Giancarlo Esposito has teased his future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as he is set to appear in Captain America: Brave New World, which is slated to hit theatres on February 14.
After years of being fan-cast by comic book enthusiasts, Esposito is finally making his live-action superhero debut in the upcoming Captain America movie, playing Sidewinder, the leader of the Serpent Society. Before being cast as Sidewinder, there were rumours about him potentially playing Magneto in the MCU’s anticipated live-action X-Men movie.
In a recent interview with ABC, Esposito spoke candidly about his MCU future and expressed his excitement to explore his character’s “serpent persona.”
“Part of the incorporation of Sidewinder’s colours I brought into the costume that I’m wearing. I’m hoping that it gives them inspiration in movies to come that will allow me to take on more of that serpent persona. You’ve never seen me play a character like this. This guy knows how to use a rifle, a pistol, knives, [he is] very, very physical, active with his physicality, punches, kicks, all that.”
While Sidewinder has a rich history in the comics, many MCU fans are either unfamiliar with him or have limited knowledge about the character. Esposito appears to be portraying the original Sidewinder, Seth Voelker—a former economics professor turned mercenary.
In the comics, Sidewinder also possesses the power to teleport. However, based on what we’ve seen in Brave New World’s promotional clips, it seems we’re getting a more grounded version of the character.
So, no teleportation powers for Sidewinder! Still, the character remains intriguing and menacing, establishing himself as a strong contender for future Marvel projects. But will Esposito get a solo Sidewinder project down the line? Only time will tell. To be honest, it feels like a long shot—but then again, we did get Agatha All Along!
When a lesser-known character like Agatha can land her own show, the possibility of Esposito leading a Sidewinder project shouldn’t be ruled out. Stay tuned for more updates.