Captain America: Brave New WorldDirector Reveals Moving Reason He Thanked Octavia Spencer in the Credits (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Julius Onah and Octavia Spencer.Photo:Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty; Rebecca Sapp/Getty

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty; Rebecca Sapp/Getty

Octavia Spencerdoesn’t appear inCaptain America: Brave New World, so why diddirector Julius Onah thank her in the end credits?As Onah, 42, tells PEOPLE,Oscarwinning actress Spencer, 54, is simply a “great supporter of his work” as an actress and a friend. The pair previously worked together on his 2019 movieLuce, in which she portrays a high school teacher who develops an unnerving conflict with one of her students. Her name is included under the “special thanks” section ofBrave New World’s credits, alongside five members of Onah’s family, the Stan Lee Foundation and Marvel icon Stan Lee’s daughter JC Lee.“Octavia’s the greatest,” Onah says. “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 withKevin Feigeand had spoken to[Anthony] Mackieas 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.“Octavia Spencer and Julius Onah on Jan. 27, 2019.Rich Fury/GettyWithBrave New World, Onah directed Mackie, 46, in the star’s first full-fledged movie as Captain America. His character Sam Wilson picked up the shield from Chris Evans' Steve Rogers in 2019’sAvengers: Endgameand more formally assumed the role at the end of the Disney+ miniseriesThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The movie also paired Onah with an onscreen hero of his inHarrison Ford, whom Onah describes as “mind blowing” to get to work with.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.As for what Onah has on his plate afterBrave New World, the director tells PEOPLE he and anotherLuceactor,Kelvin Harrison Jr, plan to film a movie later this year in which Harrison Jr., 30, would star as 20th century American painter Jean-Michel Basquiat.Anthony Mackie and Julius Onah on Feb. 13, 2025.Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/GettyMackie’s character is expected to return for the two forthcomingAvengersmovies. Meanwhile, Onah also teases future collaborations withCaptain Americastar that may take the pair away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.“I’ve had a lot of conversations about jamming again with Anthony,” he says. “There’s things that he and I both wanna do together that don’t necessarily involve a shield, but he’s an actor I just respect and admire so much. So one way or another, he and I will be tag teaming again.“Captain America: Brave New Worldis in theaters now.

Octavia Spencerdoesn’t appear inCaptain America: Brave New World, so why diddirector Julius Onah thank her in the end credits?

As Onah, 42, tells PEOPLE,Oscarwinning actress Spencer, 54, is simply a “great supporter of his work” as an actress and a friend. The pair previously worked together on his 2019 movieLuce, in which she portrays a high school teacher who develops an unnerving conflict with one of her students. Her name is included under the “special thanks” section ofBrave New World’s credits, alongside five members of Onah’s family, the Stan Lee Foundation and Marvel icon Stan Lee’s daughter JC Lee.

“Octavia’s the greatest,” Onah says. “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 withKevin Feigeand had spoken to[Anthony] Mackieas 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.”

Octavia Spencer and Julius Onah on Jan. 27, 2019.Rich Fury/Getty

Rich Fury/Getty

WithBrave New World, Onah directed Mackie, 46, in the star’s first full-fledged movie as Captain America. His character Sam Wilson picked up the shield from Chris Evans' Steve Rogers in 2019’sAvengers: Endgameand more formally assumed the role at the end of the Disney+ miniseriesThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The movie also paired Onah with an onscreen hero of his inHarrison Ford, whom Onah describes as “mind blowing” to get to work with.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

As for what Onah has on his plate afterBrave New World, the director tells PEOPLE he and anotherLuceactor,Kelvin Harrison Jr, plan to film a movie later this year in which Harrison Jr., 30, would star as 20th century American painter Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Anthony Mackie and Julius Onah on Feb. 13, 2025.Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty

Mackie’s character is expected to return for the two forthcomingAvengersmovies. Meanwhile, Onah also teases future collaborations withCaptain Americastar that may take the pair away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“I’ve had a lot of conversations about jamming again with Anthony,” he says. “There’s things that he and I both wanna do together that don’t necessarily involve a shield, but he’s an actor I just respect and admire so much. So one way or another, he and I will be tag teaming again.”

Captain America: Brave New Worldis in theaters now.

source: people.com