SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains spoilers about the end of Captain America: Civil War, particularly the events of the movie’s mid-credits sequence. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, and don’t wish to know any details before hand, please click away to another one of our wonderful articles!
Marvel Studios movies never just end once the credits begin to roll. Going back to 2008, fans have learned that the company always loves sticking in little extras that both excite and tease other projects that are currently in the works. Joe and Anthony Russo’s Captain America: Civil War is no exception, and once the main cast cards have been displayed, the movie not only concludes the story of Captain America and the Winter Solider, but gives us our first ever look at the incredible nation of Wakanda.
In the Captain America: Civil War mid-credits sequence, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Bucky Barnes (The Winter Soldier) are reunited, but clearly not in the best of circumstances. While all of Bucky’s memories have returned, he knows that the utterance of just a few seemingly random words can transform him back into a nearly unstoppable, deadly assassin. Cap recognizes this decision, and says his goodbyes before his best friend is put back into the deep freeze. As we get a look around the advanced laboratory setting, Steve finds himself standing next to King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), whom he thanks for his help. Unfortunately, this gratitude comes paired with a warning, as Steve tells his new friend that they will come after him to get to Bucky. T’Challa says with pride, "Let them try," as the camera pans and we see Wakanda’s iconic colossal Black Panther statue out in the distance.
After seeing Captain America: Civil War last month, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige to talk about the film, and one subject we touched upon was the impressive mid-credits sequence, and what it means for the future of Phase Three. He explained that the primary idea for the scene was to give some closure to the Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes relationship (the heart of the Captain America trilogy) – with the latter removing himself from society until all of the Hydra brainwashing is out of his system. Evidently there was always the idea to have this scene in the movie, but what took it to the next level was the idea of the moment giving the audience a sneak peek at Black Panther’s home nation. Said Feige,
That was always sort of the idea for the end of the movie, and as the movie was being developed, it felt like it would be additionally cool to have that happen in Wakanda – a super advanced place. They’ve got something that he could go in. And also, it speaks to Panther’s arc. The person that he was out to kill early in the movie, he’s now nobly helping. And then, of course, that led organically to a cool moment, where Cap can go, ‘Thanks for doing this, but they’re going to come get you.’
While we can expect to see Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Thor: Ragnarok all before Black Panther’s solo adventure, it’s hard not to feel like this is at least a semi-tease of what we can expect from writer/director Ryan Coogler’s 2018 blockbuster. At the very least it’s a tease of Black Panther’s stunning setting (Wakanda should be a breathtaking vision when portrayed in full on the big screen), but it’s also possible that the plot of the movie could involve outside forces coming in and trying to extradite The Winter Soldier. We probably won’t know the answer to that question for a while now, however.
What are your thoughts on the Captain America: Civil War mid-credits sequence? How do you think it will play into the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Hit the comments with your thoughts!
