Rumors are always swirling around upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe projects, but Captain America: New World Order is especially rife with them. Little has been confirmed beyond the cast, but with new on-set photos showing professional wrestler Seth Rollins in costume, fans are once again speculating on what the upcoming MCU tentpole will be about. Rollins' green costume resembles that of Cobra, a core member of the villainous Serpent Society and longtime foe of Captain America. It's a little speculative, but circumstantial evidence is strong enough to support some interesting early theories on the film.
That's led to a theory from Reddit poster adamAlexanderGreen that connects the Serpent Society to one of Marvel's Netflix series. Luke Cage featured the villainous Cottonmouth as one of the title hero's primary antagonists. It's more of a leap than it sounds as Cottonmouth has a complicated history, and a crossover might be far messier than it seems. However, it also highlights a fantastic way for Cage to formally enter the MCU.
The Reddit Theory Has Luke Cage Recruited by Captain America
The Serpent Society weaves in and out of Marvel history in various forms. Individual members go back to the Silver Age, starting with Cobra who first appeared battling Thor in 1963's Journey Into Mystery #98 (Stan Lee, Don Heck, and Artie Simek). The Serpent Society itself came together for the first time in 1985's Captain America #310 (Mark Gruenwald, Paul Neary, Dennis Janke, Ken Feduniewicz, and Diana Albers), and quickly became staple villains. They have a strong hook -- villains with snake themes -- that allows for a lot of variety, and they're powerful enough to give even the toughest stand-alone hero a run for their money.
The Reddit theory holds that New World Order will see Sam Wilson rallying Earth's heroes to re-form the Avengers in the face of the threat, and that Luke Cage will be among them. It's speculative, but Cage makes an enticing choice for a number of reasons. His Netflix series is well-regarded, with an 87% Tomatometer Rating on Rotten Tomatoes and especially goodwill saved for star Mike Colter. More specifically, New World Order is likely to involve the Red Hulk or someone of his standing: a powerhouse requiring someone equally strong to fight. Cage definitely qualifies, and with older MCU bruisers like Bruce Banner and Thor in need of a break, the Netflix hero could make for a compelling replacement.
The Serpent Society Has an Intriguing Connection to Luke Cage
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The formal justification for including Cage in New World Order stems from Cottonmouth, who served as his chief adversary for the bulk of Luke Cage's first season. Black Mariah kills him in Season 1, Episode 7, "Manifest," and there are several other factors to consider. Cage's Cottonmouth has little to do with the Serpent Society version in the comics and is a completely separate character from his comic book counterpart. There's also the fact actor Mahershala Ali has already been cast as Blade in the MCU, making it unlikely that he will return to his Luke Cage role.
Ironically, the connection isn't as far-fetched as it seems. Cottonmouth's chief lieutenant was Diamondback, another character similarly unaffiliated with the Serpent Society, but with a familial connection to Luke: they share a father. He was last seen as a prisoner in The Raft in Jessica Jones Season 3, Episode 13, "AKA Everything," which would readily expose him to the kind of criminals perfect for the Serpent Society. A reborn Society with ties to Cottonmouth's old organization could readily attract Cage's attention, making him an easy Avengers recruit in New World Order.
There are enough potential connections to give the theory some heft, though it hinges on a lot of information that has yet to be formally confirmed. The Serpent Society has yet to be formally confirmed for New World Order as of this writing. Regardless, there's no compelling reason to bring in Luke Cage beyond the incidental connection to his former adversaries. But The Avengers are in need of a powerhouse, and Colter remains a fan favorite with a lot to offer the MCU. If the Serpent Society is indeed at the heart of New World Order, including him might just be the perfect move.
Captain America: New World Order premieres in theaters on May 3, 2024.