The D23 Expo in California a week ago was a grand event, revealing exciting new scoops on all-things Disney. All the glorious announcements, trailers, and celebs indeed had the audience in awe, but what kept Israelis on the edge of their seats was the news that Israeli actress Shira Haas will join the cast of Marvel's "Captain America: New World Order," playing Israeli supervillain Sabra.
The film release date is set for May 3rd, 2024. This leaves enough time for us to get familiar with the rest of the cast, its context, and of course the origins of the comic book character.
Anthony Mackie will star as the new Captain America, while Sebastian Stan, Danny Ramirez, and Carl Lumbly will also share the set with the young Israeli acting sensation.
Sabra was first introduced in a 1980 comic "The Incredible Hulk". Born as Ruth Bat-Seraph, the Jerusalemite served as a police officer in addition to being a Mossad agent.
The character is incredibly gifted and well-trained in Krav Maga - a self-defense and fighting system developed for the Israel Defense Forces. Upon transforming into Sabra, the character has to battle the Hulk, whom she mistakenly believed was working with Arab terrorists operating in Israel.
Sabra is one of a handful of mutants to have retained their powers after so called "M-Day," meaning her body's physical abilities, such as strength, speed, agility, reflexes, endurance and stamina - can be enhanced to superhuman levels.
Gunfire does not penetrate Sabra's skin and she can lift a tank and outrun cars. She has access to the Mossad files, and knows the secret identity and personal history of a number of superhumans. She fiercely supports both Jewish and mutant rights.
Sabra's son, Jacob, was killed by Palestinian terrorists who attacked a school bus full of Israeli children. Afterwards, despite the government insisting she does not intervene, she headed to Bethlehem, where she apparently arrested the terrorists.
As for Sabra's appearance, it's hard to see at first glance the resemblance between Haas and the character's visual interpretation in the comics. But, we have enough trust in Marvel's special effects team.
According to the comics, Sabra has thick black curls and is 1.80 meters (5'9 feet) tall, while Haas barely reaches 1.5 meters (4'9 feet).
Either way, we are anxious to see how Haas' extraordinary acting skills will make the Israeli superheroine come to life.