Captain America 4's Story Risks Undermining Falcon & Winter Soldier's Ending

The story for Anthony Mackie's Captain America 4 could undermine the ending of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. At the end of Avengers: Endgame, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) officially passed the iconic shield to Sam Wilson. But it wasn't until The Falcon and the Winter Soldier where Sam finally accepted the mantle after being skeptical about it. Now, he will continue his hero's journey in Captain America 4.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was originally supposed to kick off Marvel Studios' Disney+ slate, but due to the coronavirus pandemic that hampered its production, WandaVision was rolled out first. Tackling a more grounded narrative, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier follows Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) as they deal with their respective issues on the heels of the Infinity Saga. They come together after a new Captain America is introduced in John Walker (Wyatt Russell) while a new batch of super-soldier serum secretly circulates. The show ends with Sam ultimately choosing to accept the mantle as the new Star-Spangled Avenger following a public battle in the middle of New York. He makes an earnest plea about being the new wielder of the shield and the inequality brought by the reverse snap.

At the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam was finally able to confidently assume his position as the new Star-Spangled Avenger. His public speech was powerful and moving enough to seemingly convince much of the population, including the government powers, that he is worthy of being the next Captain America. However, Sebastian Stan's tease about the series could contradict this. The Bucky actor said that there will be hints of Rocky in Captain America 4's story, meaning Sam will still be seen as an underdog; this implies that, at the end of the day, what was supposed to be a powerful moment for him as he embraces his new role didn't change the public's perception of him - or at least, not fully. Instead, Sam's film will still see him struggle with fitting in and proving why he's worthy of carrying the legacy of the shield.

While there isn't anything inherently wrong with going down this storytelling route, it is something that viewers have seen before. Steve started as an underdog who initially wasn't even considered to fight in World War II because of his physical limitations. But, thanks to his heart and determination, he was chosen to be the recipient of the Super Soldier serum that enhanced him. Sam's struggles are different than his predecessor's as it has more to do with race, and matching up to the legacy his predecessor built for the superhero name. That being said, it would've been better if Captain America 4 give Sam a fresh narrative that's totally different from Steve’s.

Marvel Studios has yet to announce a release date for Captain America 4. It's curious if this will be Sam's next appearance in the franchise since assuming the role of the Star-Spangled Avenger, or if he will be involved in any other upcoming MCU project. Otherwise, it's also possible that he could headline The Falcon and the Winter Soldier season 2 which is still not confirmed, but chances are, will happen.

More: Doctor Strange’s MCU Position Makes The Avengers' Phase 4 Status Weirder