The MCU has dominated Hollywood for the past decade and a half in no small part due to its phenomenal plethora of characters that audiences all over the world can route for. From heroes like Iron Man and Thor to Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, the MCU has introduced hundreds of Marvel Comic characters to the big screen — and one of the most beloved is Captain America. One of the original six Avengers and helping pioneer what would become the largest cinematic universe in history, Captain America has become not just a Hollywood staple but a literal cultural icon of America, despite the fact that he’s fictional.

Updated July 3, 2023: This article has been updated with additional information and reasoning by Jack Deegan.

While the MCU brought a conclusive end to Steve Roger’s story as the infamous Cap during Avengers: Endgame, it left a large void in the hearts of MCU fans. After all, Steve Rogers was the heart and soul of the entire Avengers squad, and despite Chris Evans moving on from the part, the character had become too important (a symbol, really) for the MCU to permanently part ways. That’s why when Sam Wilson finally took up the shield in the final episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, MCU fans rejoiced to see a worthy hero take up the mantle that Steve Rogers had bestowed upon him. However, despite the upcoming release of Captain America: Brave New World, it seems as though they missed a real opportunity by not having a Captain America 4th of July special to add to their list of debuting projects this year.

Multiple Holiday Specials

With the first MCU holiday series arriving at the end of 2021 (Hawkeye), Kevin Feige and the Marvel gang decided to double down on their investment in holiday specials by choosing to debut not just one but two last year. The first was Werewolf by Night, which aired on Disney+ on October 7, 2022, and had the heavy task of introducing werewolves, monster hunters, and Man-Thing into the MCU and starring a brand-new character.

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Then MCU fans were treated to a much-needed dose of interstellar shenanigans when The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special arrived at the end of November. The special saw Mantis and Drax try to cheer up a depressed Star-Lord after the death of Gamora by kidnapping his childhood hero Kevin Bacon, played by the man himself.

It seems as though the MCU could really capitalize on a 4th of July Captain America special, especially since there aren’t any new special presentations on the horizon. It makes thematic sense and would have allowed the studio to revisit Sam Wilson as the new Cap without throwing him right into a new movie. The fact that Marvel Studios never decided to release a Captain America movie on the 4th of July weekend is odd, as Captain America: The First Avenger opened on July 22, 2011, and Winter Soldier and Civil War premiered outside of the month of July.

Sam Wilson as the New Captain America
Disney Platform Distribution

Speaking of the beloved winged hero (and his awesome new Captain America suit), it would’ve been a good idea for the MCU to revisit Anthony Mackie/Sam Wilson taking over the shield. The main reason is that Captain America: Brave New World will be a movie, obviously acting as a sequel to the prior three Captain America films despite starring a brand-new Cap.

While the MCU and Disney+ have a large surplus of loyal fans who religiously wait for every new piece of MCU information to break on the Internet, there are still a large number of movie fans who may have seen the previous Captain America films — and even Avengers: Infinity War or Endgame — but didn’t watch The Falcon and The Winter Solider. This means they may not know that Sam Wilson has taken up the shield and might mistakenly think that Chris Evans has returned. A quick one-hour 4th of July special introducing Sam as Cap (since he barely had the shield for one episode) could have potentially helped some future confused moviegoers. It would also be a nice way to build hype for the upcoming film, similar to how The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special led into Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Bridging the Gap
Marvel Studios

Since fans last saw Sam Wilson in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, a lot has changed in the MCU. Between the multiverse opening up and the recent Skrull invasion, there’s a lot of catching up to do with Captain America. A 4th of July special could take the time to explain what he’s been up to all this time and set up events for Captain America: Brave New World next year. It’s known that Harrison Ford will be appearing as President Thunderbolt Ross in the film, and it would be interesting to see how he gets into that position of power. The special could also focus on how Sam is adapting to his new role and give us a smaller-stakes mission that we don’t often see in the MCU.

Sam is the Face of America
Disney Platform Distribution

A huge reason why Sam was apprehensive to take up the mantle of Captain America was the public reception as a Black man with the shield. This special could be used to dive further into that idea and see how the public reacts to the all-new Captain America. Sam’s first 4th of July as the face of America would be a huge moment as he has to represent the country on its most patriotic day. It would be nice to see the public embrace Sam in the position and how he handles the stares and judgment while continuing to do what’s right.

Related: Captain America: New World Order: Plot, Cast, Release Date, and Everything Else We Know

The biggest thing that makes Sam stand out among the other Avengers is that he has no powers. He’s a grounded man of the people, and it’s important to showcase that. A 4th of July special can show Sam further developing that connection with US citizens as not a perfect soldier but a good man.

Past 4th of July Weekend Success

It doesn’t just make thematic sense for the MCU to release a Captain America 4th of July special; it also makes statistical sense. Since 2017 (other than 2020 and 2023), the MCU has released a project near the 4th of July weekend (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Ant-Man, and the Wasp, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Black Widow, Thor: Love and Thunder). They broke that pattern this year with no July release after The Marvels was delayed until November. Now would have been the perfect time to debut a Captain America-focused 4th of July Special

This way, the MCU could have still capitalized on the 4th of July weekend while also using a big-name character in Captain America, all while furthering Sam’s story in the MCU. With Captain America: Brave New World hitting theaters in the very fitting spot of July 26, 2024, it would have been the perfect time to bring Sam back to screens ahead of his first solo outing as the star-spangled man with a plan. There still is time for next year, as a small 2024 special three weeks before the new movie officially opens could truly build anticipation.