Daniel Bruhl first appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the main villain, Baron Helmut Zemo, in the 2016 Captain America: Civil War. Considered one of the most impactful villains for breaking up the Avengers and causing a huge conflict between Captain America and Iron Man, fans saw a different side of him in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier with his frenemy dynamic with Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes. However, though Sam is back as the new Captain America in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World, the movie will feature a different villain, putting Bruhl on the sideline. Despite that, the German-Spanish actor is confident he will return to the MCU.
In an interview with ScreenRant for his new movie Becoming Karl Lagerfeld, Bruhl discussed the possibility of reprising his villainous role in the MCU. The actor stressed that Zemo is still alive, so he can make his triumphant return anytime, though it still depends on Marvel Studios.
“Who knows, I mean, I'm still not dead, I'm very confident that I'll be back,” he said.
So far, Marvel Studios has yet to confirm Bruhl’s appearance in any of its movies or series coming in 2025. But despite the long wait, the 45-year-old star does not care, claiming he’s a “very patient man” and can wait. He then talked about his recent project, The Franchise, a satire about the superhero universe. Although he has switched sides, he believes it will never be an issue for Marvel.
“It's funny because, in the meantime, I just wrapped on a show that's called The Franchise, where it's actually a satire about the superhero universe, so it was fun to switch sides, so to say,” he continued. “But knowing Marvel, they have a lot of sense of humor, so they will probably find it as funny as I did.”
How can Daniel Bruhl’s Zemo return to the MCU?
Aside from Brave New World, Zemo will also not be seen in the upcoming Thunderbolts* despite his character’s connection to the Thunderbolts Zemo in the comics, where he serves as the team’s leader. By the looks of it, Marvel Studios has included less popular characters in the 2025 film, like Ghost and Taskmaster, instead of bringing back Bruhl’s Zemo.
However, there’s still a big chance for him to cameo in Thunderbolts*, appearing at the end of the movie or in a post-credits scene. If this happens, a sequel may come, possibly introducing a new version of a team that finally includes Zemo.
There’s also a possibility that he will have a surprise appearance in Brave New World. After working alongside Bucky and Sam in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, he may help the new Captain America face multiple villains in the movie, like Leader, Diamondback, and Giancarlo Esposito’s mysterious villainous character.
It’s also possible that he will be part of the likely Black Panther 3. After being imprisoned in the Raft, Zemo may be hunted down by Shuri after trying to escape after the killing of King T’Chaka. However, fans should take these assumptions with a grain of salt, as nothing is confirmed yet.
With the popularity of Zemo as an MCU villain, it’s not far that fans will again see Bruhl reprise his role in future MCU projects. Who knows, he may be seen in a cameo in Brave New World or Thunderbolts* that will set the stage for his comeback.
Captain America: Brave New World is set to release on February 14, 2025, while Thunderbolts* is slated to premiere on May 2, 2025.
