The Leader's Warning: 5 Massive MCU Futures Teased By Captain America: Brave New World's Post-Credit Scene Leak

The highly-anticipated MCU Phase 5 film, Captain America: Brave New World, is set to redefine the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and as of December 12, 2025, the buzz surrounding its post-credit scene is explosive. Following test screenings and plot leaks, the ending sequence, featuring Sam Wilson’s new Captain America, is rumored to contain a massive, cryptic warning from the film’s main antagonist that directly sets the stage for the Multiverse Saga’s apocalyptic conclusion: Secret Wars. This single scene is not just a teaser; it’s a foundational piece of world-building that confirms several major theories about the MCU’s next major threat and the fate of Earth-616.

The film, which sees Anthony Mackie fully embrace the mantle of Captain America after the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, centers on a global conspiracy and the political rise of Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, played by the legendary Harrison Ford. While the main plot resolves the conflict with Samuel Sterns, also known as The Leader, the true shockwave is delivered after the final credits roll, leaving fans with a chilling glimpse into the cosmic dangers Sam Wilson will soon face.

Captain America: Brave New World Core Cast & Character Dossier

Captain America: Brave New World features a pivotal ensemble of characters, many of whom are returning from previous MCU projects and others making their long-awaited debut, establishing a complex web of political and superhuman threats for Sam Wilson.

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• Sam Wilson / Captain America (Anthony Mackie): The new Captain America, grappling with the political and global responsibilities of the shield while working within the U.S. government.
• President Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross / Red Hulk (Harrison Ford): The former General and Secretary of State, now President of the United States. Leaks confirm his transformation into the Red Hulk, a key plot point.
• Samuel Sterns / The Leader (Tim Blake Nelson): The primary antagonist, a brilliant but maniacal scientist first introduced in 2008's The Incredible Hulk. He is the mastermind behind the film's central conflict.
• Lieutenant Joaquín Torres / Falcon (Danny Ramirez): Sam Wilson’s new ally, who inherits the Falcon suit and mantle, transitioning from his role in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
• Ruth Bat-Seraph / Sabra (Shira Haas): A controversial character from Marvel Comics, depicted in the film as a former Black Widow and security advisor to President Ross.
• Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly): A veteran Super Soldier from the Korean War, reprising his role from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, whose past trauma informs the present-day Super Soldier program.
• Betty Ross (Liv Tyler): The daughter of Thaddeus Ross and a cell biologist, returning to the MCU after her appearance in The Incredible Hulk.

The Chilling Post-Credit Scene: Sam Wilson Meets The Leader at The Raft

The single, definitive post-credit scene (P-CS) for Captain America: Brave New World reportedly takes place in The Raft, the high-security prison for super-powered individuals. This scene serves as a direct bridge to the larger Multiverse Saga, moving the focus from Earth-bound political thrillers to cosmic-level threats.

The sequence is described as follows:

Sam Wilson, having successfully completed his mission, travels to The Raft to confront the captured Samuel Sterns. Sterns, now fully transformed into The Leader, retains his genius-level intellect and is held in a secure containment unit. The conversation is tense, with Sam attempting to understand the full scope of Sterns' global conspiracy.

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The Leader, however, dismisses his defeat in Brave New World as a minor setback, suggesting his true plans are far grander. As Sam prepares to leave, The Leader delivers the chilling, final line: "You think you've saved this world, Captain. You will have to worry about the others."

This line, which concludes the film, is a massive breadcrumb that has ignited speculation about the future of the MCU, linking Sam Wilson's journey as the new Captain America directly to the Multiversal stakes of Phase 6.

Decoding "The Others": 5 Massive MCU Setups from The Leader's Warning

The Leader’s cryptic mention of "the others" is the most crucial part of the entire film's conclusion. It immediately shifts the narrative from a Super Soldier/political thriller to a cosmic and Multiversal event, establishing Sam Wilson as a key player in the coming crisis. Here are the five most likely interpretations and future setups:

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1. The Incursions and Secret Wars

The most widely accepted theory is that "the others" refers to the concept of Incursions. Incursions are a catastrophic event where two different realities or universes collide, resulting in the destruction of both. This concept was first introduced in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and is the central conflict leading up to Avengers: Secret Wars. The Leader's warning implies that his genius has made him aware of this impending Multiversal collapse, positioning Sam Wilson’s Captain America as a central figure who must protect Earth-616 from total annihilation.

2. A New Super-Villain Cabal

While the Incursion theory is strong, "the others" could also be a direct reference to a new, organized team of super-villains. The Leader, with his unparalleled intellect, is the perfect candidate to form a Cabal—a secret society of powerful villains working behind the scenes. This group could include other confirmed or rumored antagonists from the film, such as the newly transformed Red Hulk, or other classic Marvel foes like King Cobra, Copperhead, and Sidewinder, who are all minor villains confirmed to appear in Brave New World.

3. The Formation of the Thunderbolts

The film heavily features characters associated with the Thunderbolts team, which is set to debut in its own film. With President Thaddeus Ross/Red Hulk, Ruth Bat-Seraph/Sabra, and the confirmed presence of other anti-heroes and former villains, The Leader's warning might be a meta-commentary on the creation of a government-sanctioned team of "others" that Sam Wilson will eventually have to keep in check. The Leader could be alluding to the inevitable moral compromise that comes with forming a team like the Thunderbolts.

4. The Return of the Illuminati

Early leaks and rumors suggested a version of the Illuminati—a secret council of powerful heroes—was considered for an early draft of the film. While they may have been cut, The Leader's warning could be a subtle nod to a clandestine group of powerful individuals who are secretly trying to manage the Multiverse crisis, potentially making decisions that Sam Wilson would ethically oppose. This sets up a political and moral conflict for the new Captain America, forcing him to choose between government authority and his own moral compass.

5. The Ultimate Doom: Kang Variants

Although the focus has shifted, the overarching threat of the Multiverse Saga remains Kang the Conqueror and his variants. The Leader's warning could be a more direct, terrifying acknowledgment of the endless stream of Kang variants that are now aware of Earth-616. The Leader, as a master manipulator, might be using this knowledge to terrify Sam Wilson, knowing that the "others" are not just villains, but literally infinite versions of the most powerful being in the Multiverse.

Sam Wilson's Future: A New Era of Captain America

The post-credit scene solidifies Sam Wilson’s role as the definitive Captain America for the Multiverse Saga. Unlike Steve Rogers, whose threats were often contained to Earth, Sam is now being positioned to handle cosmic and Multiversal-level conflicts. His confrontation with The Leader at The Raft is a symbolic passing of the torch, shifting his focus from the legacy of the shield to the survival of reality itself. This critical scene ensures that Captain America: Brave New World is not just a standalone adventure, but a vital piece of the puzzle connecting the political intrigue of Phase 5 with the epic scale of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars.