Who leads the free world when the world is full of super powered people, gods from other planets, and inter-dimensional creatures? In the MCU that has never been clear, but it definitely hasn’t been the President of the United States. Of course, no one who has previously held the job has ever been able to turn into a giant red rage monster until now. That would seem to be a huge help in consolidating power. And yet, that still doesn’t seem to help Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross much in the intense new trailer for Captain America: Brave New World. The film’s latest promo asks who’s been truly pulling the strings all along. And the answer doesn’t seem to be one anyone will want to hear.

Anthony Mackie and the MCU’s new Falcon, his co-star Danny Ramirez, took the stage at Disney’s D23 Brazil to promote the franchise’s next movie. That included debuting an all-new Captain America: Brave New World trailer that we’d argue is easily the movie’s best yet. It promises to combine a war film with an international political thriller. (Maybe we’re getting everything Secret Invasion promised but didn’t deliver!) That’s in large part because Giancarlo Esposito’s Seth Voelker, a.k.a. Sidewinder, is poised to cause global chaos.

That’s enough to cause major issues for the United States’ new Captain America, but Sam Wilson—who has really upgraded his own fighting skills—also has to worry about the country’s President and the fact he transforms into Red Hulk. So, you know, not great for Sam. But that’s exactly why this movie should be great for fans: great villains, great heroes, and a great premise.

Red Hulk screams in Captain America: Brave New World
Marvel Studios

The film will also mark the return of Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Stern. Like we said, this could be really great. So long as the movie also absolves Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley of any wrongdoing. We don’t really know who controls the free world in the MCU, but that person/god/creature better pardon Isaiah.

Captain America: Brave New World comes to theaters February 14, 2025.