‘Brave New World’ Leader Merch Doesn’t Match the Movie At All

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This is odd.

Currently, you can purchase a diverse range of merchandise related to the latest Marvel film, “Captain America: Brave New World“, at multiple retailers like Amazon, AMC, Cinemark, and Regal Cinemas. For instance, there are Captain America shield pillows, as well as cute Red Hulk plush toys available.

Additionally, you’ll find various goods showcasing the character played by Tim Blake Nelson, who is known as The Leader. It’s not surprising that this figure would be used in merchandise, given that The Leader is a significant antagonist in Brave New World. Therefore, it makes sense for Marvel to capitalize on his likeness.

Here, for example, is the Funko Pop! of Tim Blake Nelson’s character:

If I removed that figure from its container and passed it to you without any background information, could you identify it as the character known as “The Leader”? It appears to be a man with a goatee, wearing a coat, and having green skin. Given these visual cues, my first thought might be that it’s the handsome son of Elphaba from Wicked: Part 2.

Let’s save that discussion for later. By the way, I found a T-shirt on sale at Regal Store priced at $28.95.

There’s more to talk about later, but check this out! A T-shirt is currently on sale at Regal Store for $28.95.

Or even simpler:

We can discuss other topics later, but look at this! A T-shirt is now available for $28.95 at Regal Store.

At a cost of $49.95, Regal is offering an oversized standup figure of Tim Blake Nelson portraying The Leader. As stated on their website, this figure towers at 70 inches in height. However, it’s interesting to note that Google indicates the actual Tim Blake Nelson stands at just 65 inches tall. This implies that the standee has approximately five additional inches added to its forehead.

The standee and the shirt share an image, which seems like a preliminary artwork depicting Tim Blake Nelson as the Comic Book Character, the Leader. Their design, with a tall, cylindrical head topped with a mass of hair, mirrors the traditional look of the Leader from the early Incredible Hulk comics by Marvel.

To put it simply, this merchandise showcases an accurate depiction of a Marvel villain’s famous comic-book appearance. However, here’s the catch: The Leader in the movie itself bears no resemblance to this portrayal.

As a dedicated fan, I must admit that there’s no official glimpse of The Leader from Marvel’s “Brave New World” that I can share with you at the moment, leaving me pondering if it could be due to the upcoming merchandise. In the trailers we’ve seen so far, Nelson is only shown in a darkened setting, wearing a hat and hidden from full view. However, based on my understanding, he seems to bear a resemblance to the late ’80s and early ’90s comic book characterization of The Leader, as portrayed on this Marvel trading card, though without the signature orange and black battle armor.

As a follower, I’ve noticed quite a buzz surrounding the reshoots of Brave New World, and this merchandise seems to be one of the strongest hints yet that some of those rumors were indeed accurate. It appears that Marvel had advanced enough with the design of that peculiar leader figure that they shared it with licensors. They produced shirts, toys, and even 70-inch standees, only to later switch directions for the character’s portrayal.

It’s not just this “Brave New Work” merchandise that lacks ties to the actual film; last year, McDonald’s introduced Happy Meal toys based on the movie, but one of them – representing Diamondback from the Serpent Society – is a character that doesn’t appear in the theatrical release at all.

The toys given with Happy Meals additionally featured an outfit for Shira Haas’ character Ruth, distinctly unlike the attire she wears in Brave New World. This suggests that the film may have undergone significant changes during production, including numerous revisions and reshoots.

I find that the initial concept of the Leader character from these merchandise is more appealing to me compared to the one depicted in the final movie. Although it’s important to remember that this is merely artwork and not a real person, it’s hard not to notice that the version shown resembles someone with a head made of broccoli. To be honest, he doesn’t come across as particularly intimidating.

Captain America: Brave New World is now playing in theaters.

