Over two years after being cast as an Israeli superhero in "Captain America: Brave New World," Shira Haas ("Unorthodox") has officially broken her silence about her groundbreaking entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
"I want to say it's like a dream come true, but it's even bigger than that," the 29-year-old Emmy and Golden Globe nominee shared during a virtual press event this week, alongside costars Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tim Blake Nelson. "Being part of the MCU, especially in this extraordinary film, is incredibly exciting.
"The preparation was intense – five days of training weekly for months before filming," Haas elaborated. "While I've always enjoyed training, this was an entirely different experience. Immersing myself in both the character and the Marvel universe has been remarkable. Though it's quite different from my previous roles, I believe that's exactly what makes it such a gift for an actor."
Speaking about her character Ruth Bat-Seraph – a former Black Widow operative now serving in the US President's (Harrison Ford) intimate security detail – Haas emphasized her appreciation for the role's complexity. "Beyond the thrill of portraying a powerful character, I was deeply drawn to Ruth's dramatic layers. I wanted to honor her background and origins while bringing as much depth as possible to the role. The entire experience has been extraordinary," Haas concluded warmly, "particularly working alongside such an exceptional cast. It's truly been an incredible journey."
The fourth Captain America film, set for a February 14 release, has weathered significant production challenges. Beyond the controversy surrounding Haas' casting and subsequent boycott calls from pro-Palestinian groups, the film faces criticism from America's conservative right – both over Mackie's casting and public statements – and from Trump supporters, given the film's apparent portrayal of the US President as an antagonist.
Meanwhile, the film underwent substantial changes during production, including a title change (from "New World Order" to "Brave New World") in response to global events. Significant content modifications were made long after principal photography had supposedly wrapped, with new characters added, existing roles reduced, and numerous additional scenes filmed and re-edited.
