Falcon & The Winter Soldier: Zemo's Cell Is A Clever Star Wars Easter Egg

Warning! Contains SPOILERS for The Falcon & The Winter Soldier episode 2, "Star Spangled Man."

In Marvel's Falcon & The Winter Soldier episode 2, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes have decided that they're going to meet with Helmut Zemo, and the villain's cell features a clever Star Wars Easter egg. Short on time and fresh out of new leads as they're tracking down the group of super-strong terrorists known as the Flag Smashers, Bucky recommends that they ask Zemo if he knows anything about Hydra's involvement in order to explain why the group has the same power and resilience as super soldiers. Sam reluctantly agrees, and together, the pair heads to Berlin where Zemo himself awaits in his cell.

Baron Zemo has presumedly been imprisoned since the days of Captain America: Civil War, due to his many crimes in his goal of orchestrating a symphony of revenge against the Avengers for the loss of his family in Sokovia, seeking to tear the heroes apart as recompense for their negligence. While he did succeed, he was captured and arrested. In spite of this, Zemo is particularly cunning and should not to be underestimated, though it seems as though Sam and Bucky need his help all the same.

Right after Sam and Bucky agree to go to Berlin, Zemo himself is shown patiently waiting in his cell at the end of the episode. However, Zemo's cell number is "2187", the very same number as Princess Leia's cell in the first Star Wars film when she was held captive aboard the Death Star before her rescue by Luke Skywalker. This can't be a coincidence, as it's a very famous and notable reference. Star Wars director George Lucas has a deep appreciation for the Canadian abstract montage/collage film entitled 21-87 by Arthur Lipsett, and the specific number has been featured multiple times in the Star Wars galaxy. However, it looks as though the classic Easter egg has now made the jump over to the MCU as well.

The "2187" Easter egg was also featured in the prequel and sequel Star Wars trilogies. In Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, the devastating Order 66 that instigated the Jedi Purge was given the "66" designation as it's the solution when 21 is subtracted from 87. Likewise, Star Wars: The Force Awakens gave the Resistance hero Finn the identification number of FN-2187 when he was still a stormtrooper in the First Order. Clearly, it's an iconic Easter egg, and it's very fun to see it in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to identify Zemo's cell, just like Princess Leia's, though a similar heroic rescue for Zemo seems unlikely.

However, if Bucky and Sam aren't careful, it's possible that Zemo will find a way to break out of his cell (perhaps by taking advantage of Bucky with his Winter Soldier trigger words once more?). Teasers for the Marvel series have certainly indicated Zemo will be freed in some capacity, and that he won't be in prison for long. Here's hoping Sam and Bucky will be ready to handle the Marvel villain as The Falcon & The Winter Soldier continues on Disney+.

More: MCU Theory: Zemo Kept Serum To Make His Own Super Soldiers