"Captain America: Brave New World Leader's Design Revealed, Inspired by Comics"

Every superhero saga needs its antagonist, and for Captain America: Brave New World, fans were introduced to The Leader, portrayed by actor Tim Blake Nelson. The character's appearance in the film was enhanced through practical effects and makeup, showcasing a visibly mutated look that deviated slightly from his comic book origins.

Blue Whale Studios, the Atlanta-based special effects company responsible for The Leader's design and effects in the MCU film, recently shared insights into their original concept for Sam Sterns' alter ego, which stayed truer to the comics. Their initial design emphasized a sickly aesthetic, featuring an engorged head and pale green skin, as revealed on their Instagram. While this design was more straightforward and lacked the detailed mutations seen in the final version, it offered fans a fascinating glimpse into the creative process. The studio also shared a video showcasing the application of prosthetics to Nelson, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the character's transformation.

"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*," Blue Whale Studios stated. "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."

This original design closely mirrored The Leader's first appearance in the Marvel comic universe, which debuted in 1964's Tales to Astonish #62. Interestingly, the final design in Brave New World also has a comic connection, resembling more recent portrayals of the character from 2018's Immortal Hulk.

The Leader's journey to becoming a villain in the MCU began with a hint in 2008's *The Incredible Hulk*, where Sam Sterns was exposed to Bruce Banner's Gamma radiation-filled blood. Although he remained a normal human at the time, this exposure set the stage for his transformation by the start of *Brave New World*.

Last May, reports surfaced that Captain America: Brave New World was undergoing reshoots to incorporate a new villainous character, Sidewinder, played by Giancarlo Esposito, known for his roles in Breaking Bad, Star Wars, and The Boys. Esposito leads the Serpent Society in the film.

Additionally, ahead of the film's release, five-time WWE world champion Seth Rollins confirmed that his role had been cut following extensive rewrites and reshoots of the script.