Tag: MCU

Bucky Barnes: The Story So Far

James Buchanan Barnes is no stranger to a fight. He’s about to embark on another one in the upcoming The Falcon and The Winter Soldier series premiering this week on Disney+. Let’s take a look back at his complicated and sometimes horrid history within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers grow up together as best friends. he was always there to help the weaker Rogers when it came t handling bullies. During a double date, Bucky reveals that he’s enlisting in the army. While fighting in the 107th infantry, he is captured by Armin Zola unaware of Steve’s transformation into Captain America. When he found out about his friends’ torture, he heads out to help him, where he uncovered strange experiments were being done to him. In a mission to capture the German scientist, Barnes gets caught in the ambush and plummets to his presumed death.

It isn’t until Captain America, the Winter Soldier that we are introduced to the Winter Soldier. Bucky survived the fall from the train but lost his left arm in the process. He was found by the Soviet Union and HYDRA, who experimented on him. They gave him superhuman strength and a cybernetic arm. Over the next fifty years, he was their number one assassin, eliminating anyone who posed a threat. Steve confronts him and can reawaken Bucky’s consciousness. He went into hiding ever since until he was framed for the bombing of the UN in Vienna two years later.

He becomes the catalyst of Captain America: Civil War, as Zemo uses him to get his hands on the whereabouts of proto-Super Soldiers in Siberia. He used a secret code implanted into Bucky’s mind that activates his murderous side. It turns out, the wild goose chase with the Avengers was all to unveil secret footage of him killing Stark’s parents to rip the Avengers apart from the inside. Stark attempts his life, where he teams up with Rogers to stop him. In fear of the programming within his mind, he has frozen again in Wakanda so that no one can manipulate him again.

After taking some time to recover, Bucky joins the group of former Avengers to aid them in a battle against Thano’s army in Avengers: Infinity War. He battles alongside Steve and Rocket Raccoon, who tries to buy his new Wakandan arm. Unfortunately, Thanos achieves his goal of gaining all of the stones and snaps half of all life out of existence. Bucky happens to be one of the people who fade from existence. It isn’t until five years later that Bucky is resurrected and participates in the final battle against Thanos. After the war has finally been won, he says farewell to his old friend in a somber moment before allowing Sam Wilson to take

How does Bucky live in a world without Captain America? More importantly, can he? Will his time as the Winter Soldier continues to haunt him? These questions and more will be answered as The Falcon And The Winter Soldier commences on March 19th on Disney+

March 17, 2021
‘Falcon and The Winter Soldier’ Post-‘Avengers: Endgame’ Timeline Revealed

The events of Avengers: Endgame have shaped the Marvel Cinematic Universe in new and interesting ways. We got a small glimpse at the consequences when Spider-Man: Far From Home first aired in 2019. WandaVision continued the tradition by taking place only weeks after the events, as we witnessed Monica Rambeau returns from the Snap. It changed the landscape of the MCU and it looks like Falcon and the Winter Soldier will continue the tradition. In an interview with Collider, it was revealed that the series takes place at least six months after the event that was dubbed the Blip in-universe. Director Kari Skogland confirmed that this was an important part when scripting the show:

Everything narratively was informed by that event for us. It meant that we’re just past the shock of it. We’re just past the joy of it — because we’re imagining that there would be a lot of joy, in people returning. Now we’re into the reality of it, which is complicated.

The timeline would set this quite sometime after WandaVision and shortly before Far From Home. It is one of the MCU’s greatest advantages to explore a new kind of world after an event changes everything. Skogland wants to explore this Blipped world and how it is affected politically. Countries had to adapt to half the world vanishing. Head writer Malcolm Spellman also pointed out that this was a big part of how they pitched the show early in the development process. It will be interesting to see how else the events might influence future entries, or if we even get to explore the time period between the Blip and Snap.

Source: Collider

March 16, 2021
Malcolm Spellman on John Walker’s Humanity in ‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’

The next Empire Magazine will feature The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and give us a few more insights into the series. One that caught my notice was the quote about John Walker, (played by Wyatt Russell) also known in comics as US Agent, and a sometimes rather hot-headed version of Captain America.

Despite being introduced at D23 back in 2019, very little has been seen or said about the character, but one thing we do know, he will be donning the Captain America mantle and taking the shield, at least temporarily in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Rumors have circulated around the internet, as they often do about these shows, speculating that he’s going to be anything from a racist monster, a true villain, to being a sort of red herring as a villain, to perhaps being messed up and mind-controlled after taking the Super Soldier Serum. Whether any or all of these turn out to be true, it’s likely that Walker, as MCU characters often are, may turn out to be much more complex and sympathetic, than what some of these rumors might suggest. Some new quotes from showrunner Malcolm Spellman certainly support that theory.