Every Marvel Cinematic Universe Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

35. Eternals

As a die-hard Marvel fan, I never thought an Oscar-winning director would bring us a film adapted from Jack Kirby’s most daring comics that might not be the most indispensable addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Regrettably, Eternals didn’t quite hit the mark for me. While it generally adheres to Kirby’s core concepts, there are a few minor but bothersome alterations – such as transforming the malevolent Deviants into faceless creatures with no discernible objectives or motivations. The ensemble cast boasts commendable supporting roles from Kumail Nanjiani and Brian Tyree Henry, but the main pair – Gemma Chan’s Sersi and Richard Madden’s Ikaris – find it challenging to convincingly convey their long-standing love affair (spanning 6,000 years, they appear more like awkward first daters). The script occasionally delves into intriguing themes concerning the bonds between superheroes, mythology, and faith, but then inexplicably abandons them for a string of uninspiring battle sequences featuring dull adversaries. It’s challenging to conceive of a more tedious film about immortal extraterrestrial automatons attempting to thwart impending doomsday than this one.

34. The Incredible Hulk

This production seems hastily assembled, clumsy and unattractive, as if Marvel was taken aback when Iron Man became a hit and they swiftly produced it. Casting Tim Roth as the world’s supreme soldier is an act Loki wouldn’t commit, considering it’s as poor as turning a renowned warrior into a massive bony beast. (For further details, read more here.)

33. Thor: The Dark World

Nearly having Patty Jenkins’ Thor turned out to be a disappointing chase for a dull MacGruffin and a tedious villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, if this movie hadn’t underperformed as it did, Marvel might not have been open to making such significant changes with Thor: Ragnarok as they eventually did. (Read more here.)

32. The Marvels

As a dedicated Marvel enthusiast, I must admit that this latest film, despite being superior to three others on the list, seems to be the most disorganized and intense. The trio of Captain Marvel (played by Brie Larson), Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) are united in an effort to thwart a Kree warlord who’s causing trouble for reasons that remain unclear. Despite the undeniable chemistry between these talented actors, the plot, though concise, is a whirlwind of unexpected twists and questionable decisions that leave one scratching their head.

31. Captain America: Brave New World

In another setting, the same cast might have shone brighter. This could be an apt summary for several recent Marvel films, such as The Marvels, but it particularly applies to Captain America: Brave New World. In this film, Anthony Mackie’s captivating character Sam Wilson finally gets his own storyline, only to find himself entangled with a dull villain and a narrative overloaded with unnecessary references to The Incredible Hulk – like the curiosity surrounding Betty Ross’ whereabouts, for instance.

30. Doctor Strange

Unique, captivating scenes are a plus, but “Doctor Strange” falls short of escaping the sensation that it’s essentially an updated version of “Iron Man with Magic,” albeit with a smart conclusion involving Dormammu. A drawback: The peculiar cape worn by Strange. (For further insights, check out this review here.)

29. Iron Man 2

Despite being better than you might recall, it’s not entirely fantastic. Sam Rockwell’s dancing skillfully conceals many flaws, but not all of them. Trimming 15 minutes of backstory from Avengers could potentially result in something truly impressive. (Read more here.)

28. Ant-Man

Ant-Man is not bad, but it feels like a scaled-down version of what could have been the Edgar Wright movie we were supposed to get. However, Michael Peña’s character Luis stands out as one of the best non-superpowered characters in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. (Read more .)

27. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Stepping into the role of a movie critic, I find myself reflecting on Ant-Man and the Conqueror, Kang. As Kang himself, portrayed powerfully by Jonathan Majors, acknowledges, Scott Lang is indeed “out of his league.” This seemingly insurmountable contrast mirrors the film itself: The relatable, lighthearted charm of the Ant-Man universe with its clever humor and relatable characters struggles to compete against the grandeur and multiversal intrigue of Marvel’s Phase 5.

On a grand scale as a Marvel cinematic experience, it is satisfactory. However, as an extension of the Ant-Man saga, I must admit it falls short, particularly for those eagerly anticipating more of Michael Peña’s lovable character Luis, who, unfortunately, does not make an appearance in this installment.

