Marvel made waves during their return to San Diego Comic-Con recently, revealing the upcoming slate of MCU movies and shows, including Captain America: New World Order, the first with Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson as the titular hero. This film will continue the exploration and journey established in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier when Sam uncovered secrets buried while Steve was still stuck in the ice.

Not much is known beyond the release date of May 3rd, 2024, and that Julius Onah will be directing. However, based on previously established storylines in the MCU and Sam’s history and fights in the comics, they might look at any of these villains to feature in Captain America: New World Order.

Power Broker (Sharon Carter)

Sharon Carter Falcon and the Winter Soldier character poster

When it was announced that Emily VanCamp was returning for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as Sharon Carter, most fans probably assumed she’d return as the classic ally and hero she is in the comics. However, they twisted expectations and revealed that she was the enigmatic Power Broker, the series' secret antagonist. She was on the run from the American government for helping Steve in Captain America: Civil War, which led her to Madripoor where she amassed power and wealth in the wake of the events of Avengers: Infinity War.

It feels like a safe bet that whenever new information is made public about Captain America: New World Order, it will include announcing VanCamp’s casting. This would likely entail her secret plans for revenge and domination as the Power Broker being revealed and hopefully a subsequent return to the light.

Baron Zemo

Baron Zemo wears his purple mask

Another very likely choice is Daniel Brühl’s Helmut Zemo. He’s one of Steve Rogers’s nemeses in the comics, and in the MCU, he can be the same for Sam Wilson. He could very well take up the role of main antagonist in Captain America: New World Order, yet strangely enough, there is a sort of obstacle in the way. He’s already been broken out of the Raft once so they probably don’t want to recycle that. However, he could gain his freedom, just in a new way – perhaps agreeing to work with the government on a special team.

There has been no official confirmation that Brühl would return as Baron Zemo in Thunderbolts, but that does seem very likely. Fans have already theorized how that film could unfold and even its antagonist, and naturally Zemo was proposed for that role. Since Thunderbolts shortly follows Captain America: New World Order, it does feel safe to say Zemo will briefly feature in the first to set up a larger role in the second.

Red Skull

Red Skull MCU

Fans were utterly shocked when they heard the familiar voice of a long-lost villain when Gamora and Thanos arrive on Vormir in Avengers: Infinity War. Red Skull was punished for tampering with cosmic forces beyond his understandings and thus became a wraith for the Soul Stone, tethered to the planet and his duty as the Stonekeeper. What many fans might not know is that when Thanos destroyed the Infinity Stones, Red Skull was freed from his torment.

Interestingly, while Hugo Weaving played the legendary villain in Captain America: The First Avenger, he did not return years later. Instead, Ross Marquand took over, giving a spectacular voiceover performance that perfectly emulates Weaving. Since he’s out in the cosmos free once again, some fans are expecting him to find his way back to Earth, possibly bringing some powerful alien technology back with him, and that’s what could happen in Captain America: New World Order.

Hydra Supreme

Hydra Supreme

Although Steve Rogers’s time in the MCU is seemingly concluded, there are still several great related comics characters yet to be featured, and thus could be brought in to Captain America: New World Order. Some could come in as normal inhabitants of Earth-616, while others might be contingent on the Multiverse. One such character would be Hydra Supreme – Steve Rogers from an alternate timeline who was a sleeper Hydra agent.

They already hinted to this character during Avengers: Endgame during the time heist’s elevator scene, and Chris Evans is seemingly done with the MCU, so that would obviously restrict Hydra Supreme’s arrival. However, Evans is currently enjoying playing the villain more with Knives Out and The Gray Man, so maybe he could be convinced to return one more time for this film.

Secret Empire

Secret Empire Fighting Captain America and Falcon

Hydra Captain America was an important part of the crossover event going on in the comics entitled Secret Empire – not to be confused with Secret Invasion or Secret Wars, both of which are soon to be parts of the MCU. He had been revealed as a Hydra agent and was trying to take over the American government, so naturally, the other heroes rebelled against their longtime ally. Interestingly, this isn’t the first Secret Empire in Marvel comics.

There a lesser-known group who could actually come into play in Captain America: New World Order. This group was also connected with Hydra, along with other villainous organizations like AIM, and as their name implied they tried to secretly run global operations from the shadows. Whether they appear formally as the Secret Empire or in one of the similar groups such as the Masters of Evil or the Cabal, this element could definitely figure as part of this new world order.

