Falcon & Winter Soldier Stars Address Whether Bucky Can Be Redeemed

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier stars Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan talk about whether they think Bucky can be redeemed. The upcoming Marvel series will be the studio's second at Disney+ after WandaVision debuted in January to acclaim and quickly spurred a copious amount of theories. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier seems primed to do the same when it premieres. Not only will it deal with the personal ramifications of Steve Rogers' retirement as Captain America, but it will also tackle a world rattled by post-Blip trauma and geopolitical conflict.

At its heart, though, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will be about two people, Bucky and Sam, dealing with their best friend no longer being around. It will also address just what it means for Sam Wilson to take on the mantle of Captain America as a Black man. On top of that, the series will have to reckon with Bucky Barnes' past as the notorious assassin from which he gets his name. Under that alias, Bucky committed all kinds of seemingly irredeemable acts.

Stan, speaking to SR, said that in order for Bucky to find peace and move forward he will have to reckon with his past actions. Mackie goes on to say the show explores whether Bucky's past can be reconciled with his heroic future. He also explains Bucky's arc in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is unlike anything seen so far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, calling it "beautiful and poignant."

Sebastian, Bucky is one of the most irredeemable Avengers, but you really feel the weight that he’s carrying of guilt in this first episode. What do you think the character needs to finally be at peace?

Sebastian Stan: Acceptance of all kinds of things in his past. And probably some much-needed courage and confidence from some other peers, which he’s still discovering along the way.

Anthony, do you think that Bucky can be redeemed for his past actions?

Anthony Mackie: I think in this show, you get to see [that]. I think Bucky’s arc is really beautiful and poignant, in the way that his character comes together. And I think his attempt at redemption, is really what makes this show fly because it’s unlike anything we’ve seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Bucky's past has haunted him for quite some time. He appeared as Steve Rogers' friend and ally in Captain America: The First Avenger before popping up again in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as a world-renowned assassin. It's revealed that Bucky's violent actions were the result of significant brain washing, but that still does not free Bucky from the guilt he feels about what he's done. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will be diving into some hefty themes, and the exploration of Bucky's trauma seems like it will coincide with the global trauma from the Blip.

This exploration of trauma seems to be a recurring theme for Marvel in a post-Blip Phase 4. WandaVision similarly explored grief and trauma through the eyes of Wanda Maximoff, and it's ultimately a good thing Marvel isn't just moving on from the past with the end of the Infinity Saga. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier seems to be a return to the grounded, character driven stories from the beginning of the MCU. Before it goes on to break open the Multiverse in future projects, it's a smart move to sit with its characters and reveal what drives them before bringing them all together again to fight another Thanos-level threat.

More: Falcon & Winter Soldier Recap: Sam & Bucky's MCU Story So Far (All Movies)