Ahead of his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: Brave New World, Carl Lumbly opened up about his return to the role of Isaiah Bradley, after a scene-stealing turn in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Isaiah, a Korean War veteran, was a victim of experiments by the US military in an attempt to recreate the success they had in giving Steve Rogers/Captain America, based in part on the tragic real-life victims of the Tuskegee experiment, in which African American men with syphilis were falsely told they were receiving treatment.
Isaiah was wrongly incarcerated due to defying orders in an attempt to save his fellow super soldiers, who sadly did not survive the effects of their experimentation. His story was unknown to the public at large until Sam Wilson became Captain America and facilitated the creation of an exhibit honoring him as part of a broader Captain America section in the Smithsonian. Isaiah is slated to return for Captain America: Brave New World, though his role is largely unknown aside from the trailer showing him attempting to assassinate Thunderbolt Ross.
For his part, Lumbly is proud of his role. Ironically, the actor revealed to Bleeding Cool that he didn't know what role he was auditioning for in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. However, he connected with the character's history:
"Bradley is based loosely on what took place during the Tuskegee Experiments, so in some ways, I say Bradley, the character, was an experiment, and the individuals who did it (like creator Malcolm Spellman) were masterful and managed to weave that history into something I found compelling. The character spoke to me before I knew who he was."
To Lumbly, "Isaiah Bradley represented someone, like people [he] had heard about or people [he's] known." He explained that these individuals were "not necessarily military, and not necessarily heroes, writ large, but heroic in the way they approached life." The actor felt that Isaiah "was a celebration of spirit, determination, and survival," which "cuts across many lands for" him.
Additionally, despite playing multiple superhero roles in the past, such as Martian Manhunter, Lumbly was not overly familiar with the comic book medium. However, researching Isaiah cultivated a greater interest in comics for Lumbly. He stated: "My understanding now is the way in which comic books combine stories and visuals and the way in which images can speak sometimes much louder than any set of words makes them potentially very powerful."
Captain America: Brave New World will see Sam Wilson face new foes and old friends who appear to have switched sides, including Isaiah Bradley.
Lumbly's words further emphasize why his portrayal of Isaiah was so compelling. Clearly, the character's backstory struck a chord with the actor, who infused his performance with a believable sense of sadness, pain, and strength. Lumbly was a standout in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and his interactions with Sam are a highlight of the series.
Though it remains to be seen how Isaiah will be utilized in the MCU moving forward, Lumbly's dedication to the role has made him a memorable part of the franchise. It's clear that he not only understood Isaiah as a character but also the inspiration and intention behind his inclusion in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. As such, Lumbly's appearance in Captain America: Brave New World will make for an interesting watch, no matter in what capacity he factors into the story.
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Captain America: Brave New World (formerly titled New World Order) marks Sam Wilson's first MCU big-screen appearance as Steve Rogers' successor after receiving the suit and shield in Phase 4's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Anthony Mackie returns as the titular Avenger alongside Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Carl Lumby as Isaiah Bradley, and Tim Blake Nelson as The Incredible Hulk's former ally Samuel Sterns. Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.
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