Warning: SPOILERS for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier episode 5

Marvel Studios' Black Widow might include The Falcon and The Winter Soldier's newest character, Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.  When the Phase 4 release schedule was originally announced in 2019, Black Widow was set to kick off the next chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2020. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier was also slated to be the first MCU Disney+ show. As both projects were delayed due to COVID-19, it was heavily rumored that there was a connection between them.

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is currently one episode away from wrapping its first season and Black Widow is still months away from being released. In episode 5 of the Disney+ show, a brand new character joined the MCU. Seinfeld and Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus made a surprise appearance as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who is a character from the comics with ties to SHIELD, Hydra, and more. Louis-Dreyfus' scene in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is quite short and appeared to be set up for her to return in the future. While that could happen before the Disney+ show concludes, it sounds like her next appearance is already lined up.

Related: Black Widow's Trailer Proves It Isn't Releasing Too Late

Shortly after The Falcon and The Winter Soldier episode 5 began streaming on Disney+, Vanity Fair published an article that shared new information on Louis-Dreyfus' MCU future. They were told by sources close to production that she was originally meant to debut as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in Black Widow. There is no information on the size of the role or if Marvel Studios is changing this plan due to the Phase 4 release slate reshuffling. All that is known at this time is that Louis-Dreyfus was scheduled to appear in Black Widow, and that might still be the case when the film releases in theaters and on Disney+ this July.

If Marvel Studios keeps Louis-Dreyfus in Black Widow, this will be one example of the Phase 4 release date changes altering how fans experience and react to the stories at hand. The original plan would've seen Valentina debut in Black Widow and possibly provide more information on her character. Instead of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier viewers knowing who she is and what she's up to, it is now on the Disney+ show to introduce her character. It also puts Black Widow in the position to feature a character audiences are already familiar with and know where her future is heading.

The possibility of Louis-Dreyfus returning as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in Black Widow raises plenty of questions about what role she will play in the movie. The character was revealed to be a Russian spy in the comics so that history could be what ties her to Natasha Romanoff's solo film. Now that she's been seen recruiting John Walker in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, perhaps Val will be featured in Black Widow as a way to set up her own superteam. Recruiting Yelena Belova or Taskmaster could be possible scenarios if Val or the people she's working for are starting the Thunderbolts or a similar type of team. Now we'll have to wait and see if Louis-Dreyfus is in Black Widow after all.

MORE: New Black Widow: Predicting Yelena Belova’s MCU Future

Source: Vanity Fair

Key Release Dates