How Falcon and Winter Soldier Ushered In Marvel’s Evil Future

With Marvel's The Falcon and The Winter Soldier wrapping up Season 1 on Disney+, we're taking a look at all of the new heroes, villains, and big overarching plot lines that have been set up. (Does John Walker qualify as a hero, villain, or anti-hero?) Our theories on what's coming next include Sam Wilson's (Anthony Mackie) time as Captain America and the All-New, All-Different Avengers; Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) aka the former Winter Soldier joining the Thunderbolts just like in the comics along with Baron Zemo (Daniel Brühl) and other MCU villains like Ghost, Goliath, Shocker, The Leader, and possibly "Thunderbolt" Ross as the team leader and the Red Hulk; and La Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine aka "Val" (Julia Louise-Dreyfus) recruiting John Walker (Wyatt Russell) aka the former Captain America and the newly minted US Agent as her Dark Captain America in what may be the Dark Avengers team from the Dark Reign era of Marvel Comics.

A fourth Captain America movie is already in the works from The Falcon and The Winter Soldier series creator Malcolm Spellman and staff writer Dalan Musson, so it's clear that Sam Wilson's time as the new Cap has just begun. But don't count out Chris Evans returning to the MCU, even if it's not as Captain America. And don't be surprised if John Walker shows up as US Agent! John Walker may have killed someone but he seems to be on a redemption arc. In the comics, Old Man Steve Rogers continued to help fight evil by taking a behind-the-desk role not unlike Nick Fury, so perhaps Chris Evans will return not to reclaim the Captain America shield but to supervise the next generation of Avengers. Sam fought numerous villains in the comics, including the Red Skull's daughter Sin, a new version of Hydra, and a hate group called the Sons of the Serpent, so there are plenty of villains for him to battle as the new Cap.

But don't forget about Bucky! His MCU future isn't as clear as Sam Wilson's, but seeing how he made a breakthrough on moving past his violent history as the assassin known as the Winter Soldier, he's in a great position to help other former criminals redeem themselves, which is why our theory is he will join the Thunderbots, a team which has the same deal as DC's Suicide Squad, but with no bombs in the necks. Baron Zemo was also a part of the Thunderbolts in the comics--he was a founding member, in fact--so it would be a natural fit for both of them to join up together in a future MCU series on Disney Plus or even a movie. And perhaps John Walker the former Captain America could make a good fit, as well.

And finally, much speculation has been made about what Val is up to in the MCU. She clearly has John Walker aka US Agent on her side, now that he's no longer Captain America and he's wearing a brand new black-and-red US Agent costume, but what else is she up to? We think her comic book history with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) means she could show up in the Disney Plus Secret Invasion show and be a part of the story featuring shapeshifting Skrulls attacking planet Earth. We'll have to wait and see!

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