“We took him in a more human direction, someone who’s dedicated every minute to being the perfect person to inherit the shield and represent the country.”
Malcolm Spellman via Empire Magazine

There have been a number of quotes recently from various people involved with the series, indicating that mental health and PTSD would be explored and John Walker won’t be an exception here. Those that choose to join the military carry a great deal of stress and trauma, that can stick with them as much as physical wounds sometimes can. This is something that Bucky, Sam, and certainly John Walker, could attest to and help show the audience what these people go through and how it affects, and sometimes scars, them.

“He has to confront that – ‘Was all the stuff I did righteous, if it’s not enough for me to be honoured or accepted as the rightful heir to this mantle?’ Wyatt crushed it – the humanity of that, the scar tissue of his journey.”
Malcolm Spellman via Empire Magazine

One of the things about Steve Rogers Cap that I’ve appreciated is the fact that he’s called Captain America, but he by far isn’t a “I’m going to follow orders and do anything and everything for my country,” kind of guy. The mantle of Captain America, isn’t just about America, to Steve, it’s about an ideal to do the right thing, to do your best. Chances are Walker is a good soldier, been following orders, possibly done some things he feels guilt over but has to live with on the way, so he feels he deserves the mantle for being a good soldier. But to truly be the rightful heir to Steve’s legacy, you have to be a good man too. Here’s hoping John Walker finds his way to be a better man, during the course of the series. (But let’s face it, we all want Sam to get that shield).

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier featured issue of Empire Magazine on March 18th ahead of the serie’s first episode releasing on Friday.

March 16, 2021
Kevin Feige Plays Coy On Old Man Rogers’ Absence in ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’

Ever since the ending of Avengers: Endgame, there has been one question keeping us awake at night. Is Steve Rogers still around? We see an older version of the first Avenger hand over the shield to Sam, which becomes the main focus of Falcon and the Winter Soldier. In an interview with Empire, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige played a little coy when asked about Roger’s whereabouts during these events and if the upcoming Disney+ show will also address his absence in its six-episode run:

Yes. In a roundabout way.

Feige really knows how to confirm and de-confirm something in a single sentence. He later continues to point out that “a fair presumption” but “not necessarily the case.” So, it does look like we will get a feeling for what Steve was up to once he got off that bench during the ending of Endgame. He leaves behind a legacy that will be the emotional core of the series, which may work better in his absence. There are also some moments in the trailers, which seem to hint at a funeral service of some kind.

The world also seems to believe he passed away, as seen at the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home. At the time, they used an image of a young Steve Rogers. There is also the possibility he returned back to the timeline, where Peggy Carter may have outlived her counterpart from the main timeline. It opens up a lot of interesting avenues to explore, especially how the world would react if the Super Soldier just showed up and is aged up by 80 years. It will be interesting to see how The Falcon and the Winter Soldier bridges the cap from that post-credit sequence into the new show.

Source: Empire via Twitter

March 16, 2021
Marvel Studios Should Explore Asgard’s History on Disney+

Some time ago, it got announced that we are getting a Disney+ series focused on Wakanda. It doesn’t have an official title or story, but there is a good possibility it will offer a closer look at the fictional African city. In a way, it opens up a new avenue of storytelling that goes beyond the usual superhero stories. We see this new direction with other Disney+ shows, like Armor Wars and Secret Invasions. They are no longer bound to focusing on a specific characters’ journey. As such, it feels like the perfect time to explore the fictional world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If we start focusing on the MCU’s history, I believe a series based on Thor’s now-destroyed homeworld, Asgard, should be in the works moving forward.

Thor: Ragnarok teased a long history long before Thor was even born. It introduced us to a very different version of Odin, who seemed quite bloodthirsty. Alongside his daughter Hela, he conquered the nine realms. Anthony Hopkins‘ take on the character introduced us to a level-headed man who tried to learn from his past mistakes. We learn about his battle against the Frost Giants, the banishing of Surtur, and the many acts he has done. We even get a glimpse of his father, Bor, in Thor: The Dark World‘s brief flashback. Throughout each entry, we get a small glimpse into the history of Asgard but never the full picture.

After the events of Ragnarok, the mythical planet is no more. In a way, it feels like the franchise is moving further away from its Nordic routes. There are still so many stories and Norse characters from the comics that deserve more attention. Why not explore a young Odin’s time before he becomes the All-Father. Explore his relationship with his father, who did not return from war. We learn of his family, such as his brother Cul Borson. A tense rivalry, echoing that of his sons, would put them at odds as they try to prove themselves facing the Midgard Serpent, Jormungand.

