While marketing hasn't spotlighted Tim Blake Nelson's character prominently (so far), we've known since 2022 that he'll reprise his role as Samuel Sterns/The Leader in Captain America: Brave New World. Nelson first portrayed the character in 2008's The Incredible Hulk but hasn't appeared in the MCU until now.
Though it's exciting that Marvel is revisiting this unresolved storyline, The Leader's placement as a Captain America villain rather than a Hulk adversary is unexpected—yet that's precisely what makes him compelling. As an enemy Sam Wilson doesn't anticipate, The Leader poses a unique threat. Below, we explore his background and why he fits perfectly as Brave New World's antagonist.
The Leader: Who Is Tim Blake Nelson's Character?
The Leader stands as Hulk's primary intellectual rival. Unlike foes who challenge brute strength, Samuel Sterns represents Banner's mental opposite—gamma radiation amplified his intellect exponentially. As smart as Hulk is powerful, Sterns ranks among Marvel's most dangerous villains.
More From Avengers HQ
Captain America Recap: The Messy Marvel Timeline That Led to Brave New WorldCaptain America: Brave New World Is Secretly an Incredible Hulk SequelCaptain America: Brave New World Is the Start of Avengers 2.0Why Are the Thunderbolts* Called That, and Did Marvel Just Explain the Asterisk in the Title?The Incredible Hulk (2008) teased Sterns' villainous future. Initially aiding Banner as a cellular biologist, Sterns secretly diverged from Banner's goal—instead synthesizing Hulk's blood to advance human evolution. Forced by General Ross to transform Emil Blonsky into Abomination, Sterns later suffers gamma exposure, his skull mutating grotesquely.
The film leaves Sterns in narrative limbo, mid-transformation—his fate unresolved for over a decade.
The Return of the Leader in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Incredible Hulk's sequel setup never materialized due to Universal's partial Hulk rights, restricting the character to ensemble films—until now. Meanwhile, Mark Ruffalo's Banner recently departed Earth in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, only to return unexpectedly with Skaar, his Sakaarian son.
Though The Leader didn't manifest as She-Hulk's rumored benefactor (despite Wrecking Crew's gamma-blood heist), Brave New World trailers confirm his role manipulating unseen foes.
Why the Leader Is One of the Villains in Captain America 4
The Leader's vendetta likely stems from betrayal rather than Hulk animosity. With Harrison Ford now portraying President Ross—who formerly exploited Sterns—revenge against America's leadership would logically ensnare Captain America. Director Julius Onah emphasizes Sterns' unpredictability: "He challenges Sam Wilson in ways Steve Rogers never faced," noting the MCU's evolving consequences.
This clash becomes Sam's inaugural leadership trial, forcing him to unite Avengers remnants against cerebral warfare—a stark contrast to Thanos-era battles. Onah hints Brave New World's fallout will reshape the MCU, dovetailing into Thunderbolts' darker tone.
Though Wilson has bested physically superior foes, The Leader's genius presents unparalleled danger. Tellingly, the film's stakes suggest Captain America's symbolic undoing may precede Thunderbolts' authoritarian era.
