Captain America: Brave New World is the hotly anticipated proper debut of Sam Wilson as Captain America, as well as the pathway to reopening some old doors in the MCU. Prior to the film’s release today, we at OTN were very lucky to attend the global press conference for Captain America: Brave New World and here are the four most interesting facts and lessons we took away from the cast and crew involved.

4. What makes Captain America so special to Anthony Mackie

Even Anthony Mackie knows how important the role of Captain America is to take on. At the conference, Mackie stalks about how this movie establishes Sam as his own individual Captain America, saying “He’s an everyman’s Captain America, I think that’ll have an effect and will pay off greatly in the future of the franchise because he can give the the perspective… of the regular guy as opposed to the super guy. And I think that that’s something with the character that’s unique and rare and that people you know can can gravitate to and see themselves in.”

3. Why Tim Blake Nelson Came Back

Speaking at the conference Nelson calls The Leader a “beautifully nuanced character” who was “a wonderful challenge to play and that I wouldn’t have been able to play 15 years ago, because I don’t think i was the actor then that I am now. What we want to do most as actors is continue to grow. And I feel like i needed to this maturity to be able to play what they wrote.”

2. Harrison Ford’s reasoning for joining the film

Harrison Ford said he joined the latest MCU film to honour an actor he admired. At the conference, Ford talks about his excitement to join the Marvel sandbox, saying “I was looking forward to having a piece of the action. I think the character was a great fit for me. I’m honoured to be able to to do my work on top of a foundation that a wonderful actor, Bill Hurt provided for the character. And the story is a wonderful extension of the stories that have been that Thunderbolt Ross has been part of…I watched Marvel movies and seen actors I really liked and really admired have a great time. I thought, ‘Hey. I want me some of that.'”

1. Brave New World starts the next crescendo of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

During the press conference, Anthony Mackie stated “We were on set of Endgame and Kevin said, just honestly, it’s going to take some time for people to get over Endgame … because it was such a crescendo of emotion, an unbelievable storm that we witnessed of film excellence culminating to this moment. And I feel like this movie, Brave New World, just like The First Avenger, is that foundation, that building block to build to that next crescendo. Massive moment in the MCU universe. I just, I’m proud that we’re here at the beginning.”

Read the synopsis for Brave New World:

In “Captain America: Brave New World,” Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident after meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

Captain America: Brave New World hits theatres today, February 14th!