Captain America 4 is embroiled in a battle not against supervillains, but against a character some call ‘She Who Shall Not Be Named.’ Anthony Mackie’s solo debut is overshadowed by controversy, leaving fans feeling the character is a bad apple, spoiling the Cap’s shield.
The backlash is so fierce, Mackie’s performance risks getting lost in the fight. Can they rewrite the script and save Mackie’s solo mission, or will fan disappointment be the real supervillain?
Anthony Mackie’s Solo Cap Debut, Clouded by Controversy Over Shira Haas’ Character
Captain America: Brave New World is gearing up to be a blockbuster. Anthony Mackie steps into the star-spangled suit, and Harrison Ford joins the Marvel fam. The trailer drops, and fans are raving…except for one thing. A new character dubbed ‘She Who Shall Not Be Named’ by fans, played by Emmy-nominated Shira Haas, is sparking major controversy, leading fans to declare, “It’s [Mackie’s] first solo Cap Movie. Just sucks!”
It really sucks that this movie is being bogged down by She Who Shall Not Be Named because Sam looks awesome in the trailer. And it’s his first solo Cap movie. Just sucks. https://t.co/0N4QMjXX1O
— The Green Kasey 🎃 (@RawbertBeef) July 12, 2024
The character in question is Ruth Bat-Seraph. She used to be Sabra in the comics, an Israeli Mossad agent. Some folks are upset Marvel changed her allegiance to a U.S. official. Pro-Israel groups wanted the original Mossad tie-in, but the recent Israel-Palestine controversy likely factored into Disney’s choice to avoid potentially inflammatory content in a movie.
Some fans think the backstory tweak is a reaction to recent events, and some calling for a boycott haven’t even seen the movie! Marvel actually announced the changes way back in 2022, aiming for a modern take on the character. They released a statement (per NY Times):
While our characters and stories are inspired by the comics, they are always freshly imagined for the screen and today’s audience, and the filmmakers are taking a new approach with the character Sabra who was first introduced in the comics over 40 years ago.
This isn’t the first time the MCU updated a character. Remember Doctor Strange’s Wong? Same idea here, but some fans just aren’t buying it (reported by THR).
So why the fuss over Sabra’s original form? Well, some found her fighting stereotypical Arab villains problematic. Plus, the name ‘Sabra’ itself has layers. It can mean someone born in Israel, a sweet fruit, or…a Lebanese refugee camp where a massacre occurred in 1982 (via The Times of Israel). This is where the misinformation gets messy. Online whispers claim Marvel named her after the massacre, which isn’t true (the character debuted two years earlier).
While Anthony Mackie deserves a stellar solo debut as Captain America, this character drama might steal some shine. Can they rise above the noise and deliver a blockbuster? Let’s hope for the best!
Captain America 4 Faces Backlash Over Controversial Casting
Captain America: Brave New World is facing an uphill battle. Filming’s back underway in Georgia, but instead of triumphant returns, the film’s catching major flak. The casting sparked controversy from the get-go, fueled by the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
Social media is blowing up with demands to #CutSabra, with some even threatening to boycott the movie. However, other fans aren’t bothered by her background or current situation.
Maybe. I’d respect them if they did that but I seriously doubt they would
— The Green Kasey 🎃 (@RawbertBeef) July 12, 2024
Of course they will ITS FUCKING DISNEY LMAO why and how would they look at the current political landscape and online discourse and think “yeah ppl really wanna see an israeli super hero lmaaooo
— SON BROKU | SADZILLA | PHONKRAT | KAIJU KULT (@sonbrokumusic) July 12, 2024
95% of the potential audience for this movie will have never have heard about the controversy and won’t care when they see the movie (or don’t). This is a niche social media thing.
— Zach Wilson (@televisionaryZW) July 12, 2024
I don’t think anybody in real life, or say the average audience member, actually cares about her or her background and beliefs. That won’t be the reason the movie doesn’t do well or gets bad reviews if it does. If anything, y’all are the ones bringing negative attention to this…
— 💋 (@price0fwoke) July 12, 2024
Us marvel fans are still gonna watch it. We don’t care
— Marcus (@04aurelius07) July 12, 2024
tbh the reshoots are probably just cutting her out as much as possible
— 𝔍𝔬𝔫𝔞𝔰 (@JonasPitt03) July 12, 2024
Regardless of what happens I think the backlash means she is GONE for Cap 5 lol
— Jake | CR: MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS (1988) (@V2Jake) July 12, 2024
And the studio'll take the bad reception and blame Sam, not her.
— Doctor (@DoctorLuny) July 12, 2024
Marvel tried to calm the storm, promising a fresh take on Sabra. But will it be enough? Will the makers succeed in changing the narrative? Whatever it may be, fans are excited for Captain America 4 after the trailer dropped.
Captain America: Brave New World is hitting theaters on February 14, 2015.
