Even though Marvel and Disney+ have only delivered two TV series to MCU fans thus far, it almost feels like they've been airing for years, given how much speculation, conversation and jubilation have been inspired by both The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and WandaVision. With so many more shows on the horizon, not much focus has been placed on whether or not Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan's Sam and Bucky will return for an equally big-budgeted Season 2. Nothing official has been announced, but a behind-the-scenes detail has emerged that has me convinced a second season is in the pipeline.
Admittedly, it's not the sexiest behind-the-scenes detail, such as hypothetical concept art of Sam's Captain America and Joaquin Torres' Falcon busting some skulls together. Rather, it involves how Disney+ is classifying The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on the awards circuit. Rather than being submitted for this year's Emmy Awards categorized as a Limited or Anthology TV Series, which is how WandaVision is being slotted, Falcon and Winter Soldier will be up for Best Drama Series consideration. And while there's some definite truth to the idea that Disney and Marvel execs want to spread the potential awards love, there's more behind that decision that makes Season 2 sound more like a probability than a possibility.
Marvel Studios' VP of Production and Development Nate Moore, who is also an executive producer on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, spoke with IndieWire about the Emmy classification choice, which he said was a decision that came about fairly early during the production process, inspired by the appropriately dramatic and eventful episodes being crafted. And while he didn't go so far as to say they've got Season 2 ideas covering white boards in the Marvel Studios offices, he did confirm that the door is open for it, and that fans may know more about it after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier wraps up its current six-season run. In Moore's words:
We’ve definitely kicked around ideas because we always like to keep thinking about where things can go, but we also, frankly, in the crush of the pandemic, we’re just trying to finish the show and make sure it got out in a timely matter. Hopefully at the end of this season, you will see the potential for what we could tell in a subsequent season.
Considering Disney+ has touted The Falcon and the Winter Soldier for drawing the biggest original series audience yet during its premiere weekend - bigger than both WandaVision and The Mandalorian's audiences - it doesn't take a super-genius like Daniel Brühl's Zemo to grasp why it'd be a good idea to have some ideas on the back burner in case a second season renewal order came into existence. Of course, with a franchise like the MCU, it's isn't just about popularity and viewership numbers, but also where mastermind Kevin Feige and his creative teams want to take these stories and characters.
If The Falcon and the Winter Soldier doesn't end up bringing Season 2 to fans, I'm 99% convinced that it'll be because Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson and/or Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes will be heading up their own solo series. Or maybe they'll be involved with a new super-team on the big screen, with both joining up with Chris Evans inexplicably returning as Steve Rogers for a trio of Captain Americas, sans John Walker. Either way, those characters will absolutely be back on Disney+ in some form or fashion after Falcon and Winter Soldier's finale dust has settled.
Everyone in the world should tune into The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's season finale on Friday, April 23, so that Disney+ knows we want more, more, more. (Even if we just get more from Julia Louis-Dreyfus, I'd be content, really.) And on that note, let us know in the poll below if you actually do want to see Season 2 happen.
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