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- The fourth Captain America movie has been given the title Captain America: New World Order, and will focus on Sam Wilson as the main hero. First introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sam has become a major fixture in the MCU, showing the Cap trilogy's influence when it comes to setting up the franchise's future stars.
Known as the "first Avenger," Captain America has always been the leader of that superhero team in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While it remains to be seen what storylines Captain America 4 will explore, it will certainly take the franchise in a new direction after the first three films centered around Steve Rogers.
Even though Steve Rogers has passed on the shield and mantle of Captain America, his trilogy helped shape the MCU and introduced audiences to many important and memorable characters. Set in a world of spies, soldiers, and supervillains, the Captain America trilogy is filled with great characters, and all three movies are available to stream on Disney+.
Updated on September 29th, 2022 by Stacie Rook:
The fourth Captain America movie has been given the title Captain America: New World Order, and will focus on Sam Wilson as the main hero. First introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sam has become a major fixture in the MCU, showing the Cap trilogy's influence when it comes to setting up the franchise's future stars.
Peter Parker
Before his own trilogy of solo films, Peter Parker made his MCU debut as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War, recruited by Iron Man to fight on his side in the conflict.
Even though Peter does not have a significant role in the trilogy, his introduction to the franchise was incredibly memorable and important, as it helped to establish the tone of the character before his solo outings. From forging a connection to mentor Tony Stark to wielding Cap's shield, Spidey's first appearance was a joy to watch unfold.
Wanda Maximoff
Wanda Maximoff made two appearances in the Captain America trilogy, first in a credit scene for The Winter Soldier, and more properly in Civil War, where one of the worst things to happen to Wanda —her accidental killing of civilians in Lagos—set the story in motion.
This tragedy led to the Sokovia Accords, and Wanda's opposition to them had her siding with Steve Rogers. Wanda's appearance in Civil War was vital for showcasing her unstable powers, and started her down the path that eventually led to WandaVision.
Maria Hill
A prominent figure at S.H.I.E.L.D and trusted Commander under Nick Fury, Agent Maria Hill was crucial to the plot of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where she aided Steve and his allies in the fight against Hydra.
Maria Hill has been a steady presence in the MCU since her first appearance in The Avengers back in 2012. A highly capable spy often working to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes, she is similar to Cap in her willingness to go against the authorities when it's the right thing to do.
Howard Stark
Father to Tony Stark, Howard Stark played a key role in establishing Steve Rogers as Captain America during World War II, and was responsible for making the hero's iconic shield.
Howard and Steve's relationship is a friendly one, but it does act as a complication for Tony and Steve in the modern day, as the pair meets with lots of preconceived ideas about what the other will be like. A genius inventor, Howard had a lasting impact on Cap, and his appearance in The First Avenger showcased the trademark Stark charisma.
Nick Fury
Longtime director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury worked with Captain America in The Winter Soldier, but the spy's paranoia meant that there were some secrets he kept even from those closest to him, even going so far as to fake his own death when he didn't know who he could trust.
Fury ends up teaching Steve a lot about the way that the spy world works, and it's because of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s downfall that his distrust for organizations like it grows. Like Steve, Fury is a tactician, and as the Secret Invasion D23 trailer has shown, he remains in the know when it comes to planet-level threats.
Sharon Carter
Introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sharon Carter is the great-niece of Peggy Carter. She monitored Steve Rogers for S.H.I.E.L.D., posing as his neighbor. Recently, she was revealed as the Power Broker in The Falcon and the Winter Solider.
Sharon Carter is a morally ambiguous character, doing what she needs to in order to survive and thrive. Her fall from being a loyal agent is a nuanced and compelling character arc that is still playing out in the MCU.
Alexander Pierce
As the head of Hydra's infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D., Alexander Pierce was revealed to be the true villain of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. He commanded great power and control as the US Secretary of Defense and a member of the World Security Council.
Played by legendary actor Robert Redford, Alexander Pierce was a cunning and convincing villain, infiltrating the most secure organizations in the world. Charming and respected, he was able to hide his true agenda and completely fool everyone, allowing Hydra to take down S.H.I.E.L.D. from within.
