Sam Wilson’s new Captain America suit divides MCU fans

The MCU fanbase can’t agree whether Sam Wilson’s Captain America: Brave New World outfit is an improvement or a downgrade.

Wilson (Anthony Mackie) first suited up as the MCU’s new incarnation of Captain America in 2021 Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

In that series, Sam’s crime-fighting kit was a mixture of his Falcon attire and the costume sported by the original Cap, Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers.

While Wilson only donned these threads during the Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s finale, he’ll get a whole new fit when he returns in Captain America: Brave New World – and some fans aren’t happy.

Sam Wilson’s new Captain America suit divides MCU fans

Scooper CanWeGetSomeToast recently shared the best look yet at Sam Wilson’s overhauled Captain America outfit on X/Twitter.

Major design changes include the open-topped cowl’s removal and less prominent white panels on the chest and shoulders. Overall, these tweaks make Sam’s attire more closely resemble Steve’s – a choice that didn’t sit well with some MCU devotees.

“Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like they’re trying to push the OG Cap look on Sam a little too hard,” opined one X user. “There’s nothing wrong with keeping the Falcon Cap look Sam had in the comics and in [The Falcon and the Winter Soldier] and just upgrade it lightly. This looks like Steve’s suit with wings!”

“Why would they give him a new suit for ONE episode and then change it to something worse,” complained a second. “They already had the best suit for him,” grumbled a third poster.

Not everyone was against Sam Wilson’s new Captain America costume, though. On the contrary, some fans argued it’s a step up from the Avenger’s old gear.

“I honestly like this one,” wrote one of the suit’s supporters. “The show suit was too flashy and bulky. Sam is/was a soldier. This suit seems more built for movement. I just can’t wait to see him on screen again. It’s been too long.” “Call me crazy, but I like it,” agreed another. “It’s perfect.”

Why Marvel Studios changed Sam Wilson’s suit

For their part, CanWeGetSomeToast appeared to back Sam Wilson’s new costume, for practical reasons if nothing else. Specifically, they noted that the Falcon and the Winter Soldier suit’s cowl required extensive CGI touch-ups.

“I think part of the reason why Marvel gave Captain America a new suit is to give the VFX artists a break from having to fix the cowl for every shot that Sam’s in costume,” the scooper theorized.