Two unexpected stars will become the longest-serving actors in theMCUafter the February 2025 release ofCaptain America: Brave New World. Anthony Mackie’s big-screen debut as theMCU’s new Captain Americais set to be a jam-packed installment in the MCU’s Phase 5, pitting Sam Wilson against the Red Hulk, the Serpent Society and the Leader.Captain America: Brave New Worldwill break records for Marvel Studios, not only marking the first official movie focused solely on a legacy hero, but also by bringing back some classic MCU stars.
Scheduled for release on July 26, 2025,Captain America: Brave New Worldwill kick-start a very exciting year for the MCU. A number of Marvel Studios' projects in 2025 will include returning actors and characters from the MCU’s history, most notablyThunderbolts*, which will bring together a new teamcomprising reformed villains and antiheroes.Captain America: Brave New Worldwill also feature several returning actors, two of which will break a huge recordthat was only recently broken by Jon Favreau.
Liv Tyler & Tim Blake Nelson Will Become The Longest-Serving MCU Actors In 2025
Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson will be returning to the MCU inCaptain America: Brave New World, both of whom first appeared in 2008’sThe Incredible Hulk.Brave New World’srelease in 2025 means that, despite only having appeared in two projects each,Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson will become the longest-serving actors in the MCU, clocking in at a whopping 17 years. While it’s unclear what roleLiv Tyler’s Betty Rosswill have inBrave New World, Nelson’s Samuel Sterns will be featured as the Leader, a formidable new villain for Sam Wilson’s Captain America.
An open wound on Samuel Sterns' head was exposed to Bruce Banner’s gamma-irradiated blood at the end ofThe Incredible Hulk, which began to mutate him. The final product of this mutation, the super-intelligent Leader, will be seen inCaptain America: Brave New World.
By totaling 17 years in the MCU,Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson will beat the record most recently set by Jon Favreau. As well as directing 2008’sIron Man, Favreau starred as Tony Stark’s best friend and chauffeur, Harold “Happy” Hogan.Happy Hogan’s cameo in 2024’sDeadpool & Wolverinesaw Favreau achieve 16 years in the MCU, but Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson will be hot on his heels. This will be an impressive record set by two actors that perhaps nobody expected to see again afterThe Incredible Hulk.
Captain America: Brave New World Cast & Marvel Character Guide
Sam Wilson’s big-screen debut as the MCU’s Captain America will bring back several familiar faces, while also introducing new and exciting characters.
1 Returning MCU Actor Will Beat Their Record Soon, But With A Twist
The upcoming record-break by Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson is certainly impressive, but it won’t last very long.Robert Downey Jr. has recently been confirmed to be coming back to the MCU, and his return will see him become the new longest-serving actor in the franchise. However, while other returning actors will be portraying the same characters they previously did, Robert Downey Jr. is not returning as Tony Stark’s Iron Man, but will instead portrayiconic Marvel villain Doctor Doom.
Other actors from Marvel’s 2008 movies could also appear inSecret Wars.
Even though he’ll be playing an entirely new character, Robert Donwey Jr. is set to star asDoctor Doom in 2026’sAvengers: Doomsdayand 2027’sAvengers: Secret Wars.His appearance in Marvel Studios' 2027 slate will see him achieve a monumental 19 years in the MCU, as he first appeared in 2008’sIron Man. Of course, it’s possible other actors from Marvel’s 2008 movies could also appear inSecret Wars, including Jon Favreau, Samuel L. Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow and more, so Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson’s record afterCaptain America: Brave New Worldwill be short-lived.
Captain America: Brave New World
Cast
Captain America: Brave New World (formerly titledNew World Order)marks Sam Wilson’s first MCU big-screen appearance as Steve Rogers' successor after receiving the suit and shield in Phase 4’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Anthony Mackie returns as the titular Avenger alongside Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Carl Lumby as Isaiah Bradley, and Tim Blake Nelson as The Incredible Hulk’s former ally Samuel Sterns. Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.After meeting President Thaddeus Ross, Sam is caught in a global crisis. He must expose the mastermind behind a sinister plot before the world descends into turmoil. Captain America: Brave New World marks the big-screen debut of Sam Wilson as Captain America, and Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut, replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.
