Spoilers for Falcon and The Winter Soldier
The last episode of the Falcon and the Winter Soldier aired last week and it was absolutely emotional, redemptive, and bad*ss. Falcon aka Captain America’s new suit is Black people fly. Sam took up the Captain America mantel in a stars and stripes outfit made by the Wakandans. The last episode did not leave any of us questioning whether or not Sam was going to become the next Captain America. Sam IS Captain America. Or at least a Captain America and Falcon hybrid (it’s Cap with wings and a shield). Now, Marvel and Disney have confirmed that they are developing Captain American 4, presumably with Anthony Mackie at the helm. We also know that TFATWS showrunner, Malcolm Spellman, will be returning to write the movie script. Of course Feige and co. are being super tight lipped and have yet to confirm the story line, director or the cast. However, many are making educated assumptions about what to expect. Below are a few more details about the project from The Hollywood Reporter:
No castings for the project are officially known, but Friday’s episode offers plenty of roads for the feature to take. Up until this point, Chris Evans has played Captain America via the Steve Rogers character, appearing in a trio of solo movies, Avengers outings, and assorted other Marvel films. And the question of who is entitled to carry the shield or be Captain America was central to the show.
The feature is likely to continue the story of Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie, and the current wielder of the shield. But as the writers get to work, it will be interesting to see how the story unfolds with there now being multiple people who have been Captain Americas in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
No director is attached, and Evans’ involvement/return remains unconfirmed. Marvel was tight-lipped as usual.
Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which also stars Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/the Winter Soldier, has earned strong critical and fan reaction. Spellman assembled a nearly all-Black writers room for the series, which has been praised for bringing the Black experience to the forefront quite unlike any other superhero film or TV show before it. The series has tackled issues from discriminatory lending practices to the original sin of America building itself on the backs of Black people.
So we still don’t know if Chris Evans may do a cameo. Chris’s Marvel contract was up after Endgame so I doubt we will see him except in previously recorded cut aways. At this point the camera must be focused on the new Captain America. Steve Rogers chose his successor and Sam has reluctantly but powerfully taken up the mantle.
At first I didn’t know if I would like Mackie as Captain America but that last episode of TFATWS sold me. Anthony handled delicate scenes and conversations with honesty and heart. I think he and Sebastian Stan as White Wolf (aka the Winter Soldier) will make a great team. I hope Marvel and Disney take a chance on a Black Captain America with a white sidekick. Marvel would effectively be flipping the script, which would change the game.
I also liked that Disney and Marvel hired a nearly all Black writer’s room to handle Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s story. You can tell that Black people wrote the scripts in those last two episodes especially. The sentiments about being Black American expressed by characters like James, Sarah and Sam could have only been written by people who have had that unique experience. As a military vet, I identified with how both James (Isaiah Bradley) and Sam felt. I also understood Sarah’s apathy. Being Black in America is like a balancing act that feels simultaneously joyful and crushing. Showrunner Malcolm Spellman and Dalan Musson led a great team and I am excited that Spellman particularly (he chose the writers) will be returning for the movie.
I am not going to recap the finale, but if you would like a little more detail on it you can find that here. I was very impressed with TFATWS. I know that at the beginning a lot of people were upset that the writers didn’t address the elephant in the room about Sam being a Black man carrying the shield but I think the way that topic was handled was absolutely pitch perfect. I look forward to seeing what Marvel and Disney will do with Sam’s and Bucky’s storylines. (Can we get a Bucky and Sarah relationship?) I look forward to more cookout scenes where Bucky brings a store bought cake to the party.
Anthony Mackie on becoming #CaptainAmerica
"I don't care what anybody on the internet says.. My son says it was cool.. So it's cool" pic.twitter.com/xenJN41rC5
— Marvel Facts (@MarveIFacts) April 26, 2021
Some Reactions:
this is the cutest transition !!!!