26. Ant-Man and the Wasp

The film “Ant-Man and the Wasp” shines brightest when it emphasizes its modest aspects, featuring Paul Rudd’s witty banter with his fellow actors, Michael Peña’s captivating soliloquies, and a heartwarming, small-scale narrative revolving around a fractured family striving to mend their bonds once more. (For further insights, click here.)

25. Captain Marvel

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Brie Larson’s character Carol Danvers could arguably be the most powerful hero; however, the movie itself seemed to fall short emotionally. Despite this, it remains engaging due to standout performances from two top-notch players: Ben Mendelsohn, who portrays the clever Skrull Talos, and Samuel L. Jackson, whose impressive de-aging special effects showcase a youthful Nick Fury. (For more details, check out the full article here.)

24. Black Widow

2021 saw Scarlett Johansson’s long-awaited solo outing from the Avengers, but instead of taking center stage, she primarily served as the straight character amidst her wisecracking “family” of Russian superheroes, featuring David Harbour’s narcissistic Red Guardian and Florence Pugh’s scene-stealing Yelena. Consequently, Black Widow didn’t quite live up to the fitting farewell that the character might have deserved. However, it remains another strong Marvel production, boasting some spectacular stunt scenes, and an intriguing villain in Taskmaster, who possesses the ability to copy the fighting styles of any adversary he encounters.

23. Thor: Love and Thunder

Experiencing Taika Waititi’s second Thor movie, “Thor: Love and Thunder,” seems somewhat like witnessing a magician performing the same trick twice in quick succession. The initial performance was breathtakingly amazing. However, while the second performance is still impressive, it lacks the element of surprise compared to the first. Christian Bale delivers an eerie portrayal of Gorr the God-Butcher, but his intense and deeply emotional villain persona doesn’t quite harmonize with Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and his constant humor. Essentially, “Thor: Love and Thunder” shares many elements with Taika Waititi’s previous Thor movie, “Thor: Ragnarok,” but they don’t fit together as smoothly this time around.

22. Deadpool & Wolverine

In this film, the fantastic camaraderie between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman is exactly what you’d expect. The unexpected appearances are jaw-dropping, to say the least. The plot, however, pushes the limits of how much information a movie can pack without becoming confusing. It seems like each character has an unnecessary amount of tragic backstories – at least two in this case! If you manage to not think about anything happening on screen for even a moment, you’ll likely have an enjoyable experience. And both actors deliver the expected dynamic between Deadpool and Wolverine, despite their reluctant team-up to save the Fox X-Men universe. You might find yourself wishing that the writers (including Reynolds himself) had provided a slightly more coherent storyline.

21. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

An alternate take on the movie “Iron Man 2”: Not as good as you might recall, but still worth watching. The advertising emphasized the conspiracy thriller aspect too much, but Anthony Mackie’s Falcon is a valuable addition to the series, and Chris Evans delivers another solid performance as Captain America. However, it bothers me that Nick Fury, the world’s foremost spy, was clueless about the fact that everyone in SHIELD except for him and his two associates were entirely corrupt. Come on, Nick, wake up and open your eyes! (For more details, click here.)

20. Avengers: Infinity War

As a die-hard fan, I must say that this movie leaves me in awe with its grand scale and the epic ending it offers. However, it seems to lack something essential for me. If you’re just after an action-packed Marvel flick with some witty dialogue, then this movie certainly delivers. But if you’re like me, who craves character development and heartfelt camaraderie moments amidst the battles, this one might not quite hit the spot. (Read more here.)

19. Iron Man 3

The film, although generally good, was somewhat diminished by its connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie’s plot culminates in Tony Stark deciding to leave his Iron Man life behind and ride off. However, he went on to appear in five more films following this. Despite Guy Pearce’s character falling short of expectations, Robert Downey Jr.’s frustrated interchanges with a bright child were exceptional. (You can read more about it here.)

18. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Initially, let me say that the climax, featuring dragons and monsters clashing within a thick gray haze, is quite an unsightly CGI spectacle. Prior to this point, however, Shang-Chi could very well be Marvel’s finest action film, boasting numerous intense and intricate fight sequences. (The one on the San Francisco bus is particularly enjoyable.) Simu Liu heads a notably deep Marvel cast, with Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh delivering captivating supporting roles, and Ben Kingsley and Awkwafina consistently providing comic relief. (Kingsley as the former Mandarin Trevor Slattery, may not have been the most beloved Marvel villain initially, but Marvel has managed to transform him into a delightful secondary character.)

17. Thor

In an unexpected twist, the grand, universe-encompassing saga that primarily unfolds in the tiniest town of New Mexico – yes, you heard it right! – has its flaws, much like Thor. Nevertheless, it stands out as the first Marvel film where exceptional acting and captivating performances managed to surpass structural and script issues, a trend that later became characteristic of Marvel productions. (Continue reading here.)

16. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

In the task at hand, Ryan Coogler encountered an extraordinarily tough predicament while working on “Wakanda Forever”: Not only was he required to create a sequel worthy of the original “Black Panther,” he had to accomplish this feat without Chadwick Boseman, who sadly passed away during the summer of 2020, just as production was set to commence. Coogler and the cast’s grief over Boseman is poignantly woven into the narrative of Wakanda grappling with the loss of its monarch. The film excels in this emotional aspect; however, the remainder of the movie can be a bit disorganized, featuring a multitude of intriguing concepts, numerous characters, and an antagonist, Namor, whose motivations are somewhat unclear and confusing.

15. Captain America: Civil War

The story lacks credibility and is seemingly constructed to culminate in an epic showdown between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, which takes place at the airport. However, let me tell you this: Wow, that airport battle between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers is absolutely fantastic! (Read more here.)

14. Spider-Man: No Way Home

In Jon Watts’ third Spider-Man movie, we find a similar level of quality as Sam Raimi’s third Spider-Man film. Both share the issue of being overloaded with various villains. However, this film effectively portrays the charm of Peter Parker, a character who consistently falls short but never loses his determination to set things right in the future. It also introduces the multiverse into the Marvel Cinematic Universe on a grand scale, making it a significant step in the ongoing storyline.

Jon Watts’ third Spider-Man movie shares the same quality level as Sam Raimi’s third film. Both have an issue with too many villains. The movie does a great job of showing Peter Parker’s charm, a character who keeps trying despite his failures. It also brings the concept of the multiverse into MCU movies in a major way, marking an important milestone in the storyline.

13. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

15 years removed from the Marvel universe, I, as a movie critic, was thrilled to find director Sam Raimi back in action with his exhilaratingly eccentric take on a multiverse-shaking saga. Much like his previous Spider-Man movies, this film showcases Raimi’s unique flair, blending humor that borders on the absurd, terrifying zombie hordes, and spine-tingling jump scares into the more conventional Marvel mold. (For a deeper dive into the movie, check out the full review here.)

12. Avengers: Age of Ultron

Even though I acknowledge that this movie may not meet up to the expectations set by the initial Avengers film and has its flaws, particularly with Wanda and Pietro’s storyline, I find the climactic sequence where the Avengers unite to rescue every single soul in Sokovia to be nothing short of classic Marvel. (Continue reading .)

11. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but express my thoughts on the latest Marvel flick. It was undeniably lengthy, boasting no less than four post-credits scenes that seemed endless. Yet, the audacity to transform the jokiest Marvel franchise into a sequel with a massive downer as its finale is commendable. This is the only Marvel movie that has left me teary-eyed and giggling at jokes involving alien deity phallic references – an unbeatable combination in my opinion. (For further insights, check out the link here.)

