What Marvel Studios has planned for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier could have served as the perfect story for Captain America 4. The Disney+ series is using characters and stories from the Captain America trilogy and comic books starring Steve Rogers. Though this story focuses on two of Cap’s closest allies, it could easily have worked if Steve Rogers himself was the protagonist.
Avengers: Endgame brought Captain America’s story to a close. At the end of the movie, Steve used the Pym Particles to return the Infinity Stones to their correct places in the timestream. Afterward, he decided to remain in the past so that he could finally get his happy ending with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). In a surprising twist, he appears as an old man on a park bench and has one final conversation with Falcon (Anthony Mackie). Steve passes both the shield and the mantle of Captain America to Falcon. Though a return to the role for Chris Evans hasn’t been ruled out, it isn’t expected either, which means that Falcon may be the MCU’s Captain America for the foreseeable future.
Steve Rogers has exited the MCU, but the characters associated with him will live on in Disney+’s first original Marvel TV show, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The six-episode series, which will premiere sometime in late 2020, stars Anthony Mackie as the Falcon and Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier, with Daniel Bruhl and Emily Van Camp reprising their roles as Helmut Zemo and Sharon Carter, respectively. Also featured in the show is Wyatt Russell as John Walker aka U.S. Agent, an old enemy and occasional ally of Captain America in the comic books. Based on what’s been said about The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the series is telling stories that feel like they belong in Captain America 4, a film which may unfortunately never happen.
The MCU Finally Gets A Comic Book Accurate Baron Zemo
Captain America’s biggest villains in the comics is without a doubt Red Skull, but Baron Zemo isn’t too far behind. Baron Helmut Zemo is the son of Baron Heinrich Zemo, a character whose greatest accomplishment was killing Captain America and Bucky in World War II. This was taken away from him when it was revealed that Cap survived. After he died trying to kill Captain America again, his son became his successor and swore revenge on Steve. Since the 1970s, Baron Zemo has plotted numerous times to bring down his most hated adversary, and on occasion, he’s come close to succeeding. The most notable attempt came in “Under Siege”, a storyline which saw Zemo raid Avengers Mansion and face off against Captain America in a brutal one-on-one showdown. Though Zemo lost in the end, the damage he did to the Avengers was long-lasting, cementing his status as one of Marvel’s greatest villains.
Given Baron Zemo’s importance in the comics, many fans expected his father to be involved in Steve’s disappearance in Captain America: The First Avenger, but this never happened. And when the MCU finally did introduce Zemo in Captain America: Civil War, his rivalry with Captain America was nonexistent, and he barely resembled his comic book counterpart. That’s going to change in a big way in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The MCU’s Zemo will don his classic purple mask, and as an added bonus, he’ll be called “Baron” Zemo. The Disney+ series is transforming the character into a comic accurate Baron Zemo, which is something that fans never got to see in a Captain America movie.
Steve Rogers Vs. John Walker Is One Of Captain America’s Best Stories
In the 1980s Captain America comics, Steve Rogers gave up being Captain America and was replaced by super soldier John Walker, a man with a much more aggressive and less idealistic approach to being the Sentinel of Liberty. Steve, who felt that Walker tarnished everything that Captain America was supposed to represent to the country, eventually battled Walker and defeated him. In the aftermath of the fight, Walker gave the “Captain America” title and shield back to Steve. Steve’s conflict with Walker is one of his most memorable stories, as Walker’s views made him the perfect foil for Steve.
It appears that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will adapt some version of this story to the MCU, but with Sam Wilson filling Steve’s part in the narrative. It’s been said that even though Steve picked Falcon to be the new Captain America, he may not have the government’s support. They may appoint John Walker to the position instead. This would explain why Falcon is wearing his classic red and white colors in concept art. It may take a while before Falcon can officially become the new Captain America.
How Captain America 4 Would Have Been Different
If Chris Evans stayed on as Captain America and Marvel Studios decided to give the character a fourth movie, Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier may have not gone into development. That being said, its story could still have been told, except it would have occurred on the big screen. Baron Zemo and U.S. Agent would certainly have worked as antagonists in a hypothetical Captain America 4.
Here’s how the story would have been different - and perhaps better - if Steve Rogers was the main character. First of all, Falcon and Winter Soldier would most likely be present, but only in supporting roles. Baron Zemo being the villain to Chris Evans’ Captain America would make his transformation into the comic book character complete. The two never actually fought in Civil War, nor was Baron Zemo’s intense hatred for Cap adequately represented. Captain America 4 would have allowed the two to finally collide.
The same would have been true for Captain America and U.S. Agent. Walker was a dark character who believed that Steve was too soft to be the hero that the country needed, and their philosophical differences and animosity for each other helped make this story arc a compelling read. Marvel Studios can swap Steve with Falcon, but it won’t be the same relationship. It would have been interesting to see how Steve would react to someone ruining what it means to be Captain America, and how he’d feel about the government choosing such a person to be his replacement. Walker’s own response to Steve, a person who he once admired but now thinks is no longer good enough to carry the shield, would have been equally entertaining.
Next: Marvel’s Disney+ Shows Are Already Avoiding Netflix MCU Mistakes
- Black Widow Release Date: 2021-07-09 The Eternals Release Date: 2021-11-05 Shang Chi Release Date: 2021-09-03 Thor: Love and Thunder Release Date: 2022-07-08 Doctor Strange 2 Release Date: 2022-05-06 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Release Date: 2022-11-11