Sam became #CaptainAmerica and my baby #Bucky is now smiling🥺 pic.twitter.com/kQBpkw7mX7
— bi-derman (@IR0NSPIDEY) April 26, 2021
Like an Angel #CaptainAmerica pic.twitter.com/MmR2XRtXOJ
— MCU Perfect Clips & GIFs 🎥 (@MCUPerfectClips) April 26, 2021
Just a kid On your left.
from Brooklyn. #CaptainAmerica new era is begin. pic.twitter.com/f8PX2Wu6jB— han 🌙 (@kakqashi) April 26, 2021
cw // #FalconAndWinterSoldierFinale #CaptainAmerica #samwilson #buckybarnes #SharonCarter
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this moment right here won my heart pic.twitter.com/dUo2fVUxe8— kirtan rogers ➶ bishop's bitch (@CapnRgers) April 23, 2021
This show was bizarrely all over the place, but I thought they brought it together in the end. I’d gladly watch more…..but I hate the white suit, *runs away*. Seriously though, it looks bulky and just…no. Oh well the original Captain America didn’t get a great suit until like his third appearance (Winter Solider movie?) so there’s time.
A pretty believable rumour going around is that one reason things felt a bit off is that originally the plot involved a virus and a pandemic, which is why in one episode the bad guys are stealing vaccine. Uhhhhhh, AWKWARD! So yeah some hasty editing may have been done.
Yeah, I agree on the suit too. It’s giving me Elton John from the 70s vibes. Hopefully he’ll get something sleeker and darker but with those giant wings it may be a challenge. But they were able to jazz up Chris Evans’ suit and by Infinity War he had ditched that dumb helmet too. I really like Bucky’s suit, its still menacing yet less robotic.
I hate how the white head part only comes halfway up his head and leaves a hole for his ears. It looks silly. Won’t his ears and his head get cold as he’s flying around?
THE EAR HOLES.
I just couldn’t with the ear holes!
I love Evans’ Captain America and I think it will stand the test of time. I think normally I would like to see a cameo, or even an extended role for him in some sort of multi-verse way. Because we do know the multi-verse is coming. However…I do think it would be too confusing for a lot of people and Mackie certainly sold me. It’s hard for comic fans to let go, so this should be interesting. I think it would be best to let Evans be and I’d be totally fine with that. He was after all, a man out of time, and Mackie’s Cap is just so right for right now.
They did a great job with FATWS. I was really hoping they weren’t going to relegate Mackie’s Cap to D+ or team-up movies only, so I’m really happy to hear that they’ve already announced CA 4. They’ve got plenty of stories to tell with him.
I didn’t care for the Steve Rodgers character, he’s just an old-timey white guy – I watched all of those movies strictly because Chris Evans is smoking hot. Sam Wilson is actually an interesting character, I’m excited for Cap 4. And if they won’t have Sam and Bucky get together, I’m shipping Sarah and Bucky – those two are both absolutely adorable
“I watched all of those movies strictly because Chris Evans is smoking hot”
Also a valid choice.
Sarah-Bucky storyline is one of the reasons why I really don’t want to watch the series. I just hope they go in another direction with that but after hearing good things regarding the last episode I plan to give it a gander.
@Imara219 – Just so you know that’s not actually a storyline at all. I find it weird that’s an issue for you, but whatever. There’s literally one pertinent scene hinting future potential, but it’s brief and is more to set up further interaction in the moment between Sam and Bucky regarding bro code, establishing they are friends even though they keep claiming otherwise.
Why is it an issue for you, Imara?
Like Maybe a Sam & Bucky romance? Cause that’s what my teenagers are hoping for!
@Trix I know it’s not a real storyline just something a lot of people are inferring or hoping for. I was trying to get a bead of the series in general and I follow along in my Black entertainment groups but a lot of the storylines just seemed to go in places I found disinterested. I’m glad to see that SM culture was just being overly enthusiastic.
@Snuffles I’m sorta bored of certain plot points but mainly I find Bucky to be a bit boring and the overhype with him and Sarah seemed odd. Like she seems like a cool character a baddie and he seems so lame to me in how he is presented character wise.
I’m shipping Bucky and Sarah too! Honestly it makes sense to me. After 2 years in Wakanda being nurtured by the people and literally cured of his brainwashing. Then being in Sam’s hometown where they’ve been nothing but completely welcoming despite his dark history. I’m sure he finds Sarah and her family very appealing. Her kids already love him!
