The X-Men aren't expected to join the MCU for quite some time, but one particular member - Wolverine - could find his way in through Marvel's Disney+ shows. Based on certain evidence [via Reddit], a new fan theory suggests that Wolverine could make an unexpected MCU debut in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Officially finalized in March 2019, the Disney-Fox deal opens the door for two of Marvel's biggest properties, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, to finally be brought into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As for when it will happen, the answer to that question is hard to determine. The plans for Phase 4 were likely ironed out long before Marvel and Disney knew they would have access to these characters, so the general expectation was that audiences would have to wait for Phase 5 before Wolverine, Cyclops, Doctor Doom, and all the rest would be back on the big screen.

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Marvel already has a full slate of movies scheduled between 2020 and 2021, and the same goes for its Disney+ lineup, which is stocked with eight MCU TV shows. A Fantastic Four movie is confirmed to be in development, but it won't release until 2022 at the earliest. The X-Men are a different matter. Presumably, Marvel will want to give the team their own movies, but could it be that Marvel may have an interest in introducing individual X-Men characters beforehand? If so, one way for that to happen is to insert an X-Men hero into a Disney+ show, specifically The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Here's how the upcoming Disney+ series may include Wolverine.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Has Some Big Wolverine Connections

Rumors indicate that Falcon and the Winter Soldier could take viewers to Madripoor, a major Marvel Comics location with huge connections to Wolverine and the X-Men. Madripoor's flag has been spotted on the set of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Located in Southeast Asia, Madripoor is an island frequently visited by characters associated with the X-Men. The place is run by a crime lord and one of Wolverine's former lovers, Tyger Tiger. Actress Miki Ishikawa, who bears a close resemblance to the early design of Tyger Tiger, has been cast in an undisclosed role in the show, leading to speculation that Wolverine might be in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Also, a connection between the origin stories of Captain America and Wolverine could be represented in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, based on the direction of the series. In the comic books, Captain America received the super soldier serum during Project: Rebirth, which is eventually revealed to be the earliest version of the Weapon X program that gave Wolverine his adamantium skeleton. Project: Rebirth and Weapon X are both phases in a much larger program called "Weapon Plus." Wolverine is a product of Weapon X, while Steve Rogers is Weapon I. Isaiah Bradley, the first black Captain America, received a recreation of Captain America's super soldier serum and is counted as a "Weapon" as well.

Rumor has it that Carl Lumbly is playing Isaiah Bradley in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. If it's true that the character is in the show, it provides further evidence that the series will dive a bit deeper into the government's attempts to create super soldiers. This may actually be necessary, since John Walker a.k.a. U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell) will have to get his super soldier abilities from somewhere, unless Marvel Studios for some reason opts not to give him his super strength upgrade from the comics. U.S. Agent isn't tied to the Weapon Plus program in the comics, but a connection could be created.

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How Marvel's Disney+ Shows Could Introduce Wolverine

Falcon and Winter Soldier Working Together

How John Walker becomes Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier could be more than just a brief sequence or even a single-episode story. It could factor into the overarching plot of the season, especially given the possible inclusion of Isaiah Bradley. Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) could find themselves swept into a mystery that involves the government's interests in turning people into super soldiers. Walker and Bradley may not even be the only ones. Another Captain America character, Battlestar, could also be among them, based on the fact that his last name popped up in set photos.

Like the comics, the MCU's Project: Rebirth may directly correlate with Weapon Plus and Wolverine's origin story. If so, it would mean that through an investigation into these government-funded experiments, Falcon and Winter Soldier could stumble across Weapon X, and through this, they could encounter Wolverine, who may be looking to settle a score with the people who experimented on him. Alternatively, they could find Wolverine when researching people who were participants in the program. This could take place long after he receives his adamantium claws and skeleton. Regardless, whatever role he might have in The Falcon and Winter Soldier is unlikely to be major. Wolverine could make a guest appearance in one episode, which could still be just enough to satisfy fans.

Why Introducing Wolverine On Disney+ Makes Sense For Marvel

Wolverine with Metal Claws Comic

Introducing a future key player in the MCU on a TV show could be a mistake, as it can limit what later movies are able to do with the character. That would be true for heroes like Shang-Chi, Blade, and the Fantastic Four, who would benefit from exploring their origin stories in their own films. But an X-Men movie doesn't have to tell Wolverine's origin story because it won't be about just him. Wolverine will share the screen with a number of mutant heroes, so going too deep into his origin may not be part of the plan, which is similar to how the first X-Men films used Wolverine. That's why Disney+ could be the best place for that to be addressed.

If Marvel somehow does have room for Wolverine in Phase 4, would they even be willing to let a major character expected to have a presence in the movies make an MCU debut on Disney+? Marvel is introducing key characters like Moon Knight and Ms. Marvel on the small screen, and at least one of them, Ms. Marvel, is confirmed to be in the movies, following the release of her TV series. It could be argued that the situation with Ms. Marvel is different than the one with Wolverine, considering that Wolverine is a much more iconic character. However, introducing Wolverine on Disney+ would have its advantages.

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There's no mistaking the boost someone like Wolverine could provide to Disney+ and particularly its Marvel slate. Marvel is pushing hard to emphasize the importance of its Disney+ shows to the MCU, which is evident by Kevin Feige's comments about viewers needing to watch the movies to understand the shows. What better way to sell that point than to put a character as big as Wolverine on Disney+? Wolverine, being a major member of the X-Men, is someone fans expect to be integral to the MCU at some point down the line. Going in that direction would further reinforce the notion that Marvel's Disney+ shows, like The Falcon and the Winter Solider, are required viewing for those who want to keep up with the MCU.

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