As far as I am concerned, Disney+ has earned itself a reputation lately as the premier streaming service for what I would definitively call “event television.” The secret, I believe, is mystery - not just in the enduring, weekly suspense of its most recent hit Marvel series WandaVision, but also in what is still being kept under wraps about The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, its next TV forthcoming show set in the same universe.
Marvel Studios has done quite well in keeping us excited for the Friday, March 19 release of the spin-off, which follows Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and James “Bucky” Barnes (Sebastian Stan) after the events of Avengers: Endgame, by dropping tantalizing details left and right since it was first announced. We have been promised the return of not only Emily VanCamp’s Sharon Carter, but an appearance by Don Cheadle as War Machine, as well as - not only Daniel Bruhl’s reprisal of Baron Zemo - but another potential villain in the form of Wyatt Russell’s John Walker. Yet, fans are still scratching their heads over who else from the MCU could come back or what other new obstacles our titular duo may face.
I am afraid there are only so many answers about The Falcon and the Winter Soldier that we can provide at the moment, but there are more than enough well-known questions we can gladly reiterate and speculate over for you. In fact, I have eight burning inquiries for that in mind, starting with the most essential mystery of them all.
What Exactly Is The Plot Of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier?
Some fans may have been distracted by all the other exciting hints and confirmed details to even realize that we still do not really know what this show is about. For instance, we know that Zemo will be, at least one of the main antagonists, but not how he intends to redeem his failed plan from Captain America: Civil War or why Sam and Bucky are seen in the first full The Falcon and the Winter Soldier trailer on Madripoor. Not to mention, there is no word on just how John Walker (known to Marvel Comics fans as U.S. Agent) will be involved or if his presence could signal the return of the hero he is meant to replace.
Could Chris Evans Come Back As Captain America?
Because no superhero ever really retires, rumors of Chris Evans reprising his MCU role have been circling the internet with most pointing to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as the most likely place to spot the appearance. I would, at least, bet on Old Man Steve Rogers from Avengers: Endgame paying a visit or even an inter-dimensional crossover with his Human Torch from the Fantastic Four movies before seeing him strap on the old red, white, and blues again. I mean, he has already passed the shield to Sam and it would be a little awkward for Sharon Carter to run into her uncle in his younger form again after the kiss they shared in Captain America: Civil War.
What Has Sharon Carter Been Up To?
Speaking of Captain America: Civil War, the game-changing 2016 blockbuster is the last we saw of the former S.H.I.E.L.D. operative previously known as Agent 13 and portrayed by Emily VanCamp. While the Canadian actress has her starring role on the Fox medical drama The Resident to explain her absence, Sharon Carter’s whereabouts within the MCU since she went “on the run” remain a mystery. Now that her return on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has been confirmed, it looks like we will get some answers this time.
What Other Marvel Cameos Could We Expect From The Series?
Sharon Carter and Zemo are not the only major MCU alumni we know Sam and Bucky will cross paths with on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, as Don Cheadle has confirmed his previously mentioned Rhodey cameo and Georges St-Pierre’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier villain Batroc will show up, too. Now, I don’t know about you, but, considering this franchise’s reputation for dropping some bewildering bombshells, I’m not sure I buy these as the only established characters we should expect to see. Who these additional surprise characters could be (Maria Hill, Nick Fury, Howard the Duck, even) is lost on me, but the less we know, the better, anyway.
Will Isaiah Bradley Be Introduced?
Of course, something I, and many others, would like to know is if this series will see the live action debut of fan favorite Marvel character Isaiah Bradley, otherwise referred to as “Black Captain America” for his successful results in an African American Super Soldier program and his legacy as Cap in an alternate reality. Also the grandfather of Elijah Bradley (Young Avengers’ Patriot), speculation of his involvement grew after Carl Lumbly (known as the animated Justice League series’ Martian Manhunter among countless other comic book adaptations) was added to the cast without any explanation of his role, including a name. If that name turns out to be Isaiah Bradley, then we are in for an inside look at Marvel's first true Super Soldier on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Is Erin Kellyman Officially The New Flag-Smasher?
Another cast member whose The Falcon and the Winter Soldier role was initially unspecified is Solo: A Star Wars Story’s Erin Kellyman, until her masked appearance in the trailer and the release of character art on a third-party merchandise site seemingly confirmed she is a gender-swapped version of the villain Flag-Smasher, originally named Karl Morgenthau. However, considering said character art is labeled “Flag-Smashers” (plural), I challenge the idea that there is only one Flag-Smasher, but perhaps a whole group that serves as the MCU equivalent of the terrorist character. If anything, it appears that the 23-year-old British actress portrays this group’s leader, which is why she represents the name on the promotional merch.
Who Are Desmond Chiam and Miki Ishikawa Playing?
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s mysterious castings do not stop at Erin Kellyman either. Australian-born Desmond Chiam of The Shannara Chronicles fame and Miki Ishikawa from Season 2 of AMC’s The Terror and Zoey 101 on Nickelodeon (her debut) were both added to cast around the same time in late 2019, but with no further comments from Disney. Rumors suggest Chiam could be part of the aforementioned Flag-Smashers and Ishikawa may play Jolt from the supervillain group known as Thunderbolts.
Only time will tell when we shall receive the answers regarding The Falcon and the Winter Soldier that we are looking for, and we at CinemaBlend will be sure to add our thoughts on the matter as they are revealed. Until then, I believe there is one thing we can say with confidence: if this new Disney+ show is anything like what we have seen from Marvel so far, it should be pretty epic.