As a total Marvel movies/spin-off series lover this news makes me really happy! I thought TFATWS was incredible and was hoping that they would announce a second season, but a feature film is even better. Can’t wait!
I welcome our new Cap wholeheartedly! They did a good job with the last episode. I found the writing at times to be a little vague with what they were trying to achieve (like with Walker…I don’t even know what his storyline was supposed to be), but the finale was nice.
I don’t have any authority to comment on any Marvel story lines but judging it by the standards of how I would judge other shows, it felt like a general commentary on heroes versus villains. What makes a hero, what makes a villain, depends on the side you are standing – on your lived experiences. There is also probably a better point to be made here about the US military propaganda versus the real thing. In any case, he just wasn’t worthy to carry the mantle of Captain America as he lacked the necessary moral compass, but Sam, a black man, was.
If Walker’s character is based on the comics, he is supposed to be US Agent. If I am not mistaken he is a mercenary. Here is more info –
https://www.marvel.com/characters/us-agent-john-walker/in-comics
Case: i was confused by walker too. Not sure how he suddenly turned good and sympathetic in the end cause his mental health issues haven’t been addressed or if Val is a hydra agent or not. We shall see!
That’s what the show Thunderbolts will likely address. They are supposed to be a version of the Suicide Squad. I believe Zemo will be part of this group as well when Thunderbolt Ross recruits them. Speaking of Ross, I’m curious if his daughter Betty Ross will be involved in the She Hulk series as she was also Bruce Banner’s GF.
@ReginaGeorge, I have been curious for a long time whether and when they would ever bring Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) back. Most people signed multifilm deals and I imagine she would have done so too, although it may have expired by now but if she’s not willing, they could recast the role, as they did with Hulk and (Mark Ruffalo for Ed Norton) and Rhodes (Don Cheadle for Terence Howard).
One thing I have always liked about the MCU is that each of the franchise characters have their own subset of characters.
Loved TFATWS! It was better than I thought it would be…didn’t think I would like anything as much as WandaVision, but I did. I’m very happy for Anthony and am glad to see a black Captain America. I do hope Sebastian is in the movie, as Bucky is one of my favorite MCU characters and I love his and Anthony’s dynamic so much.
Same! I was reluctant to leave WandaVision but I LOVED TFATWS. I am so impressed how WandaVision was focused on grief (something that I am familiar with, and it brought back a lot of emotions) and how Falcon was focused on the Black experience in America. I expected justice, vengeance, etc., but the Sam/Capt America & Sarah storyline blew me away. Would have we had this story 5 years ago? I’m white… so… NOT the expert…but I think no.
I am now a huge Anthony Mackie fan. He is amazing. (And now I see how the prior movies did not use even a percentage of his talent!)
(ETA., embarrassing admission, I’m almost 40 and have a serious crush on Sebastian Stan/Bucky)
Megs, Sebastian Stan is almost 40 too. I don’t see a problem!
Girl. I’m 44 and there is no shame in my game for my SS crush. He’s 38. I feel ok with that lolol.
oh he is TOTALLY age-appropriate. I just feel silly having a crush!! LOL.
Embarrassing admission but I only started following the Marvel universe after watching Wandavision. Before that I think I’ve only ever watched Phase 1 Marvel as a teen. I watched all of the movies in the timeline chronological order and I loved that the universe story lines were maintained across all the different movies. So as much as Chris Evans is my favourite Chris and it would be a shame not to see him in that suit once more, he still should be retired so that Sam can shine on his own. I loved the Falcon and the Winter Soldier but would probably have to give it a rewatch at some point to understand the story better.
This was not my favourite series. I had extremely high expectations after Wandavision. The last episodes were excellent though and gave Sam great monologue moments and really exposed the plight of black Americans. Very well done at the end.
Also: John walker has the most punchable face I’ve ever seen. Great acting and casting!
That being said I’d rather see more Scarlett witch. Elizabeth Olsen is worth a movie of her own!!!
