Every superhero story has its iconic villain, and for Captain America: Brave New World, fans were introduced to The Leader, portrayed by actor Tim Blake Nelson. The character's transformation was achieved through practical effects and makeup, resulting in a visibly mutated appearance that, while inspired by the comics, took a slightly different direction.
Blue Whale Studios, the Atlanta-based special effects company responsible for The Leader's design and effects in the MCU film, recently shared insights into their original concept for Sam Sterns' alter ego. This initial design was much closer to the comic book version, featuring an engorged head and pale green skin, which gave the character a very sickly appearance. The effects artists showcased this design on their Instagram, along with a video of the prosthetics being applied to Nelson, offering fans a fascinating glimpse into the 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 mirrors The Leader's first appearance in the Marvel comic universe, introduced in Tales to Astonish #62 in 1964. However, the final design in Brave New World aligns more with the character's more recent depictions in 2018's Immortal Hulk.
The Leader's journey to becoming a villain in the MCU began with a hint in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, where Sam Sterns was exposed to Bruce Banner's Gamma radiation-infused blood. Although he remained a normal human at the time, this exposure set the stage for his transformation by 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, Sidewinder, played by Giancarlo Esposito, known for his roles in Breaking Bad, Star Wars, and The Boys. Esposito's character leads 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 due to extensive rewrites of the script and subsequent reshoots.
