Sebastian Stan: Bucky's Captain America Would Be Much Darker

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for Avengers: Infinity War

Sebastian Stan opens up about the possibility of Bucky eventually picking up the Captain America shield during the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Perhaps the most enduring relationship in the MCU, Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes' friendship has stood the test of time. However, while it feels like Cap’s story is nearing its end, Bucky’s seems like it’s just beginning. Right now, the two have very different character trajectories following the events of Avengers: Infinity War, but there's still a chance that they will both at some point assume the identity of the Star-Spangled Avenger in a future MCU film.

Appearing on BUILD Series' YouTube show, Stan - alongside Infinity War directors Joe and Anthony Russo - spoke about the film and the creative choices behind its narrative. During the audience Q&A session, a fan asked the actor for his opinion about possibly taking over the Captain America identity if and when Steve Rogers dies in next year's Avengers 4. Here's what he said:

"I mean look, you know it would have to be a very different, you know, quote Captain America. It just wouldn't be the same. It would be interesting... in the comic books it was always interesting because there's an emotional turmoil, there was a guilt there that was driving for me, a character, because, because it's Steve's absence, you know, it sort of felt like the guy had to once again carry on this you know vision that his best friend had for years and what he stood for, and that struggle you know have that kinda coming into conflict with someone who's still grappling with their own past and what you know is the right thing to do now and if you have a character who's always searching and forgetting an identity and finally gets an identity only to have to lose it again to an idea, then it makes it for the complex take on it, you know what I mean. So if they ever were to explore that it would be a very different, definitely way darker take on the situation you know."

Bucky joining the fight in Avengers: Infinity War

While the fact that Bucky became Captain America in the comics is well known, whether Marvel Studios would opt to hand the shield to Stan's character is unclear. Bucky would certainly make the most sense out of anyone in the MCU to pick up the mantle, considering his close relationship with Steve. However, with Bucky's past as the villainous Winter Soldier, one wonders if he'd be up to the pressure of assuming the lauded identity. If Bucky cracked under said pressure, that could leave the rest of the MCU heroes in the position of having to stop him once again, this time with the added wrinkle of an evil Captain America running around.

Then again, with Bucky now officially ditching his title as the Winter Soldier and becoming the White Wolf, it seems like the character might be going on a different path than following Steve's footsteps and becoming Captain America, and that could very well be the better move. It's unknown where Kevin Feige and his team plan to take Bucky moving forward, but with such a complicated history, there likely won't be a scarcity of adventure and stories centering on him. It's safe to say Bucky has the potential to become one of the key players in the MCU during Phase 4 and beyond.