Although set in the aftermath ofAvengers: Endgame,the Super Bowl LV trailerforThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierdemonstrated that the Disney Plus series (slated for release on 19thMarch) would primarily be a follow up toCaptain America: Civil War(2016). It’s obvious a show starring Captain America sidekicks would continue fromthe Captain America films, but it is interesting given both Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and the MCU had seemingly moved on from that installment.
At the time,Civil Warseemed like a game-changer to the MCU status quo that broke the Avengers apart. But Captain America’s next appearance inAvengers: Infinity War(2018) saw him reunite with (most of) his former colleagues, slightly nullifyingCivil War’s long-term impact. YetasWandaVisionis currently showing, MCU history allows plenty of dormant storylines to reappear and be expanded upon.Black Widowwill also explore the post-Civil War, pre-Infinity War“Secret Avengers” era. And although set in the MCU “present,” theFalcon and the Winter Soldiertrailer reminds audiences of the multiple dangling plot-threads left in the wake ofCivil War.
RELATED:Will The Disney Plus MCU Shows Set The Standard For The Superhero Genre Again?
Helmut Zemo
One of the main antagonists ofThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierwas also the main villain ofCivil War: Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl),and one of the MCU’s best. Far from the colorful Nazi supervillain of the comics,Civil War’sZemo was a grieving father who lost his entire family during the Battle of Sokovia inAvengers: Age of Ultron(2015). Seeking vengeance, but knowing he couldn’t defeat the Avengers directly, Zemo instead sowed internal fractures to pit them against each other, and was content to commit suicide following his success. Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) did capture Zemo, however, telling him “the living are not done with you yet.”
Zemo could not have predicted that Thanos’ (Josh Brolin) alien invasion and Infinity Stones would override the Avengers’ disagreements and make them reunite. True, the focus of his efforts – Captain America and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) – are both now gone. But as the Disney Shareholders announcement shows, there aremore superheroes than ever before. So, Zemo can be seen clutching his iconic purple mask from the comics, declaring “superheroes cannot be allowed to exist.” His schemes inCivil Warto disintegrate the Avengers may have had temporary success, but it appears inThe Falcon and the Winter SoldierZemo will seek a more permanent solution.
Sharon Carter
Another familiar face fromCivil Warwho will reappear inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldieris Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp). Sharon was introduced inCaptain America: The Winter Soldier(2014) as Steve’s civilian neighbor, who was quickly revealed to be an undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent sent to monitor him. But Sharon proved her loyalty by helping Cap overturn HYDRA, even if it meant disbanding S.H.I.E.L.D. ByCivil War, Sharon had joined the CIA, and revealed she was the great-niece of Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) at her funeral.
Later inCivil War, Sharon managed to retrieve the equipment of Cap and Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) after becoming fugitives for helping the brainwashed Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), also making her go on the run. For her troubles, she and Captain America kissed, paying off the coy flirtation the two had exchanged, even if its complicated by Sharon being the great-niece of Steve’s one true love.
This is further complicated by how Steve ultimately traveled back in time to be with Peggy inEndgame, Sharon essentially being neglected by the MCU. As a character, she got slightly lost in the confusion ofthe overarching Infinity Saga. ButThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierwill catch up on Sharon’s fugitive activities sinceCivil War, and expand her role beyond that of a burgeoning, mostly unconsummated, love-interest. Plus the trailer spotlights Sharon’s hand-to-hand fighting, showcasing how she will have an active role in the show.
The Mantle of Captain America
It’s surprisingly easy to forget, given how long Steve Rogers embodied the role, but “Captain America” was originally an invention of the US Government. Indeed,Captain America: The First Avengers(2011) had Steve perform in a USO tour to motivate the American war effort, and he had to independently sneak away to start actual combat missions. Therefore, his decision to defy the government inCivil Warwas more complicated than that of a private citizen, as it was the government who had created and technically “owns” his alter-ego.
Aside from a minor scene arguing with Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) inInfinity War, any actual government response to Captain America was left unexplored. It also remains unclear how the average MCU citizens regard Steve Rogers. The impact of Steve’s decision to oppose the government has gone largely underexplored. The closest was a joke inSpider-Man: Homecoming, where after showing a recording of Cap introducing a “Gym Fitness Challenge,” Coach Wilson comments “I’m pretty sure this guy’s a war criminal now, but whatever I have to show these videos.”
Endgamehad the aged-up Steve pass alongthe Captain America mantle to Falcon, but their exact status with the US Government is unclear.WandaVisionshows the Sokovia Accords are still in effect, andAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.had a storyline where Jeffrey Mace (Jason O’Mara), aka “Patriot”, was recruited as the superpowered leader of S.H.I.E.L.D.The Falcon and the Winter Soldierwill do something similarwith US Agent(Wyatt Russell), who can be seen during the trailer’s football half-time show. In the comics, US Agent is also a state-sanctioned version of Captain America.The Falcon and the Winter Soldierwill not only pick up on “who” carries the Captain America mantle, but “what” this mantle means to the post-Civil Warpublic.
Falcon and the Winter Soldier
The aspectThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierwill most obviously explore, given the title, is the relationship between the two men. As despite both being close allies to Steve Rogers, they have not had much direct interaction within the MCU. Falcon aided Cap’s search for, and protection of, Bucky inCivil War, but the two didn’t get much downtime to bond, what with Bucky being brainwashed half the time. Indeed, the few moments we did get duringCivil Warpointed towards a passive-aggressive rivalry, with Bucky asking Falcon to move his car-seat up, and the two bickering during their fight with Spider-Man (Tom Holland) at the German airport.
After this fight Falcon was captured by Iron Man, and while he was imprisoned Bucky was taken to Wakanda. The two wouldn’t meet again untilInfinity War, but even then, they were too caught up in Thanos’ battle to have any meaningful interaction, and both becamevictims of Thanos’ Snap. InEndgame, they stood together to wish Captain America luck on his time-travel, but again such interactions were mainly conducted through Steve Rogers rather than standing on their own.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldierwill therefore showcase the pair’s dynamicwithout Captain Americato mediate. In fact, how the characters generally behave outside of Cap’s shadow should be interesting to see. Like Steve, Bucky is also a “Man Out of Time”, with the added weight of having been brainwashed by HYDRA, but he hasn’t yet had much chance to tell his own story. The trailer suggests the two will continue to buddy-cop rivalry established inCivil War, another aspect of the MCU that is ripe for exploration.
MORE:Why The ‘Falcon And The Winter Soldier’ Ending May Shock Fans
