Marvel Studios has a lot of exciting shows in the works over at Disney+, although an argument could be made that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is the most exciting of all. That's thanks in no small part to the end of Avengers: Endgame, in which the two played a part in the presumed exit of one of the MCU's greatest heroes: Captain America.
With Steve Rogers in retirement, the story now shifts to these two heroes and will presumably kick off in the upcoming series. With that in mind, here's some questions audiences should want to see answered in The Falcon and the Winter Solider.
Who Are The Avengers' Next Big Threat?
Given all the deaths and exits that took place in Avengers: Endgame, it's safe to say these supporting characters just became the core of The Avengers. That means Sam and Bucky will probably be the point guys for the next assembly of heroes, and the first to respond to whatever big threat is a danger to Earth. So, what's the next big threat they'll face?
Well, with Baron Zemo being brought back into the picture, one has to guess HYDRA or some variation of the villainous outfit. Bringing in a new evil organization would be cool, although I'm definitely all for HYDRA as well after Red Skull has officially made his way back into the MCU. His cameo (and recasting) couldn't have just happened for no reason, the MCU must have plans for him somewhere.
Who Is The New Captain America?
In Avengers: Endgame, Steve Rogers handed his trademark shield to Sam Wilson, and the assumption was that Falcon was going to be the MCU's new Captain America. According to Anthony Mackie, America assumed wrong as he denied that he is the new Captain America and stated that he will always be Falcon. So, was that whole bit at the end of Endgame just a big misdirect then?
Probably not, and there's a chance Mackie is just teasing audiences ahead of his reveal as the hero. It's also a possibility The Falcon and the Winter Soldier involves the journey for a new Captain America, and Sam will initially opt out of the responsibility or it'll be taken from him and offered to someone else. Sebastian Stan's Winter Soldier is an option of course, but does America really want its icon to be a former brain-washed assassin? Probably not.
How Is U.S. Agent Involved?
During the D23 Expo, it was confirmed that Lodge 49 star Wyatt Russell would appear in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as John Walker, or U.S. Agent. His inclusion in this adventure in particular is interesting, especially in light of Anthony Mackie's denials that Sam will take on the mantle of Captain America. In Marvel comics, Agent was given the mantle after the government balked on Wilson after wondering if America was ready for a "black Captain America."
In the comics, Walker's run as Captain America was nothing short of a disaster. It's possible things could turn out the same way if he's given the title in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, so fans should be on high alert if Walker is brought in to be the next Cap. Falcon and Winter Soldier will be around to put him in check if things get too wild, and hopefully, their combined strength in experience would be enough to take him down if necessary.
What Happened During Captain America's Time Traveling Adventure?
There are still a ton of unanswered questions following Avengers: Endgame, and a lot of them revolve around Steve Rogers. Captain America took all the Infinity Stones back to the respected spots in time, but then decided to go back to Peggy Carter and live out the rest of his life with her. That didn't happen in the original timeline obviously, so how did Cap's trip affect the future?
With Sharon Carter set to appear in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, we should get some answers even to the questions we don't want to know. After all, it's cool to imagine future Steve was Peggy's unknown husband this entire time, at least until one realizes that means Sharon french kissed her uncle years ago. Please say there's something that happened in the MCU timeline that erases that moment from ever happening!
Does Bucky Have A Home In America?
The general public only knows a bit about the Marvel heroes, and it's safe to say what little they know of Bucky or Winter Soldier isn't great. He doesn't have the greatest rep, and one has to think that finding redemption in the eyes of the public and the American government will be an uphill battle for him in this Disney+ series.
Then again, Bucky has also taken up the mantle of Captain America at one point in his Marvel comics history. It stands to reason he could do the same in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, though again, seems like a stretch given his criminal past. Hey, if things don't end up working out for him under the employ of the United States, at least he still has a home in Wakanda.
Who Are The New Avengers?
As it stands, there are only three founding Avengers on Earth. One is retired, one has a messed up arm that may never recover, and the last one is Hawkeye. Clint Barton isn't too strong of a leader, so one has to think plans are in action to create a new Avengers initiative. If Falcon and Winter Soldier are working for America, chances are there's already talk of establishing the New Avengers.
There should be anyway, because the world is about as vulnerable as its ever been following Avengers: Endgame. Things are even worse now that Spider-Man is technically out of the mix (although that could change if Disney and Sony work out a deal) so S.H.I.E.L.D. and the government better start browsing its list of available heroes for an ensemble during The Falcon and the Winter Soldier at the latest. Who knows when the world could be attacked next?
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The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is headed to Disney+ fall of 2020. Stick with CinemaBlend in the meantime for updates on everything happening in the MCU, and for the latest news in television and movies.