I loved Chris Evans’ Captain America and I know that I’ll love Anthony’s Captain America too!!
I’m so excited for this. The show was so well done, especially considering having to work around the pandemic (there were elements that felt cut precisely because of it – like a mention of spreading illness in the beginning). I love that Sam’s suit is just like the comics.
Yes!!!
That series was great, as was Wandavision. Can’t wait for Ms. Marvel either.
Am happy Ike Perlmutter doesn’t have the influence over Marvel movies anymore that he had before (look him up and get a good indication of why there were only white male leads for so long #trumpsupporter).
Now Marvel is showing more of that diversity it has shown in the comics for much longer.
It’s too bad that not more people bought those comics, though. There was great inclusivity, but some had very poor sales, which in turn do not bode well for chances on the screen.
The series was good but I felt a bit underwhelmed and that’s not necessarily the show’s fault, as from what I understood, the pandemic affected the storylines and shooting. But on a whole, Sam’s journey from being hesitant to pick up the mantle which included reluctance based on him being Black in America, and then becoming Cap was excellent. That speech had me giving a standing ovation.
The Isiah Bradley ending had my bawling!!! The PowerBroker identity was a bit predictable.
Wyatt Russel was amazing. John Walker is meant to be a morally grey character as he’s more of an anti-hero who doesn’t walk the line of straight good and bad, and him teetering back and forth from the edge was great to watch. Also, Madame Hydra/Aka Val/Aka Elaine is gonna be delicious to watch. Love JLD
Bucky has been my fav MCU character since Winter Soldier. I only wish he would have gotten his own title upgrade to White Wolf like in the comics , because he is no longer the Winter Soldier either after making amends. Sebastian killed it.
And lastly. Holy ish I never thought I would say this but gimme more Zemo! He was the breakout star of this series. I am all here for it!
Wyatt Russel was so good I now dislike him and don’t want to watch him in anything else! Lol. He was supposed to be unlikable and boy did I hate seeing him be Captain America. Perfect casting there.
I also want to see more Zemo! Not sure how he could escape from Wakanda though, maybe they will need something from him and he can strike a deal for his freedom. Marvel does have a way of getting characters out of impossible situations!
Zemo is actually on the Raft, the same place Thunderbolt Ross took Wanda, Falcon, Hawkeye and Ant-Man when they sacrificed themselves for Cap and Bucky to make it out to Siberia in Civil War. Tony was able to get around it’s security so I can easily see Zemo breaking out if he feels like it, but I think he’s gonna end up being part of Thunderbolt Ross’s covert group so he won’t need to escape.
Sam is Captain America, which now leaves room for Joaquin “You can keep those old wings” Torres to take up the mantle of the Falcon and I. Am. Here. for. That.
And yes, Bucky and his Walmart cake coming to the cook-out.
Yes! Joaquin will be the new Falcon and Isaiah Bradley’s son is the Patriot in the comics. I am ready for the next gen Avengers which also includes Wanda and Vision’s sons Speed & Wiccan, who we hear call to their mom at the end of WV! The MCU is in it for the long run and I am here for it!
Sooooo excited for this! I just need two things from the new Cap movie: a good love interest for Sam and a strong choice for director. How about Regina King? After her success with One Night in Miami, I think she could handle a blockbuster.
ALso her work in HBO’s Watchmen may help her bring some cool ideas.
I really enjoyed this series and I hope there is a season two because it will be about three years before Cap 4 comes to the screen. That’s too long, lol! I may be in the minority here but I hated WandaVision. Wanda and Vision are two of my least favorite MCU characters, I doubt if I’ll see the Dr. Strange movie next year in theaters and just wait for it to come to Disney+ . As for this series I think it did suffer a bit from the change in storyline due to COVID because it wasn’t really clear what the Flagsmashers were fighting for or against. I think the original story may have been along the lines of the GRC deliberately infecting people or allowing a portion of the population to die from this virus, thus giving more weight to their beef with the GRC.
I love Wanda but can’t stand Vision. I resent that they put her with him, but what are you gonna do.
