Emily VanCamp leaving Fox medical drama The Resident is a good sign for Captain America 4. VanCamp, whose character on the TV show had a happy ending in the season 4 finale, announced she will not be returning for season 5. So far, no information has been revealed for why she decided to leave, but her exit leaves her schedule open for a possible return in the fourth Captain America movie.

In the MCU, VanCamp plays Sharon Carter, niece of Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) and brief love interest for Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) before fan backlash completely scrapped the latter storyline. Sharon most recently appeared in the Disney+ series Falcon and the Winter Soldier to help Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) take down rogue, anarchist super-soldiers known as the Flag Smashers. Unknown to Sam and Bucky, however, Sharon was playing her own game the whole time as crime boss the Power Broker, and the series ended with a lot of unanswered questions for her character.

Related: Why Sharon Carter Became The Power Broker (& What She Wants Now)

Marvel has been quiet about details for Captain America 4, but VanCamp’s availability bodes well for Sharon to return. Currently, Anthony Mackie is the only official cast member listed. Very little information exists for the film, but the story could pick up right where Falcon and the Winter Soldier left off with Sam accepting the mantle of Captain America. There is a good chance Bucky will return as well, having made peace with his Winter Soldier past in the miniseries, even if he hasn't completely resolved it. A big point of speculation has been whether Sharon will appear in Captain America 4, and that likelihood has just increased with VanCamp's schedule clearing up.

Sharon Carter tilts her head in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Sharon has always been sidelined in favor of the main heroes in the MCU, primarily existing as support for Steve. The Disney+ series was the first time her character was able to stand on her own and explore her own motivations, and Captain America 4 could better flesh out this side of her. Marvel’s Disney+ shows are important for Phase 4 of the MCU, and the fourth Captain America film will arguably continue, or at least reference, storylines set up in Falcon and the Winter Soldier. This could mean further exploring Sharon Carter's time as the Power Broker, but at the moment, it's impossible to say what her role will be.

There have been rumors (via That Hashtag Show) that Sharon was originally meant to be the main villain in the upcoming film, but the negative response to her story in the Disney+ series has reduced her role for Captain America 4. Instead, these rumors claim Red Skull’s daughter, Sin, will be the main villain. Of course, nothing is confirmed, but hopefully the MCU will finally stop failing Sharon. She's a great character, but her heel turn as the Power Broker was both badly supported and executed in the Disney+ show. Sharon can do more than just support heroes, like giving Steve and Sam their gear in Captain America: Civil War or providing information to Sam and Bucky in Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Sharon Carter can be a hero (or villain) in her own right and deserves the chance to prove it.

Fans have always been divided in opinions about her character, first with the poorly received kiss with Steve in Civil War, and later with her reveal as the Power Broker. The issues have never been any fault of VanCamp herself, but rather, that her character has often been sidelined and underwritten, and because of this, the moments she's been shoehorned into major storylines, it's not felt realistic. Devoting more time to actually fleshing out Sharon in Captain America 4 can help audiences appreciate her character. Hopefully, VanCamp's exit from The Resident is a good sign.

Next: Captain America 4 Is Better Than Falcon & Winter Soldier Season 2

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