While Avengers: Endgame concluded with the now-elderly Steve Rogers passing along his vibranium shield to Sam Wilson, earlier this year, the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier chronicled Sam reluctance to carry on his friend’s legacy. In the end though, Sam embraced becoming the new Captain America following John Walker’s fall from grace, and shortly after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier concluded, it was reported that Captain America 4 was in development. Now it looks like that will indeed be where we see Anthony Mackie reprising the Star Spangled Man with a Plan next.
According to Deadline, Anthony Mackie has closed a deal to reprise the former Falcon in Captain America 4. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Malcolm Spellman is reportedly writing the script with Dalan Musson, who also worked on the Disney+ series. It’s unclear if Sebastian Stan will also return as Bucky Barnes, a.k.a. the Winter Soldier/White Wolf, or if Sam Wilson will be battling whatever threat has emerged on his own. Either way, now he’s getting the opportunity to suit up as Captain America on the big screen.
This is the third MCU film series to stretch past the traditional trilogy, following the Avengers and Thor. However, in latter’s case, Chris Hemsworth will return as the God of Thunder for next year’s Thor: Love and Thunder, although that blockbuster will also see Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster transforming into The Mighty Thor. In Captain America 4’s case, it’s unclear if Steve Rogers will appear, though Deadline’s article noted that this movie is separate from the “top secret project” that might bring Chris Evans back to the role; a project Evans and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige previously denied was happening.
Assuming Anthony Mackie doesn’t pop up in another MCU project beforehand, Captain America 4 will mark his eighth appearance in the superhero franchise, having debuted in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. While Sam Wilson retains his trademark wings as the new Captain America, he’ll now be inspiring people across the world with the mantle that his close friend held in World War II and up until the final battle with Thanos after the Blip was undone. Along with starring in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, this year has also seen Mackie appear in Outside the Wire, The Woman in the Window and the Amazon anthology series Solos.
Since it may be a while until Captain America 4 plot details are revealed, fans will have to speculate who Sam Wilson will battle in his solo movie. Along with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier ending with John Walker now working for Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine as U.S. Agent, it was also revealed in the series finale that Sharon Carter was the Power Broker, and now that she’s been reemployed at the CIA, she intends to start selling government secret resources. Between them and Captain America baddies we haven’t seen in the MCU yet, like Sin and the Serpent Society, Captain America 4 won’t be lacking for rogues to pick from.
While we wait for more news about Captain America 4, including where it will fall on the release slate, look through our upcoming Marvel movies guide to learn what else the MCU is sending to theaters over the next several years.