The series can explore the history of the Nine Realms and reveals how fragile their unity was. Odin’s peaceful nature tries to explore the different realms and find a way to unite them through peace. Yet, his father’s legacy has created a strong divide between them all. In his journey, he starts to raise a young wolf cub, who he names Fenris. The same wolf that would eventually be the one he passes on to his daughter. Cul, however, has his own agenda to gain the throne. His actions start to push the Realms further apart. It forces Odin’s hand to become the man in the hidden mural. We know that he would eventually become a good man, but we’ve never got a chance to explore the sacrifices he had to make to take on to rule over the Nine Realms and condemn his brother for his actions. It also starts a terrible habit of Odin’s to banish his family in some way. It is only one of many possible stories that could be told through a Disney+ series focused on Asgard.

March 15, 2021
‘Ironheart’: Dominique Thorne Reveals How She Became Riri Williams

One of Marvel’s newest stars is opening up about her unique casting experience. Dominique Thorne was announced as the MCU’s next iron-clad heroine at Disney’s Investor’s Day last December, with the young actress set to play Riri Williams in Disney+’s Ironheart series. Best known for her role in Barry Jenkins’ critically acclaimed film If Beale Street Could Talk and the recently released Judas and the Black Messiah, Thorne’s casting came as a surprise to many. While some fans may have expected the Ironheart announcement, nobody was quite prepared for a casting to reveal to happen so early in the show’s marketing process. As it turns out, Thorne wasn’t really expecting the announcement so early either. The talented performer opened up to Empire about her audition-free casting process:

I was at home in Delaware and I got a call asking if I would like to play this role. It was the best phone call I could have ever received. I was so shocked, in fact, that there was a considerable lag in the conversation! I was waiting for them to say, like, ‘Oh, we’ll send you the sides’, or, ‘Get your tape over to us.’ But there was none of that. It was just like, ‘Would you like to do this?’ It was probably the most unique experience I’ve ever had because there was no audition at all.

Riri Williams is a relatively new character in the Marvel mythos. She got introduced by Brian Michael Bendis in 2015, the same man who created Miles Morales a few years prior. Williams is a teenage prodigy at MIT, who creates a new version of the Iron Man armor. She later takes up her superhero mantle. She has since appeared in various animated Marvel projects, and it was only a matter of time before she found her way to the MCU. The Ironheart series is currently in pre-production, with no official confirmation of a release date but with casting already in place, one could expect to see Dominique Thorne pop up on their screens sooner rather than later.

Source: Empire

March 15, 2021
Sharon Carter: The Story So Far

Now that WandaVision has ended, we already have our eyes on the next Marvel Cinematic Universe entry on Disney+, The Falcon And The Winter Soldier. It also means that it is time to retrace the character’s steps, which will take center stage in the upcoming series. Today we will be looking at Emily VanCamp’s Sharon Carter, who we haven’t seen since Captain America: Civil War. So, it’s going to be quite the treat to see her back in action after almost five years. Let’s take a look back at her journey within the MCU.

We were first introduced to her in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as an agent of the spy organization, S.H.I.E.L.D. She goes undercover to protect Steve Rogers before blowing her cover after Nick Fury gets shot by the Winter Soldier. It is the moment we hear her codename Agent 13 for the first time. Once HYDRA reveals its true identity of infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D., she plays a pivotal role in saving various agents. After the spy organization gets disbanded, she joins the CIA’s Joint Counter Terrorist Center. It isn’t until her next appearance in Captain America: Civil War that she reveals her relation to Steve’s old flame, Peggy Carter. Her speech also inspired him to stand his ground against the newly enacted Sokovian Accords.

After they meet up again, she informs them of Bucky’s whereabouts, who got framed for an explosion in Vienna that lead to the death of Wakandan king T’Chaka. They meet up again after his arrest in Berlin, where she is working alongside Everett Ross. She takes on a mind-controlled Bucky alongside Natasha Romanoff, Tony Stark, and T’Challa, but they are unable to take him down. She ends up joining Rogers’ side and ends on the run from the government alongside the superheroes. In Avengers: Infinity War, we only briefly find out she was among those that got snapped during a quick glimpse at the Avengers’ list of missing heroes.

What’s Sharon been up to all these years? How will being Snapped out of existence for 5 years have impacted her life? What will lead her to cross paths with Sam and Bucky? These questions, and more, will be answered in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, which airs on Disney+ March 19th.

