⚠️ This information may be outdated. For the latest, check the links below — they will show you what is current right now.
Marvel has introduced multiple new Captain Americas across comics, MCU films, and TV — so 'the new Captain America' depends on which universe and timeline you mean. Here is the breakdown of the major ones:
Sam Wilson (The Falcon) becomes Captain America — This happens in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) and continues in Captain America: Brave New World (2025). After Steve Rogers passes the shield to Sam at the end of Avengers: Endgame, Sam initially resists, grappling with the weight of the title. He eventually accepts it and gets an upgraded suit with mechanical wings. Anthony Mackie plays him, and this is the MCU's official new Cap.
Sam Wilson has been Captain America since 2014 — but there is a twist. Steve Rogers returned as Cap too (comics bring characters back), so they have coexisted. The mantle has also passed to Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier) and briefly to John Walker (U.S. Agent) depending on the storyline.
Marvel wanted to explore what it means to be Captain America without Steve Rogers' nostalgia. Sam brings a different perspective — he is a Black hero taking on a symbol of American identity, which creates interesting thematic tension. The MCU's version specifically shows him earning the role through struggle rather than inheriting it.
Pro tip: If you are jumping into Captain America: Brave New World (2025), you do not need to rewatch the entire MCU — the film recaps the key moments. But watching The Falcon and the Winter Soldier gives you the emotional weight of Sam's journey and explains why the shield matters to him.