In a conversation, Onah clarified that the upcoming film, “Captain America 4,” will be more realistic and he aimed to make the larger-than-life characters harmonize with this reality. Additionally, the director mentioned that they intend to depict Samuel Sterns’ character as having a monstrous quality in his appearance.

In your movie, you’re aiming for a more realistic visual approach while still featuring exaggerated characters. It’s crucial that this fits seamlessly within the film’s universe. As we develop his character arc and explore his lost humanity, there’s an element of monstrosity to him, and I want to emphasize this aspect significantly.

Initially, the appearance of The Leader was meant to echo his comics background; however, the creators of Captain America 4 opted instead for a gritty, realistic style that made Sterns appear more menacing and beast-like.

Sadly, the design didn’t live up to Marvel fans’ expectations. It’s possible that viewers will encounter The Leader again, given he was left incarcerated on the Raft in Captain America 4, alongside Thaddeus Ross (a.k.a Red Hulk). This setup leaves room for their potential comeback.

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2025-04-25 00:34

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