Everything McDonald’s promo tie-in spoils in their marketing campaign
The movie merchandising industry has always been notorious for leaking plot details long before a film’s premiere, or at least causing people to wildly speculate about them, often inaccurately. Thus, it is not surprising that most of what we’ve seen so far of Captain America: Brave New World is a fast food promotion, nearly a year before the movie’s release, rather than a trailer or a well-planned press announcement.
That’s because McDonald’s has begun advertising a new Happy Meal toy campaign featuring characters from the upcoming Captain America film—unintentionally giving us our first glimpse at several characters from the movie in the form of chibi plush toys. Go back now to avoid Ronald McDonald impurely influencing your Marvel fandom’s naive eyes.
Naturally, there’s a more mundane explanation for this: Brave New World was originally scheduled to release the next month, but in November of last year, it was moved to August, and then to February 2025. While a McDonald’s tie-in for a film that opens in the upcoming month is hardly shocking, McDonald’s did not blink when Brave New World did. This is probably because the fast food chain has promotions and tie-ins planned for films and television shows months in advance and cannot afford to postpone or reschedule them. This has happened before with Marvel and McDonald’s—last year, during The Marvels’ last-minute push, the Happy Meal toys were released a few months ahead of schedule.
Here are the promotional images from McDonald’s
SPOILER WARNING: The images and discussion below may spoil parts of the movie.
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Now that you’ve seen the posters let’s break down how McDonald’s is ruining the movie.
1. Captain America’s New Costume
Sam Wilson’s new outfit from Captain America: Brave New World appears to have leaked.
Taking the artwork at its value (Marvel has not confirmed anything, so we should still proceed with caution) seems to indicate that Sam’s white outfit from the conclusion of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is no longer in use.
It was replaced with a blue outfit that adorned Sam’s chest with stars and stripes. Both Falcon’s recognizable wings and the shield that an elderly Steve Rogers gave to Sam at the end of Avengers: Endgame still exist.
A glimpse of characters other than Sam Wilson is provided by the promotion.
2. Red Hulk
After making his MCU debut in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, it appears that the antagonist will at last transform into Red Hulk. Although the McDonald’s meal toys are extremely stylized, it’s still unclear how Ford might seem as Ross’s hideous alter ego.
During the 2010 “World War Hulks” plot in the comics United States Army General Thunderbolt Ross, the father-in-law and enduring foe of the original Hulk (Bruce Banner), was given the ability to turn into Red Hulk. According to the plot, Ross was granted the ability to change into Red Hulk by A.I.M., the Leader and the Intelligencia, and he used this ability to improve his fighting skills against the original Hulk.
Although it appears from this leak that Ross will turn into the Red Hulk in “Brave New World,” Ford hasn’t been clear about whether or not this will happen.
Thunderbolt Ross would eventually figure out how to transform into the Red Hulk. He has fought alongside heroes in the military and boardrooms, but he lacks the physical power to compete with them one-on-one. It appears that Captain America will be the first of Ross’ valiant opponents to experience the wrath of the Red Hulk if this “Captain America: Brave New World” McDonald’s leak is accurate. Regretfully, Harrison Ford did not show much enthusiasm to talk about Ross’s metamorphosis before the movie’s premiere.
Ford has mentioned “Brave New World” and his role in it on occasion while fans wait for the film to release. On the press tour for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” he was asked if fans could anticipate seeing him transform into Red Hulk on film. Ford answered, appearing perplexed by the query, “What is the Red Hulk?” He said Ross’s transformation into the Hulk might or might not occur in the film, but he gave no other information. It remains to be seen if he will be more inclined to discuss the issue once the “Brave New World” press tour starts.
3. Joaquin Torres as Falcon
In the Brave New World of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a new hero will want to become the new Falcon, coinciding with Sam Wilson’s assumption of the Captain America role. Joaquin Torres, a character initially seen in the Disney+ TV series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, is portrayed by actor Danny Ramirez in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Readers of Marvel Comics are probably well aware that Torres is a superhero from the comic books. He eventually takes over as Falcon after Sam Wilson succeeds Steve Rogers as the next Captain America.
Sam Wilson’s outfit and Joaquin Torres’ Falcon have a lot in common inside the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The color scheme and helmet are the only significant changes in an otherwise nearly similar design. Sam Wilson’s Falcon was frequently depicted with just a visor, whereas Torres’ new appearance had a full helmet. Marvel Comics served as an inspiration for the new color palette since Torres’ Falcon was mostly dressed in green and brown.
