Behind the Scenes: Julius Onah's Vision for Captain America and the Unveiling of the Serpent Society

Following the premiere of the Marvel feature Captain America: Brave New World, significant attention has been directed towards the directorial choices made by Julius Onah regarding character designs, the necessity of reshoots, and the decisions leading to the exclusion of certain cast members from the final edit. A prominent example of this is the Serpent Society, a group of mercenaries that were mentioned within the film and headed by the character Sidewinder, portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito. In discussions about the film, Onah provided insights into why this particular group was ultimately omitted.

Onah elaborated on the film’s grounded aesthetic and overall tone, noting that the Serpent Society had been initially included in the narrative from the start of his involvement. However, he pointed out that, in their comic book origins, the characters tend to exhibit flamboyant attire and possess exaggerated powers. He acknowledged that some of these elements can come across as overly theatrical or even cartoonish.

While Esposito's Sidewinder was initially part of the film, another character, Copperhead, played by Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, also made an appearance, engaging in a confrontation with Sam at the film's beginning. Although neither character reflected their comic book personas to the fullest extent, Onah recognized that a more subdued approach served the project better.

"Although it is crucial to honor the source material beloved by fans, it is equally important to make choices that enhance the film," Onah commented. "The portrayal leaned slightly more into the comic's representation, but it became evident as the project progressed that maintaining a grounded tone was crucial. I aimed to draw inspiration from works like The Day of the Jackal and Point Blank, which are procedural and politically charged thrillers. A more realistic interpretation of the Serpent Society would align better with this vision."

Discover more about the Serpent Society and its potential implications for the narrative of Captain America in this latest installment.