The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will reveal if Bucky is worthy of wielding Captain America's shield. Joining Sam Wilson in his new adventures, the former Winter Soldier embarks on a journey moving forward in the MCU without Steve Rogers. Whatever goes down in the upcoming Marvel Studios will determine what the future lies for him in the MCU.
In just a few days, Disney+ will debut the next installment of the famed franchise's Phase 4 following WandaVision's end almost a couple of weeks ago. Still set in a post-Avengers: Endgame world, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will focus on Steve Rogers' closest pals as they face new adversaries. The show will mainly focus on the legacy of the Captain America mantle which will mostly be tied to Sam's story as the rightful successor of Steve in the MCU. But, Bucky might still have a stake in also wielding the iconic shield depending on how he handles what's coming his way in the new show.
Head writer and executive producer Malcolm Spellman previews what Bucky's arc will be in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier in a brand new interview with TV Line. He touches on the character dealing with his ugly past as the Winter Soldier and says that if he's able to finally move on from it, there's a chance that he could prove himself to be worthy of wielding the Captain America shield.
“Bucky showed up with more baggage than any hero in Marvel history, and we took all that baggage and distilled it down to a single storyline and a single character that he’s dealing with. If he fails, he is the monster that he worries he might be. And if he succeeds, he’s reborn as someone that might actually be worthy of the shield and the praise that Steve used to get, and becoming a hero in his own right. Because in Bucky’s mind, he’s never been a hero.”
Both Sam and Bucky wielded the Captain America shield in the comics, and before Endgame revealed who ultimately becomes Steve's successor, there was an idea that his oldest friend is a more appropriate replacement. But that wasn't the case and Stan didn't have any issues with it understanding that Bucky has his own issues to sort out; assuming the persona of the Star-Spangled Avenger is a privilege, but it also comes with immense responsibility. Given this, it could feel more of a burden for Bucky than anything else.
Bucky is such a unique character in MCU's current state; he's been in the franchise since Phase 1, and yet, his heroic arc is just getting started after decades of functioning as HYDRA's brainwashed operative. Chances are that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is just the beginning of this new trajectory for him, especially with Marvel Studios already having ideas for season 2. Whether or not he eventually wields the Captain America shield is unclear at this point, but what's important is that his story is finally getting properly told in the MCU.
Source: TV Line