It was recently announced that Captain America: New World Order, centered on Sam Wilson's iteration of the titular superhero, will introduce actor Israeli actor Shira Haas as Sabra, a mutant Mossad agent, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe-- a character that has caused some measure of controversy.
When asked about the issue by The New York Times, Marvel Studios declined to answer. However, in a statement, the studio said, "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."
The controversy surrounding Sabra's inclusion is rooted in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Several human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have criticized Israel's policies toward Palestine, stating Palestinians are treated as inferior, comparing their systematic suppression to apartheid. There are concerns that, by introducing Sabra, the MCU would potentially appear to glorify Israel.
The New York Times also noted the name "Sabra" has two very different connotations for Israeli Jews and Palestinians. "Sabra" is the name of a cactus bush and its fruit. The bushes marked the location of Palestinian villages destroyed by Zionist and Israeli forces in 1948. Moreover, "Sabra" was also the name of one of two Palestinian camps in Lebanon where the Israeli military allowed Lebanese Christian militia to massacre the residents between Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, 1982. It's worth noting that "Sabra" is also a word denoting "a Jewish person born in Israel (or before 1948 in Palestine)."
What We Know About New World Order
Haas' casting was announced at D23 this year, along with the return of The Leader, with actor Tim Blake Nelson reprising the role from The Incredible Hulk. On top of casting announcements, Marvel Studios also unveiled the upcoming film's new logo, highlighting the colors and designs unique to Sam Wilson's suit. The film is to be directed by Julius Onah from a script by screenwriters Malcolm Spellman and Dalan Musson.
Captain America: New World Order continues the story of Wilson, formerly known as Falcon, who embraced the role left to him by Steve Rogers after the events of Avengers: Endgame and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Details concerning the plot and its characters are scarce.
Captain America: New World Order is scheduled to premiere on May 3, 2024.
Source: The New York Times, Amnesty