Seth Rollins’ MCU debut may not be happening after all.
The WWE superstar had filmed scenes as a member of the Serpent Society for Captain America: Brave New World, but director Julius Onah has now confirmed that Rollins’ footage didn’t make it into the final cut.
Speaking to ComicBook.com, Onah explained that the decision came down to evolving the film’s vision and the opportunity to cast Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian star Giancarlo Esposito as the Serpent Society’s leader, Seth Voelker (Sidewinder).
“When you’re taking characters like the Serpent Society from publishing—who, as you know, are individuals dressed up as snakes and have snake-adjacent powers—you’re always iterating and trying to figure out the version that totally works best in a movie like this,” Onah said. “I love Seth, Seth’s incredible. But as we were evolving, and we knew we had an additional photography period, we had to consider what best fit the tone of the film.”
Esposito’s availability was a major factor in the change, as Onah noted, “Fans have been fan-casting him in the MCU for a long time, and he fit the vision of the film perfectly.”
Despite Rollins’ removal, Captain America: Brave New World remains one of Marvel’s most anticipated films, with Anthony Mackie reprising his role as Sam Wilson alongside a star-studded cast, including Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus Ross. The film is set to hit theaters on February 14, 2025.