Red Skull
As the head of Hydra during World War II, Red Skull was Captain America's first, and arguably most notable, foe. He attempted to use the Tesseract to take over the world before his plans were thwarted by Steve Rogers, and he ended up serving as the Stonekeeper for the Soul Stone on Vormir.
While other villains such as Alexander Pierce are nuanced and grounded, Red Skull is a true over-the-top comic book villain. From his appearance to his actions, he is an evil and egotistical villain who wants to take over the world. While not the most realistic character, he is wildly entertaining and interesting to watch on screen.
Peggy Carter
Peggy Carter was one of the people most responsible for Steve Roger's transformation into Captain America, working on Project Rebirth and later pushing him to become more than just a mascot. She aided Captain America in his World War II missions and quickly became one of the most important people to him as Steve Rogers' true love.
Peggy Carter represented the life that Steve Rogers gave up. She was smart, strong, and heroic, becoming one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D. Since her debut, she has become a fan-favorite character and finally got a happy ending in Avengers: Endgame.
Helmut Zemo
Baron Helmut Zemo is one of the smartest and most successful villains in the MCU. After his family was killed in the Battle of Sokovia, he set out to take down the Avengers by turning them against each other in Captain America: Civil War.
Zemo proved his brilliance in managing to tear the Avengers apart through manipulation and deceit. He is also funny in a dry way, becoming a standout of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He is a deadly and compelling genius who fans love to see on screen.
Natasha Romanoff
Prior to starring in Black Widow, one of Natasha Romanoff's most memorable turns as the character came in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as she and Steve Rogers were declared fugitives and went on the run from Alexander Pierce and the Winter Soldier.
The stark personality contrast between Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff brought out the best in her character. She helped Steve adjust to the modern world as his worldview was shaken. Her loyalty, heroism, and unique skill set helped the duo survive and cemented their friendship.
Black Panther
Black Panther made his MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War. T'Challa's father was killed in a bombing, which Zemo framed the Winter Soldier for, thrusting T'Challa into the middle of the conflict between Iron Man and Captain America.
In the film, Black Panther is depicted as powerful and focused, determined to hunt down his father's killer and bring him to justice. His physical strength and political status make him nearly unstoppable. He is also fair and just, preventing Zemo from harming himself and ensuring he was taken into custody instead.
Bucky Barnes
Bucky Barnes has had one of the most interesting character arcs in the MCU thus far, beginning as Steve Rogers' friend, becoming a brainwashed killer as the Winter Soldier, breaking free from Hydra's control, and attempting to make amends for his past.
Bucky has proven himself to be a great friend and a worthy adversary throughout the franchise. His friendship with Steve Rogers and banter with Sam Wilson are endearing and entertaining. As one of the most likable characters in the Captain America trilogy, he is a sympathetic, intimidating, and tortured character that audiences are rooting for to finally find peace.
Sam Wilson
As a former Air Force airman, Sam Wilson worked with other veterans, helping them address PTSD before he was called back into action by Captain America. As the Falcon, he helped Captain America take down Alexander Pierce and was eventually invited to join the Avengers.
One of the best characters the Russo Brothers introduced to the MCU, Sam Wilson is a caring, funny, and brave individual who can hold his own against anyone despite not having any powers. He is hardworking, loyal, and always thinking of others, earning the right to take up the mantle as the new Captain America.
Steve Rogers
Even before he took the Super Soldier Serum, Steve Rogers repeatedly proved the strength of his character by constantly doing selfless things such as trying to enlist in the army to fight in World War II despite his diminutive size, standing up to bullies, and jumping on a grenade to protect the other members of his unit.
As Captain America, he continually fought to do what was right and to protect others. Wholesome, heroic, and possessing a strong moral compass, he was the clear leader of the Avengers and was even worthy enough to lift Thor's hammer. A true hero in every sense of the word, Steve Rogers is clearly the best character in the Captain America trilogy.