Two female characters are also included, but it’s difficult to determine who they’re supposed to be because of how cutesified the designs are.
4. Sabra
One possibility is Sabra, an Israeli supersoldier who is politically charged and who we know is supposed to appear in Brave New World.
Ruth Bat-Seraph first appeared as Sabra in Incredible Hulk #256 in 1980, created by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema. Sabra was born close to Jerusalem, Israel, and reared with her family on a special kibbutz managed by the Israeli government. After her mutant power developed, Ruth was the first superhuman agent to work for the Mossad, the Israeli Secret Service. Her mutant powers give her superhuman strength, speed, agility, reflexes, durability, and regeneration. She also wears a cape that allows her to fly. As a cover, she worked as a police officer in the Tel Aviv Israeli Police forces. Sabra most likely saved a heroin addict who was on the verge of death when she discovered her in an alley, giving her powers in the process by transferring her life force.
She battled the Hulk for the first time as Sabra because she thought he was collaborating with Arab terrorists that were operating in Israel. It makes sense she’s in the movie since Hulk makes an appearance.
It’s also noteworthy that the poster avoids using her Hebrew codename Sabra. Instead, she’s referred to by her first name, Ruth.
Although Sabra’s big-screen premiere was always going to be a contentious event, the growing violence in Gaza has rekindled some of the debate around the character, who is perceived by some as a racist thug who opposes Palestine.
Her name alone has caused a great deal of animosity since it evokes memories of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre, which claimed the lives of hundreds of Muslim men, women, and children.
5. Diamondback
With her signature purple hair, one of the plush toys is undoubtedly Diamondback with her diamond-shaped throwing knives.
Diamondback (Rachel Leighton) first debuted in Captain America #310 (October 1985), where she was initially portrayed as a supervillain and member of the Serpent Society. She went on to become a series regular for years after that.
After joining the Serpent Society and making her debut, Rachel Leighton and Captain America shortly clashed as the organization was carrying out an assassination. Eventually, Leighton began to feel something for Captain America, luring her away from the Society and onto the side of good. The two started dating after Captain America prevented Viper from taking over. The Serpent Society decided to put her to death because of her association with a superhero, but her pals in the Serpent Society decided not to execute her. Leighton was a member of BAD Girls, Inc., a group of three adventurers who occasionally assist Captain America, along with Black Mamba and Asp. BAD Girls, Inc. joined with Captain America’s Anti-Registration faction during the “Civil War” storyline.
Diamondback and Steve Rogers have a romantic connection in the comics but we don’t know if Wilson and Leighton will become an item.
6. Redwing
One character that hasn’t been talked about much is Redwing.
In the comics, Sam Wilson purchased Redwing, a falcon, while he was in Rio. The two are connected telepathically due to the Cosmic Cube’s manipulation by the Red Skull.
In the movies, Sam Wilson uses Redwing, a combat and reconnaissance drone installed in an EXO-7 Falcon. Stark Industries built the original Redwing, also known as Stark Drone MK82 922 V 80Z V2 Prototype Unit V6, for Wilson after he joined the Avengers. Wilson obtained a second Redwing drone five years following the Infinity War, but it was destroyed six months later. The Wakandan Design Group built two new Redwing drones and a new Captain America suit for Sam Wilson after Bucky Barnes asks them for a favor.
Strangely, despite being announced to feature in Captain America: Brave New World, one of Marvel’s most infamous villains, Samuel Sterns / The Leader (Tim Blake Nelson), does not appear in the promotional tie-in. Red Wing has a different color scheme in the new movie. Before it was white and red, but now there’s a touch of blue to give it a patriotic theme.
Julius Onah, a novice to the MCU, will helm Captain America: Brave New World. Malcolm Spellman, the chief writer of Falcon and the Winter Soldier, will write and produce the film. Captain America: Civil War (2016) was the last new installment in the solo Captain America series in nine years. Fans are eagerly expecting this movie. Some fans might be dubious about the movie getting too crowded with characters. Sam Wilson’s first film adventure with the shield should provide an engaging cinematic emotional trip; hopefully, the presence of these other heroes and villains won’t take away from it.
On February 14, 2025, Captain America: Brave New World is slated to open in theaters.
What do you think the images mean for the movie? Has McDonald’s spoiled any other movies for you?