I found the pacing of the show to be all over the place sometimes. The penultimate episode really swung hard between the serious/angry John Walker scenes and the buddy comedy/fixing the boat montage. The Powerbroker identity was really predictable and I’m not sure I care to watch her storyline. But, Mackie and Stan have good chemistry and I like seeing them together. I laughed when Bucky brought what looked like an ice cream cake to a cookout Louisiana!
One of the things that bugs me about Falcon and Winter Soldier is how they nerfed Bucky. We did a big MCU rewatch over the pandemic, and he was legit terrifying in Winter Soldier and Civil War. He kicked Black Panther’s ass; he kicked Captain America’s ass; he was a pure agent of chaos.
Now, he can barely hold his own in a 2 on 1 against John Walker? He can’t even take on the Flagsmashers, and they have at most like 5 years of training and are like supersoldier babies. I get that he’s trying to be a new person, but really?
That’s cuz Bucky is holding back. He’s not trying to kill anyone anymore. He was only trying to take John Walker’s shield, not kill him. The Flag Smashers were all Super Soldier’s too, so it makes sense that he’d be overpowered while getting jumped by multiple super soldiers at once. I feel like on some level, he feels that if he lets himself go all Beserker Bucky, he will take things too far. He’s a kinder, gentler Bucky right now, afraid to unleash that demon. The only time we see clear-headed, un-brainwashed Bucky go off was during his fight against IronMan, which was basically Bucky fighting for his life and freedom. Other than that, as Winter Soldier, he is a rage-filled killing machine, so of course he’d be more terrifying.
And he also knew here that he was skirting with the terms of his parole by even being on these missions. If he really went for it, he would have been bound for the Raft. He was wanted for his crimes by Ross and others. Steve secreted him away to Wakanda and T’Challa agreed to hide him and heal him. The rest of the world didn’t know where he was.
There’s definitely indications in the show that he’s holding back now, whereas he wasn’t as Winter Soldier. For example, when Sam asks Bucky why he didn’t use his vibranium arm to turn the wrench (when they’re fixing the boat). Bucky tells Sam he was right handed when he used to do repairs in the army. He’s clearly thinking more like Bucky now, not like the Winter Soldier. He doesn’t want to hurt people unnecessarily.
My advice to Marvel is to tread carefully with this one. The second and third Captain America films are considered some of the stronger ones in the franchise, so if you’re setting up Mackie to fill those shoes, give him good material to work with. Releasing a mediocre debut film for him is not really an option since it’ll inevitably come back on him as an actor.
Although, Civil War cracked me up as a movie because as much as it’s obviously about Tony letting his own self-hatred and misguided need for atonement drive him to extremes, it’s kind of hard for me to disagree that superheroes should probably have oversight. I can kind of see why a lot of people in the world would feel uncomfortable with a bunch of mostly American superpowered people running around deciding where and when to fight lol.
I watched Falcon and the Winter Soldier solely for Sebastian Stan. Mostly because I think he is so beautiful but also really talented. I was really intrigued and loved his storyline in the Captain American movies, he was terrifying as the Winter Soldier. I wanted to see how his post-Steve Rogers life would play out. I’ll be honest when I say I didn’t care that much about Sam Wilson/Falcon in the other Marvel movies but he also didn’t have much to do, apart from being a sidekick to Captain America/Steve Rogers. I honestly can’t say I would have watched this show had Sebastian Stan not been in it.
That being said, the evolution of Sam Wilson’s character and storyline also kept me hooked too. It was nice to see Anthony Mackie have more room to shine without all the other Avengers around himI was wondering if they would address Sam Wilson turning down Captain America at first because he was black because that wasn’t really addressed front and center until the final two episodes. But it was so poignant and so impactful when they finally did. I also thought this show had more of a relevancy to social and political issues going on today than any other Marvel movie I’ve seen apart from Black Panther (and also Luke Cage but I lost interest in that show after season 1): immigration, displaced refugees, racism, the black experience in America, PTSD, etc.
I hope there’s another season of the show. I loved the Falcon/Winter Soldier (White Wolf?) dynamic and hope to see more of it in the future.