Is Marvel ditching CGI? Tim Blake Nelson has stated that the studio didn’t use VFX to bring The Leader to life in Captain America: Brave New World.
One of the biggest complaints with recent Marvel movies is that they felt “fake,” with the CGI and VFX standing out like sore thumbs. However, it seems Captain America: Brave New World is setting out to avoid that trap. According to star Tim Blake Nelson, Marvel didn’t use really use CGI to create his look as The Leader.
“I can tell you about my character that we did everything we could,” Nelson explained on Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast. “And this was entirely supported by Marvel and I’m so grateful to Kevin Feige and Nate Moore for supporting this: they were on board 100% to do the character as practically as possible with an absence of digital stuff.”
Hearing that Marvel went the practical route for The Leader is music to the years of film fans across the world. While the MCU hasn’t entirely abandoned practical effects, the franchise has certainly used post-production as a crutch in recent years. Yet it seems that isn’t the only way Captain America: Brave New World will be bucking the usual Marvel formula.
A New Tone For Captain America: Brave New World
Behind VFX, the other complaint fans have had about the MCU is that it’s always felt too jokey and unrealistic. Yet thta too seems to be changing in Captain America: Brave New World. When speaking on the film’s tone, Tim Blake Nelson called it one of the most realistic movies Marvel has made.
“I really credit Marvel and also Julius [Onah] for wanting to make a very much reality-based superhero movie, as oxymoronic as that sounds,” Nelson continued. “In terms of our approach to The Leader, that’s really where we went and I was really gratified to do it that way.”
Given The Leader is one of the most eccentric villains in all of Marvel comics, it’ll be interesting to see how the team behind Captain America: Brave New World grounds the character for his return to the MCU. Some fans may have been worried about the upcoming sequel, given it is a spiritual new beginning. However, it seems Tim Blake Nelson has assuaged all the fears any fan could have!
Captain America: Brave New World is currently slated to hit theaters on February 14, 2025. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
