"Leader's Design in Captain America: Brave New World Unveiled, Comic-Inspired"

Every superhero story has its villain, and for Captain America: Brave New World, fans were introduced to The Leader, portrayed by actor Tim Blake Nelson. The character's appearance was enhanced through practical effects and makeup, presenting a visibly mutated look that deviated slightly from the comic book version.

Blue Whale Studios, responsible for the character's design and effects in the MCU film, shared insights into their original concept for Sam Sterns’ alter ego, which more closely mirrored the comics. The Atlanta-based special effects company initially aimed for a sickly appearance, featuring an engorged head and pale green skin. This design was showcased on their Instagram, along with a video of the prosthetics application on Nelson, offering fans a fascinating glimpse into the character's creation process.

"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 resembles The Leader’s first appearance in the Marvel comic universe, introduced in 1964’s Tales to Astonish #62. Interestingly, the final design in Brave New World aligns more with the character's more recent portrayals in 2018's Immortal Hulk.

The Leader was first hinted at as a potential MCU villain in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. In that film, Sam Sterns is exposed to Bruce Banner’s Gamma radiation-filled blood, initiating his transformation. Although he appeared as a normal human at the time, time clearly transformed him into the character seen at the start of Brave New World.

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

Ahead of the film's release, five-time WWE world champion Seth Rollins confirmed that his role was cut following extensive rewrites of the script and subsequent reshoots.