Captain America: Brave New World director Julius Onah has explained why Octavia Spencer received a “Special Thanks” mention in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie’s credits despite not being involved in its production.
During the end credits of Brave New World, Octavia Spencer — who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 2011 drama film The Help — was listed under the “special thanks” section alongside five members of Onah’s family, the Stan Lee Foundation, and Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee’s daughter, JC Lee. With some moviegoers expressing confusion online about why Spencer was given a “special thanks” mention, Onah has cleared the air, revealing that the actor was instrumental in helping him land the directing gig for Brave New World.
“Octavia’s the greatest,” Onah told People. “I’m such a fan of hers, and when the conversation was being had about this film, she put in some kind words for me with [Marvel Studios president] Kevin Feige and had spoken to [Captain America actor Anthony] Mackie as well. She’s just a genuinely kind, incredibly talented human being, and I wanted to really acknowledge what a great supporter she’s been of me and other filmmakers in the past. There was no way I was gonna miss the opportunity to say thank you to her.”
Onah previously directed Spencer in the 2019 social thriller drama film Luce, in which she portrays a high school teacher who develops an unnerving conflict with one of her students.
Captain America: Brave New World off to a promising start at the box office
Captain America: Brave New World, the fourth entry in the MCU’s Captain America series, was released in theaters on Feb. 14. Although the superhero blockbuster received mixed reviews from critics, the movie still managed to find success at the box office, earning $100 million over its four-day opening weekend domestically. With a production budget of $180 million, it has been reported that Brave New World will need to earn $425 million to break even. At the time of writing, the movie’s worldwide total stands at $198.3 million after one week in theaters.
Captain America: Brave New World, starring Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America and Harrison Ford as U.S. President Ross/Red Hulk, is currently playing in theaters.
