Casting news for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier teases an odd connection with Avengers: Endgame. Steve Rogers' best pals, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), are headed for their own adventure on the small screen. Marvel Studios' inaugural TV series for Disney+ will be set post-Infinity Saga and will see the return of familiar faces such as Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) and Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl).

Plot specifics for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier are mostly under wraps thus far, but it's expected to deal with Sam properly assuming the Captain America mantle with external forces opposing it such as the government. This is backed up by the imminent introduction of U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), who is supposedly the organization's pick for the role. However, it appears this isn't the only issue the titular duo will be facing in the series, as the Yakuzas may also be involved in the narrative.

Related: Why Captain America Was The Most Powerful Super Soldier In The MCU

As seen on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's official IMDb page (via Reddit user littlvinny), the show has cast Kawui Joa and Leon Ngo as a "yakuza gang" member and "yakuza bike rider" respectively. Their listings reveal they will only appear in one episode, although it's not noted what specific outing that will be. Unfortunately, it also doesn't give any more context as to how they'll be incorporated into the show.

Clint Barton as Ronin in the rain in Avengers: Endgame

It's worth noting, however, that IMDb isn't always accurate, so it's best to take this with a healthy grain of salt until Marvel Studios officially confirms it. Nevertheless, the Yakuzas' potential involvement in the series follows news that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was casting for various criminal organizations. Meanwhile, a photo from the movie's set also revealed a biker gang in Madripoor, which interestingly looks like the logo for the X-Men villain Ogun. What makes the Yakuzas an interesting player in the upcoming TV show is they've previously played a role in Avengers: Endgame, during Clint Barton/Hawkeye's (Jeremy Renner) killing spree as Ronin. Whether or not these Yakuza members have anything to do with the Avengers' resident marksman's time in Japan remains to be seen. The casting of Japanese-American actress Miki Ishikawa may also have something to do with this.

With the listing indicating that both the Joa and Ngo will only appear in one episode, it's safe to say the Yakuzas' possible involvement in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will be minor. That doesn't mean, however, that it won't be impactful. If anything, it may also serve as the connecting tissue between the series and Marvel's Hawkeye, which is expected to delve deep into Barton's story —   potentially even showing more of his days as Ronin which wasn't really focused on in Avengers: Endgame. There has been no confirmed release date yet for the team-up series after it was removed from the August rollout schedule. As of now, fans can only wait for Marvel Studios' announcement regarding when The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will finally debut. By then, it's safe to say that new information about the show itself will also be revealed.

More: What Falcon & Winter Soldier's Delay Means For Marvel Phase 4 & Disney+

Source: IMDb (via littlvinny)

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