Tim Blake Nelson, who had been absent from the Marvel Cinematic Universe for more than ten years, made a comeback as the villain in Captain America: New World Order.
The announcement of Captain America 4 by Marvel Studios at San Diego Comic-Con 2022 stunned MCU fans, but the studio went one step further by announcing Tim Blake Nelson’s return as Dr. Samuel Sterns during the D23 Fan Expo.
After playing Sterns in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, Nelson will be working on his second Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie. As part of the Phase 1 ties, Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross will also be appearing in this production.
Sam Wilson will have his hands full dealing with an opponent unlike anything he has ever encountered in this film, which is also his first complete adventure using the Captain America shield.
Captain America 4 Villain Arrives on Set
On the set of Captain America: New World Order, fans got their first glimpse of Tim Blake Nelson reprising his role as Dr. Samuel Sterns, who will eventually turn into the villainous Leader in what is said to be a “very comic accurate” adaptation.
In a green collared shirt and purple slacks, Nelson pays homage to the iconic colors of the title character from his first MCU film, the Hulk, as he walks next to a line of trailers.
The first step in his makeup application to make him look like the Leader in this sequel may be the green paint on his hands.
In these pictures, Nelson also sports a scraggly but short beard and untidy hair, hinting to his villainous future.
These are only the most recent set pictures from Captain America 4’s set, which also include images of Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson and Harrison Ford’s recast Thunderbolt Ross.
Leader Actor Ready for MCU Comeback in Captain America 4
While the specifics of Captain America 4’s story are yet unknown, fans are already quite excited about Tim Blake Nelson’s return after 15 years.
After all, since Samuel Sterns was unintentionally injected with the Hulk’s blood and changed into the Leader, his character has been one of the MCU’s longest-hanging storylines.
Nelson’s return is scheduled to begin with the release of these set photographs, which allow him to embrace the superpowered incarnation of his iconic Hulk adversary, which was briefly hinted at when the Hulk’s blood caused his head to begin to enlarge.
And with set photographs for the MCU’s penultimate Phase 5 film often appearing online, it’s anyone’s guess what additional information about Nelson’s antagonist may be made public in the near future.
On May 3, 2024, Captain America: New World Order, which is presently under production, will make its theatrical debut.