10. Thor: Ragnarok

I just really like when Jeff Goldblum plays a space god who DJs his own parties. (Read more here.)

9. Spider-Man: Far From Home

The second installment of Marvel’s Spiderman movie series, starring Tom Holland as the extraordinary web-slinger, is slightly less impressive than its predecessor but still delivers on romance, action, humor, and emotion. Although no one explicitly says “with great power comes great responsibility,” Far From Home explores this concept just as deeply as any Spider-Man film has before. Peter Parker, portrayed by Holland, finds himself in a dilemma between his desire to court MJ, played by the witty Zendaya, and his instructions from Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson in an annoyed yet humorous manner, to thwart a group of destructive elemental beings.

8. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

James Gunn skillfully concludes his Guardians trilogy with a movie that offers the perfect Marvel blend: Thrilling action scenes, quirky sci-fi visuals, and deeply emotional characters we grow deeply attached to. By the end of Volume 3, Rocket Raccoon transforms from a secondary Marvel character into one of the company’s most intriguing and sorrowful heroes. After a series of less impressive films, Gunn effortlessly makes it seem simple. Unfortunately, he’s moving on to work with DC instead.

7. Avengers: Endgame

A significant leap forward from “Infinity War” and arguably the second finest Marvel’s Avengers film, boasting grand action sequences, abundant humor, and potentially more Easter eggs than any movie across all cinematic universes. (Read more .)

6. Spider-Man: Homecoming

Among the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most entertaining films, it boasts captivating characters, thrilling Spider-Man scenes, and an unexpected street vendor requesting a flip from Spider-Man, which he performs. Aren’t you hooked? (Continue reading here.)

5. Guardians of the Galaxy

At roughly the middle point of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the debut of the original Guardians marked a turning point for Marvel Studios. It showcased that their brand had enough clout to draw audiences to lesser-known properties, such as the Guardians. Prior to James Gunn’s direction, they were mere afterthoughts; however, he transformed them into an unexpected blockbuster hit. As far as personal preference goes, it is indisputable that Rocket is the superior Guardian. This is a matter of fact, so please refrain from debating this point. (Continue reading .)

4. Captain America: The First Avenger

Although the narrative could use some fine-tuning (as it condenses an entire war into a quick montage), Chris Evans’ portrayal of Captain America stands as one of the most effective character adaptations within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This film transformed a hero often criticized for being dull or outdated into a captivating, appealing, multidimensional figure embodying authentic human values. A must-watch MCU movie when seeking inspiration. (Additional insights can be found here.)

3. Black Panther

Instead of trying to forge deep connections with the cosmos in many Marvel films, Black Panther demonstrates the benefits of a more insular approach. Towards the end of the movie, when Black Panther decides to share Wakanda with the world (and its characters become available for future appearances), it’s meant to be a joyful conclusion. However, if this move leads to a less focused sequel filled with numerous guest appearances, it might not be so delightful after all. [Read more here.]

2. The Avengers

Despite the epic events of “Infinity War”, the initial “Avengers” movie remains an astonishing feat that seems almost unbelievable. Each character is skillfully balanced, the dialogue flows smoothly, and the climactic Battle of New York ranks among the greatest action sequences of the 21st century. (Read more here.)

1. Iron Man

To this day, no other film has managed to surpass its greatness. Looking back, it’s evident that the freedom from a broader universe enhanced the quality of the movie. The scenes where Robert Downey Jr.’s character, Tony Stark, tests his armor and subsequently takes flight for the first time, perfectly encapsulate the exhilaration of superpowers better than any film ever made by Marvel or anyone else. [Source]

Or

The original still holds the title as unmatched. In retrospect, not being tied to a larger universe allowed it to excel, and no other movie has captured the thrill of superpowers as effectively as the sequences where Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark tests his armor and experiences flight for the first time in this film, surpassing any Marvel or non-Marvel production. [Source]

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2025-02-14 05:26