"Leader's Design in Captain America: Brave New World Inspired by Comics"

In the realm of superhero cinema, every hero needs a formidable foe, and for Captain America: Brave New World, that villain is none other than The Leader, portrayed by actor Tim Blake Nelson. The character's appearance, enhanced by practical effects and makeup, showcases a mutated visage that deviates somewhat from his comic book counterpart.

Blue Whale Studios, responsible for The Leader's design and effects in the MCU film, recently shared insights into their initial, more comic-accurate vision for Sam Sterns' alter ego. The Atlanta-based special effects company aimed for a sickly aesthetic, as revealed on their Instagram, featuring an engorged head and pale green skin. This design, while straightforward, lacked the detailed mutations seen in the film's final version. The studio also shared a video of the prosthetics being applied to Nelson, offering fans a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes.

"We were originally brought on to design and apply the practical makeup for The Leader on the incomparable Tim Blake Nelson in *Captain America: Brave New World*," Blue Whale Studios stated. "As often happens in film, the story evolved, and during reshoots, the creative direction shifted. Our version was ultimately not used in the final cut. Still, we remain incredibly proud of the work we created.

"Drawing inspiration from the original comic book art, we developed a look that felt both grounded and iconic — true to the source while achieving a refined, natural realism. Technically, we were thrilled with how lightweight and comfortable the final makeup was for the actor — an achievement made possible by the dedication of an extraordinary team."

This original design closely mirrors The Leader's first appearance in the Marvel comic universe, introduced in 1964's Tales to Astonish #62. Interestingly, the final design in Brave New World aligns more with the character's recent portrayals in 2018's Immortal Hulk.

The Leader's journey to villainy began in 2008's *The Incredible Hulk*, where Sam Sterns was exposed to Bruce Banner's Gamma radiation-infused blood. Initially a normal human, this exposure set the stage for his transformation into The Leader by the time of *Brave New World*.

Last May, reports surfaced that Captain America: Brave New World was undergoing reshoots to incorporate a new villainous character, Sidewinder, portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito, known for his roles in Breaking Bad, Star Wars, and The Boys. Esposito leads the Serpent Society in the film.

In the lead-up to the film's release, five-time WWE world champion Seth Rollins confirmed that his role was cut due to extensive rewrites and subsequent reshoots.