Known as the "first Avenger," Marvel Cinematic Universe. While it remains to be seen what storylines Captain America 4 will explore, it will certainly take the franchise in a new direction after the first three films centered around Steve Rogers.

Even though Steve Rogers has ed on the shield and mantle of Captain America, his trilogy helped shape the MCU and introduced audiences to many important and memorable characters. Set in a world of spies, soldiers, and supervillains, the Captain America trilogy is filled with great characters, and all three movies are available to stream on Disney+.

Updated on September 29th, 2022 by Stacie Rook:

The fourth Captain America movie has been given the title Captain America: New World Order, and will focus on Sam Wilson as the main hero. First introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sam has become a major fixture in the MCU, showing the Cap trilogy's influence when it comes to setting up the franchise's future stars.

Peter Parker

Before his own trilogy of solo films, Peter Parker made his MCU debut as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War, recruited by Iron Man to fight on his side in the conflict.

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Even though Peter does not have a significant role in the trilogy, his introduction to the franchise was incredibly memorable and important, as it helped to establish the tone of the character before his solo outings. From forging a connection to mentor Tony Stark to wielding Cap's shield, Spidey's first appearance was a joy to watch unfold.

Wanda Maximoff

Wanda Maximoff made two appearances in the Captain America trilogy, first in a credit scene for The Winter Soldier, and more properly in Civil War, where one of the worst things to happen to Wanda —her accidental killing of civilians in Lagos—set the story in motion.

This tragedy led to the Sokovia Accords, and Wanda's opposition to them had her siding with Steve Rogers. Wanda's appearance in Civil War was vital for showcasing her unstable powers, and started her down the path that eventually led to WandaVision.

Maria Hill

A prominent figure at S.H.I.E.L.D and trusted Commander under Nick Fury, Agent Maria Hill was crucial to the plot of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where she aided Steve and his allies in the fight against Hydra.

Maria Hill has been a steady presence in the MCU since her first appearance in The Avengers back in 2012. A highly capable spy often working to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes, she is similar to Cap in her willingness to go against the authorities when it's the right thing to do.

Howard Stark

Father to Tony Stark, Howard Stark played a key role in establishing Steve Rogers as Captain America during World War II, and was responsible for making the hero's iconic shield.

Howard and Steve's relationship is a friendly one, but it does act as a complication for Tony and Steve in the modern day, as the pair meets with lots of preconceived ideas about what the other will be like. A genius inventor, Howard had a lasting impact on Cap, and his appearance in The First Avenger showcased the trademark Stark charisma.

Nick Fury

Longtime director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury worked with Captain America in The Winter Soldier, but the spy's paranoia meant that there were some secrets he kept even from those closest to him, even going so far as to fake his own death when he didn't know who he could trust.

Fury ends up teaching Steve a lot about the way that the spy world works, and it's because of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s downfall that his distrust for organizations like it grows. Like Steve, Fury is a tactician, and as the Secret Invasion D23 trailer has shown, he remains in the know when it comes to planet-level threats.

Sharon Carter

Introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sharon Carter is the great-niece of Peggy Carter. She monitored Steve Rogers for S.H.I.E.L.D., posing as his neighbor. Recently, she was revealed as the Power Broker in The Falcon and the Winter Solider.

Sharon Carter is a morally ambiguous character, doing what she needs to in order to survive and thrive. Her fall from being a loyal agent is a nuanced and compelling character arc that is still playing out in the MCU.

Alexander Pierce

As the head of Hydra's infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D., Alexander Pierce was revealed to be the true villain of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. He commanded great power and control as the US Secretary of Defense and a member of the World Security Council.

RELATED: 10 MCU Characters That Changed Steve Rogers The MostPlayed by legendary actor Robert Redford, Alexander Pierce was a cunning and convincing villain, infiltrating the most secure organizations in the world. Charming and respected, he was able to hide his true agenda and completely fool everyone, allowing Hydra to take down S.H.I.E.L.D. from within.

Red Skull

As the head of Hydra during World War II, Red Skull was Captain America's first, and arguably most notable, foe. He attempted to use the Tesseract to take over the world before his plans were thwarted by Steve Rogers, and he ended up serving as the Stonekeeper for the Soul Stone on Vormir.

While other villains such as Alexander Pierce are nuanced and grounded, Red Skull is a true over-the-top comic book villain. From his appearance to his actions, he is an evil and egotistical villain who wants to take over the world. While not the most realistic character, he is wildly entertaining and interesting to watch on screen.

Peggy Carter

Peggy Carter was one of the people most responsible for Steve Roger's transformation into Captain America, working on Project Rebirth and later pushing him to become more than just a mascot. She aided Captain America in his World War II missions and quickly became one of the most important people to him as Steve Rogers' true love.

Peggy Carter represented the life that Steve Rogers gave up. She was smart, strong, and heroic, becoming one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D. Since her debut, she has become a fan-favorite character and finally got a happy ending in Avengers: Endgame.

Helmut Zemo

Baron Helmut Zemo is one of the smartest and most successful villains in the MCU. After his family was killed in the Battle of Sokovia, he set out to take down the Avengers by turning them against each other in Captain America: Civil War.

Zemo proved his brilliance in managing to tear the Avengers apart through manipulation and deceit. He is also funny in a dry way, becoming a standout of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He is a deadly and compelling genius who fans love to see on screen.