The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will do a deep dive into what the Captain America mantle really means. While Steve Rogers is officially retired in the MCU, the legacy of his superhero persona continues through Sam Wilson, who was chosen as his successor at the end of Avengers: Endgame. But, the role likely isn't going to be a walk in the park, as his own heroic journey will play out in the upcoming Disney+ show.
Sam is joined by Steve's oldest friend, Bucky Barnes, who is still on his way to full recovery after years of being brainwashed by HYDRA to function as their operative known as the Winter Soldier. Granted that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will give both heroes their respective arcs, marketing for the show is heavily hinting that it will be more about Sam's struggle to claim his rightful place as the MCU's next Captain America. Aside from his personal struggle with regard to taking over the identity, he will also have to deal with external factors that will make his journey much more difficult.
In a recent interview with FilmSpeak, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier composer Henry Jackman shared what can be expected from the next Marvel Studios show for Disney+. According to him, the series will explore how race factors into Sam's situation in conjunction with questions about what qualities Captain America really embodies.
“Having six hourly episodes, that’s more real estate than one of [the films]. There’s a bit more opportunity to go into psychological drama and explore backstories. And in this particular series, there’s very much serious issues, now more than ever, about what it means to hold [Cap’s] shield and what kind of a person should ultimately be holding that shield, and with the history of this country, and how African Americans would feel about being Captain America or not. It’s still entertaining, but it touches on less comfortable things that give rise to some really impressive performances. It’s a great balance of entertainment and writing [centering] around more weighty issues.”
The introduction of John Walker/U.S. Agent in the series fits with this notion. As previously reported and teased in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier trailers, the government will somehow meddle with the situation, presumably taking the Captain America shield from Sam and giving it to Walker, who is more likely their choice as the next Star-Spangled Avenger. There are a couple of possible reasons for this. Firstly, they might want to reclaim control over the Captain America legacy considering that the Super Soldier Program was a military endeavor. Secondly, it might also be about the prejudice against Sam considering that he's African-American — something that fits into Jackman's latest quote.
It's also worth noting that Isaiah Bradley, played by Carl Lumbly, is expected to make his MCU debut in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. In the comics, Bradley is among the subsequent soldiers who were experimented on as part of the U.S. government's attempt to create new super soldiers rebranded as "Rebirth" following Captain America's apparent death. There were rumors that his grandson, Eli Bradley, will be introduced through the show, as well. He's also known as Patriot, a founding member of Young Avengers.
Marvel Studios kicked off Phase 4 with the trippy and mystical series WandaVision, but The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will be a more grounded narrative that will tackle timely issues through Sam's story. It will be an interesting shift for the MCU but will ensure variety in their future storytelling.
Source: FilmSpeak