Captain America 4 failed to impress test audiences, prompting extensive rewrites and reshoots. Recent reports suggested that the Anthony Mackie-led film will undergo some major changes. Earlier, fans received the upsetting news that WWE star Seth Rollins, who was cast as a member of the Serpent Society, was dropped from the film. However, the controversial casting of Israeli actress Shira Haas as Sabra is reportedly retained in the film.
Marvel brought in the Unorthodox actress to play the role of the Israeli superhero, Ruth Bat-Seraph aka Sabra. The decision became controversial due to its political nature, further heightened by the recent Israel-Palestine conflicts.
Captain America 4 Reportedly Retain Shira Haas’s Character And Fans Are Not Happy
Shira Haas‘s casting in Captain America: Brave New World was confirmed by Disney at D23 (via THR). Haas is cast in the role of Sabra, a Mossad soldier and mutant, who first appeared in The Incredible Hulk comics in 1980. The character possesses superhuman powers, but her most notable power is her regenerative healing which she can also bestow upon others.
Sabra has been a controversial character in the MCU since her addition to the comics, and her arrival in the MCU was met with vocal opposition from a segment of fans. However, Shira Haas’s character received large-scale backlash ever since the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. According to the latest report from Marvel scooper Charles Murphy, Captain America 4 has decided to retain both the actress and the character (via Cosmic Marvel).
Fans were not too happy about this news and took to X to express their dissatisfaction. One fan speculated that the movie might make less than the latest MCU bomb, The Marvels. Another fan was open to her casting only if she was made the villain in the story. One comment mentioned how Marvel had put themselves in a tough spot by introducing the character. Another fan couldn’t process why Marvel removed Seth Rollins but kept Haas. Fan reactions read:
This movie gonna make less than the marvels 😭
— ěÿëş (@Eyes01001001) February 3, 2024
Make her the real villain of the film you cowards!
— Logan Moreau (@TeamGhostWhale) February 3, 2024
Well this is sure to be Uncontroversial. Yikes, why did they do this to themselves? they must have gotten too far with it and worried about political fallout if they removed her from the film. People are gonna boycott the film.
— Dallas MacDougall (@runrunshawblack) February 4, 2024
Why the fuck did they remove Seth Rollins then
— Hadouken (@pandabearpurps) February 4, 2024
the first marvel movie I won’t be watching in theaters 😭
— b ᗢ 💋 (@_3ternal) February 4, 2024
Christ marvel’s decline is sad to watch
— Self_Lover_Boy ♠️ (@Self_Lover_Boy) February 4, 2024
In November, critic Jeff Sneider revealed in The Hot Mic episode with John Rocha that the film didn’t perform well in test screenings. Consequently, the film was sent back for extensive rewrites and reshoots due to the abysmal test scores. Sneider reported that three key sequences were removed from the film. The extensive reshoots for the film are slated for the coming months, pushing the movie’s release date to February 14, 2025.
Seth Rollins Reportedly Lost His Captain America 4 Role
WWE star Seth Rollins was earlier announced in a crucial role in Captain America 4. However, with the new rewrites, Marvel scooper @CanWeGetToast reported that Rollins’ role as a member of the Serpent Society was completely removed from the film. The Serpent Society earlier featured in a scene with Sam Wilson’s Captain America, Isiah Bradley, and the new Falcon, Joaquin Torres.
Seth Rollins lost the WrestleMania main event AND a Marvel movie role. BRO. https://t.co/dF8l9N6Ikb
— Humble Wrestling (@WrestlingHumble) January 30, 2024
While the recent developments have raised concerns among Captain America fans, the only glimmer of hope is the addition of Matthew Orton, who joined the script work for the reshoots (Deadline). Orton is known for his work on the Disney+ series Moon Knight and fans expect him to deliver a captivating script for Captain America 4 as he did for the Oscar Isaac-led series.
In Captain America: Brave New World, Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson will explore his new superhero role as Captain America. His added responsibility of being a Black Captain America will also become a prominent theme in the film. The Julius Onah-directed film will also feature Liv Tyler, Harrison Ford, Tim Blake Nelson, Rosa Salazar, Danny Ramirez, and Carl Lumbly.