March 15, 2021
New ‘Black Widow’ BTS Images Offer Closer Look at Taskmaster, Red Guardian, And More

Disney+ has been our main source of Marvel Studios goodness since everything was delayed for a year. We are still crossing our fingers that Black Widow will release in May, but things are as uncertain as they have always been. Still, we are always excited to see new images from the upcoming project make their way online to build up some hype, as we wait for the official trailer to confirm the upcoming release. The Twitter user @ImAFilmEditor has taken to Twitter to release various new stills from the upcoming film that offer a small glimpse of what is to come.

https://twitter.com/ImAFilmEditor/status/1371219729625456640

There are some great images in here, especially those close-up shots from Taskmaster. His design is certainly unique, but it has been growing on us over time. He still has his iconic skull design and you can see the camera that is built into his helmet. That is a great detail for the character, whose main ability is to be able to copy moves from anyone he fights. Even after all this time, we still don’t know 100% who is behind that mask even after it got delayed by a year. There is also a picture of O-T Fagbenle‘s Rick Mason, who has been noticeably absent from the trailers.

I also love the image of David Harbour holding an action figure of Red Guardian. If this is indeed in the film, it would imply that the Soviet version of Captain America was a public figure. It will be interesting to explore his backstory. It makes you wonder if his legacy might also be discussed in Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which is focused on the legacy that the iconic shield carries. There are also a variety of pictures showing off Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz, and, of course, Scarlett Johansson on the film’s set. Here’s hoping we can see them in action this May.

Source: Twitter

March 14, 2021
Kevin Feige Talks Sam and Bucky’s Role’s After ‘Falcon and The Winter Soldier’

Among the many things that fans have been wondering about in the lead-up to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, is whether or not Sam and Bucky’s show will be one and done. Some worry about what their future holds after the big “Who will wield the shield?” dilemma is answered. A quote from today’s press junket from Kevin Feige left encouraging signs for Bucky and Sam’s Marvel Cinematic Universe future.

The characters of Bucky and Sam are essential to the MCU and as they change, or as they evolve, or whatever they go through could and should have a big impact on the MCU so the answer’s yes….There can be character shifts that have massive massive implications for the stories we’re telling in the future.

It’s not exactly an announcement of a fourth entry in the Captain America franchise, or another TV series featuring Sam Wilson or Bucky Barnes. However, it is an indication that Feige knows both of the characters’ worth to the MCU, and why it’s important to keep them involved in it. These characters and their experiences will help ground the more extraordinary elements of this ever-expanding universe. Feige knows that an audience can get a much more fulfilling experience out of films by using relatable and emotionally engaging characters, rather than just creating a big spectacular blockbuster that gets panned because it’s not much else.

I think you feel it more because we have more time with the Disney+ series but I think that’s something we’ve always tried to do. Iron Man 3 was all about Tony Stark’s PTSD from Avengers essentially. What’s great about the Marvel characters is you’ve always heard us say: is there flaws? It’s grounding something for as crazy and extraordinary and science fiction and fantasy and supernatural as the MCU can get. It’s grounding in the character experiences and the emotions of the character and that’s always by far the most important anchor for any story we’re going to tell.

As wild and fun as parts of WandaVision were, the emotional journey we went through with Wanda’s grief hit many of us hard. Yet it was important to do on many levels. The audience is allowed to see her trauma through the series, is grounding and relatable, and anchors the more fantastical elements. It seems as if we will have an emotional deep dive with Sam and Bucky in their series as well. This is what has always most attracted me to the Marvel universe and why I love the MCU characters so much. I enjoy the spectacle but still feel connected to the characters within it. It’s good to see that although the MCU will soon involve the multiverse, alongside more space and time travel, that Kevin Feige continues to understand that the most important part of these films is the connections made with the characters along the way. I’m hopeful we will continue to see more of that, and that this series isn’t the last of Sam and Bucky that we’ll see.

March 14, 2021
‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’: Kevin Feige Teases Wyatt Russell’s Captain America

Ever since Falcon and the Winter Soldier was announced, we knew that the Disney+ series will focus on the passing of the mantle of Captain America. After the end of Avengers: Endgame, Sam Wilson was given the shield by Steve Rogers, but he is hesitant on accepting the role. In the trailers, we get a brief look at another man in a very familiar-looking suit. We know that Wyatt Russell is taking on the role of a government-funded Captain America, John Walker. In the press release,

The past is prologue. The clues are everywhere in what has led to this moment. Certainly that character and that name, sometimes it’s just a name, but often times, we do, of course, pull from the lineage of their biographies from the comics and then tweak it as it is appropriate for the point of time we are introducing them into the MCU. Stay tuned over the course of this series.

We have seen Marvel Studios adapt a lot of its characters. Sometimes they add unique spins or even combine characters, such as Iron Man 2′s Ivan Vanko being a combination of Crimson Dynamo and Whiplash. We don’t know if there is a history for Russell‘s version of the character moving forward as the US Agent, or even as Captain America. He will potentially become the public face for the character, as we saw him getting introduced in a football stadium. It is crazy to think that was the first trailer that was released during 2019’s Super Bowl. It will be interesting to see how his character evolves throughout the show, and what implications it could have for the future of the MCU.

March 14, 2021