Every superhero narrative thrives on its villains, and in Captain America: Brave New World, fans were introduced to The Leader, portrayed by Tim Blake Nelson. The character's transformation was achieved through practical effects and makeup, resulting in a visibly mutated appearance that diverged from the comic book version.
Blue Whale Studios, the special effects team behind the character's design for the MCU film, recently shared insights into their initial concept for Sam Sterns’ alter ego, which closely mirrored the comics. Based in Atlanta, the studio initially envisioned a very sickly appearance for the character, featuring an engorged head and pale green skin. While this design was more straightforward and lacked the detailed mutations of the final version, Blue Whale Studios showcased it on their Instagram along with a video of the prosthetics being applied to Nelson, offering fans a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes.
"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. However, the final design in Brave New World aligns more with the character's recent depictions in 2018's Immortal Hulk.
The Leader's potential as an MCU villain was hinted at back in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, where Sam Sterns was exposed to Bruce Banner’s Gamma radiation-infused blood, setting the stage for his transformation by the time 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.
Before the film's release, Seth Rollins, a five-time WWE world champion, confirmed that his role was cut due to extensive rewrites of the script and subsequent reshoots.