Superia & The Femizons

Superia tended by two Femizons

While Red Skull and Baron Zemo would be claimed as Captain America’s greatest enemies, there are still other equally interesting and destructive villains to use, such as Superia. Deidra Wentworth aka Superia first premiered in 1991 opposing Captain America and leading the Femizons, a supervillain team hellbent on female world domination. Naturally, their plans were thwarted, but Superia eventually went on to take over the Dark Avengers, replacing Norman Osborn, until their incarceration.

She and the Femizons could be this new world order and given the versatile members, they would definitely make for a challenge for Sam to overcome. Some of the prominent members have already been incorporated into the MCU – Iron Maiden was played by Rachel Weisz in Black Widow and Gabrielle Dennis played Nightshade in Luke Cage. Another teammate might be coming to the MCU regardless. Karla Sofen aka Moonstone is a longtime Captain Marvel villain and member of the Thunderbolts, so she has a good shot of featuring soon.

MODOK & AIM

MODOK Psionic Blasts

As part of the MCU’s time at San Diego Comic-Con, they showed some footage for several upcoming movies and tv shows, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. It had been public knowledge for a long time that Jonathan Majors would be playing the film’s antagonist, Kang the Conqueror – however, it came as a surprise when the exclusive footage they showed also included a shot of MODOK. Unlike his typical portrayal, this showed him as even more of a robot, and hopefully, they allow for such a great Avengers villain to continue elsewhere in the MCU.

If he survives the film, he and AIM could very well have a role to play in Captain America: New World Order. AIM is a prominent organization in the comics that has been missing in the MCU since Iron Man 3. With speculation of where the franchise could be heading with titles like Captain America: New World Order, Thunderbolts, and Armor Wars, they could become quite important.

Thunderbolts

Ghost, Taskmaster, Bucky Barnes and comic book Thunderbolts

Seeing as Thunderbolts directly follows Captain America: New World Order, the team could have a role of sorts in this film. From the recent announcements, they will be a government-sanctioned team, likely designed to supplant the Avengers in their absence or if they are deemed too untrustworthy again. Like Suicide Squad, this team will be made of villains and antiheroes from across the franchise, some of whom are probably on the team as a sort of plea deal – though without the implanted exploding computer chips.

This inclusion could be quite pronounced, whether it’s the entire team or just a few members, or more likely, they’ll be part of the post-credits stingers. Since many fans believe that Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, is the one behind forming this team, she could also feature. Thunderbolts is already intended to close out Phase Five of the MCU, arriving in theaters on July 26th, 2024.

Serpent Society

full panel of the Serpent Society

If they’d want to go for something unexpected, yet intriguing, they could introduce the Serpent Society in Captain America: New World Order. This is a giant snake-themed organization of villains and mercenaries who’ve gone up against Captain America and the Avengers repeatedly. Unlike the Thunderbolts or Masters of Evil, the Serpent Society isn’t hellbent on world domination, rather operating more like a labor union so the members can work on their own or for other villains.

Some members of the Serpent Society are literally serpentine, while others just use snake-like costumes, and each has different abilities. Thus, if they should appear, Captain America might need some help from allies like Winter Soldier, Sharon Carter, Joaquín Torres, and/or War Machine – or even from a Serpent Society member like Diamondback. They would certainly make for a unique set of antagonists which could help set Sam’s tenure as Captain America apart from Steve’s.

Baron Blood

Baron Blood snarling as he attacks Captain America (Sam Wilson).

The film preceding Captain America: New World Order is Blade, starring Mahershala Ali. This will hopefully rip open the creaky door to Marvel horror, continuing the work started in Moon Knight and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Vampires could have some role to play in Captain America: New World Order and thus Baron Blood could be involved. John Falsworth was a British Lord during the height of World War I who was turned into a vampire by none other than the vampiric king, Dracula.

He became ingrained in Hydra, which thus led him to eventually cross paths with Sam Wilson as Captain America. Baron Blood was part of a plan to sterilize all humans, and in enacting these plans he ended up killing Sam’s trusty sidekick, Redwing – a drone in the MCU, rather than an actual bird – and even sterilizing Sam. This would be a tragic element in Sam’s story in the MCU, so they might not go there, but Baron Blood could still feature in some way.

NEXT: MCU: Every Major Announcement & Reveal From San Diego Comic-Con 2022