Marvel fans got a thrilling surprise when ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul‘ star Giancarlo Esposito was revealed as Sidewinder in ‘Captain America: Brave New World’.
His role was added during reshoots, making his MCU debut a final-cut decision. Moreover, director Julius Onah explained that due to this other Serpent Society members were cut from the film.
Other Serpent Society Members Were Cut To Give It The Film A Grounded Aesthetic
Director of the film, Julius Onah recently teased that Sidewinder’s story is far from over, leaving the door wide open for Esposito’s return. “This lane is left open for a reason, is all I’ll say,” Onah shared cryptically. According to Variety, the decision to bring Esposito into the fold was born out of a desire to balance the film’s tone.
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While the Serpent Society was always part of the script, the original concept leaned towards a more exaggerated, comic-accurate portrayal. Onah explained that the filmmakers opted for a more grounded approach. This led them to cast Esposito. “This is another case of the grounded aesthetic and tone of the film,” Onah said
“Serpent Society had always been a part of the story since I joined. Some of them are, you know, so over the top that they can even be a little bit cartoonish. We were iterating through how to bring them into the MCU. We leaned into versions that were a bit more heightened and also versions that were a bit more grounded.” He explained. Onah knew they had an opportunity to refine the Serpent Society’s role in the film and Esposito was the right fit.
Seth Rollins’ Role As A Serpent Society Member Was Brutally Cut From ‘Captain America: Brave New World’
Julius Onah also revealed that the film initially shot a more “fantastical” version of the Serpent Society, with WWE superstar Seth Rollins involved. However, the decision to rework the villains meant Rollins’ role was ultimately cut.
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“The script went through a lot of rewrites and reshoots, so what I was there to do, essentially, my role got either repurposed or completely erased,” Rollins admitted. While Rollins’ involvement was axed, Esposito’s Sidewinder has seemingly secured a future in the MCU.
His past collaborations with Anthony Mackie only add to the excitement. Additionally, now fans are left wondering just how much of a role the Serpent Society and Sidewinder will play in the larger MCU landscape. Moreover, Esposito’s return as Sidewinder could pave the way for the introduction of other society members.
