Summary
The new supervillain group set to appear inCaptain America: Brave New Worldhas the perfect opportunity to redeem a Marvel villain wasted in 20th Century Fox’sX-Menfranchise. After Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox was finalized in 2019, some of the most wasted characters from Fox’s two-decade-longX-Menfranchise were given the chance to seek justice in theMCU. Not many characters have seen this treatment just yet, butPhase 5’s upcomingCaptain America: Brave New Worldhas the chance to change this.
Captain America: Brave New Worldwill see Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson make his big-screen debut as Captain America, and will pit him against several powerful new villains. Alongside Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk and Tim Blake Nelson’s Leader, Giancarlo Esposito is also set to be introduced asSeth Voelker, a.k.a. Sidewinder, the King of the Serpent Society.The Serpent Society’s appearance in the MCU is very exciting, particularly since several small-scale villains could be members of the group, including one wasted villain from 2013’sThe Wolverine.
Marvel Is FINALLY Doing Serpent Society 10 Years After Kevin Feige’s Fake Announcement
Marvel’s panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con has officially confirmed that the Serpent Society is finally debuting in a Captain America movie.
Fox’s The Wolverine Movie Got Viper Very Wrong
Svetlana Khodchenkova Portrayed Viper In The Wolverine
Svetlana Khodchenkova’s inclusion inThe Wolverineas Viper was unusual, particularly since the villain has little to do with Wolverine in Marvel Comics. Viper did have run-ins with the X-Men, and was connected to the Silver Samurai, but this was as the latter’s employer, rather than being employed by him herself.The Wolverinetransformed Viperinto a mutant, which was an interesting development, butshe contributed to some of the movie’s weakest moments, as she had very little motivation aside from simply being evil.
Despite being a long-running villain in Marvel Comics, having debuted back in 1969’sCaptain America #110, Viper was unceremoniously killed off inThe Wolverine. This meant that she never had the opportunity to be developed further than being Yahsida’s toxic aide.Audiences never even got a chance to learn Viper’s real name inThe Wolverine, as she was referred to only as"Dr. Green,“and was stripped of any semblance of personality. Marvel Studios has created the opportunity for Viper to be redeemed, however.
In Marvel Comics, Viper’s real name is Ophelia Sarkissian. A version of this character was portrayed by Mallory Jansen in Marvel Television’sAgents of SHIELD, though she never adopted the Viper moniker.
Viper’s History With The Serpent Society Means She Could Appear In Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New Worldwould be the perfect place for Viper to seek redemption in the MCU, as she is one of the most notable snake-themed villains in Marvel Comics.Viper’s immunity to toxins and poison-tipped weapons contributed to her appropriate supervillain moniker, and earned her a place among the second Serpent Squad, comprising herself, the Eel, Princess Python, the Cobra and the Atlantean Krang. Sidewinder led the third Serpent Squad, and transformed the team into the Serpent Society.
This became a sort of labor union for snake-themed villains, allowing them to offer protection and share in each other’s profits.Giancarlo Esposito’s debut as SidewinderinCaptain America: Brave New Worldlikely means more snake-themed villains will follow suit, and Viper would be a fantastic inclusion.The MCU’s new Viper could show more of her human personality, rather than just depicting her as a mindless and evil drone working for the Silver Samurai. Viper eventually even led the Serpent Society, so it would be great to see her introduced inCaptain America: Brave New World.
Captain America 4 Just Set Up The Perfect Replacement For Hydra In The MCU
Captain America: Brave New World is set to introduce a new supervillain organization to the MCU, which could be HYDRA’s perfect replacement.
How Viper Can Connect Brave New World To Captain America’s Original MCU Villain
Viper Was First Known As Madame Hydra In Marvel Comics
Captain America: Brave New Worldwill mark the beginning of a new era for the MCU’s Captain America, as Sam Wilson is taking over the role from the retired Steve Rogers. However,the Phase 5 movie will surely hark back to Captain America’s previous adventures, continuing the legacy and themes of the franchise, which means that Steve Rogers' original villains could be addressed. Introducing Viper inBrave New Worldwould not only flesh out the story of the Serpent Society, but could also connect toHYDRA in the MCU.
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Before Ophelia Sarkissian became the second Viper in Marvel Comics, she was a high-ranking member of HYDRA, operating under the moniker of Madame Hydra. Sarkissian had been taken in by HYDRA as a young orphan and was raised by Daniel Whitehall, a.k.a. Kraken.As Madame Hydra, she took on Captain America and the Avengers, but eventually severed her ties with HYDRA and became the Viper. Her connection to HYDRA and Captain America, however, means her debut inBrave New Worldwould make complete sense, connecting Sam Wilson’s new story toCaptain America’s MCU history.
Which Other Snake-Themed Villains Have Already Been Seen In The MCU?
Captain America: Brave New World Could Debut Many Other Snake-Themed Villains As The Serpent Society
While Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder will be bringing the Serpent Society into the MCU for the first time,versions of several members of the team have already been seen in the MCU. This means that these villains could return inBrave New World. Although not yet seen in the MCU, set photos fromCaptain America: Brave New Worldhave confirmed that thepink-haired Diamondback will also be appearing. She was originally a villainous member of the Serpent Society in Marvel Comics, but eventually became an ally to Captain America, so the same could happen in the MCU.
Marvel Television’sAgents of SHIELD, although not considered canon to the MCU, debuted aversion of Madame Hydrawho was actually the Life Model Decoy, AIDA.Netflix’sLuke Cagealso introduced versions of Cottonmouth and Bushmaster, though not the iterations typically involved with the Serpent Society in Marvel Comics. In Marvel’s Ultimate Universe, Crossbones leads a version of the Serpent Society known as the Serpent Skulls, so it would be great to get a callback to Frank Grillo’s wasted MCU villain inCaptain America: Brave New World, though this seems unlikely.
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.
