'Captain America: Brave New World' Trailer Ignites Controversy
Shira Haas' character in "Captain America: Brave New World" has
been reimagined from her original role as a Mossad agent in the comics to a
U.S. government official. Despite this change, there are still calls to boycott
the film. The movie stars Anthony Mackie as Captain America and features
Harrison Ford making his Marvel Studios debut as U.S. President Thaddeus Ross,
a role previously played by the late William Hurt. The first trailer, released
early Friday, has generally received positive reactions from fans.
However, Haas' character has sparked controversy. Emmy nominee Shira Haas
(Unorthodox) plays Ruth Bat-Seraph, an Israeli former Black Widow now serving
as a high-ranking U.S. government official. This character was originally known
as Sabra, a Mossad agent in the comics. The backlash arises from differing
views: some pro-Israel advocates are upset about changing the character’s
allegiance, while anti-Israel protesters oppose the character due to her
Israeli origins.
The situation is complex and filled with misinformation. Some believe the
character’s name and backstory were changed due to recent events, while others
calling for a boycott are unaware of any changes. There are also those who
recognize the change but still find it problematic.
The character’s reimagining dates back to 2022 when Marvel announced at the
D23 Expo that Haas would join the MCU. At that time, the Palestinian Campaign
for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel criticized the decision,
condemning “the original comic’s ugly racism and valorization of Mossad.”
"While our characters and stories are inspired by the comics, they are always freshly imagined for the screen and today's audience, and the filmmakers are taking a new approach with the character Sabra who was first introduced in the comics over 40 years ago," Marvel explained when confirming that the character's backstory would be changed. Marvel frequently modernizes its characters to reflect contemporary views.
For
example, Benedict Wong’s character in Doctor Strange was revamped to avoid the
stereotypes present when it was created in 1963. In Captain America 4, the name
Sabra will not be used. The character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk
comic book in 1980, wearing a blue and white outfit with a Star of David.
Despite being a significant figure in the Marvel comic universe, she never had
her own series.
The original comic character faced criticism for often battling stereotyped
Arabic terrorists. Additionally, the name Sabra has multiple meanings. It can
refer to a person born in Israel, a tree with prickly fruit and a sweet
interior, and controversially, a Lebanese refugee camp where a militia
massacred hundreds of Palestinians in 1982 while Israeli troops did not
intervene. This coincidence fuels misinformation, with some falsely claiming
Marvel named the character after the massacre.
One protest message circulating states: “The character’s backstory includes
working for the genocidal Israeli government and its occupation forces. By
reviving this racist character in any form, Marvel is promoting Israel’s
oppression of Palestinians.”
In today’s climate, it seems almost inevitable that any depiction of an
Israeli hero in a major pop culture event would face protests, as evidenced by
Eden Golan's experience with antisemitic backlash during this year’s Eurovision
Song Contest.
