Bucky’s MCU return is much better than his Captain America replacement

Bucky Barnes could easily become Captain America’s replacement in the MCU, however thunderbolts* is expected to pave an exciting new path for the Marvel veteran. Sebastian Stan first appeared as James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes in 2011 Captain America: The First AvengerSo its return in 2025s thunderbolts* will mark 14 years in the MCU, making him one of the franchise’s longest-running characters. Bucky Barnes is also one of the MCU’s most changed characters, and thunderbolts* This trend is expected to continue.

First introduced as Steve Rogers’ childhood best friend and ally to Captain America, Bucky Barnes became the HYDRA-controlled Winter Soldier, and later an avenger and partner to Sam Wilson’s new Captain America. It’s been brilliant to see Bucky Barnes’ redemption arc develop over the duration of several MCU projectsAnd this almost took a huge step forward in Avengers: Endgame. While Marvel Studios avoids making Bucky a bona fide superhero, his upcoming story in thunderbolts* is an even better match.

Bucky could have been Captain America’s MCU replacement

Steve Rogers instead chose Sam Wilson to replace him as Captain America

Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers hung up his shield after defeating Thanos during the 2019 Battle of Earth Avengers: EndgameInstead choosing to retreat into the past with Peggy Carter after returning the Infinity Stones to their respective timelines. He couldn’t leave the MCU without a Captain America, so he returned to hand the patriotic mantle to his successor, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson. While Sam is a great fit for Captain America, following in the footsteps of his Marvel Comics counterpart, many wanted Bucky Barnes to replace Rogers..

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Saw Bucky Barnes reveal that Rogers had talked to him about passing the Shield and Captain America mantle onto Sam Wilson. This could mean that Rogers offered the position to Bucky first, and This would make sense, given the fact that they are childhood friends, Bucky is already a super soldier, and he becomes Captain America in Marvel ComicsLong before Sam Wilson. Nevertheless, the job went to Sam, and it might actually have worked out perfectly for Bucky Barnes.

Thunderbolts* is a much better future for Bucky than Captain America

Bucky Barnes can be an independent hero in Thunderbolts*

Instead of becoming Captain America, and perhaps a member of the new Avengers team, Bucky Barnes has a future among a different superpowered group in thunderbolts*. Bucky is described as the de facto leader of the MCU’s first Thunderbolts team, even though he wasn’t featured heavily in the movie’s first teaser trailer. This suggests that Bucky will have a hand in bringing the Thunderbolts members together, helping to give people just like him—those with skeletons in their closets and deemed expendable weapons—a real purpose..

Ever since he became the Winter Soldier under the control of HYDRA, Bucky Barnes has been a morally gray MCU character. Even after he breaks free of his HYDRA conditioning, Bucky still uses brutal methods to achieve his goals, making him the epitome of an antiheroAnd the perfect candidate to shape and lead the upcoming Thunderbolts team. This is a much stronger future for Bucky Barnes in the MCU than taking over as Captain America would have been. Bucky isn’t brave enough to be Captain America, but fits in perfectly with the Thunderbolts.

Thunderbolts* can complete Bucky’s redemption

Bucky Barnes struggled with his past as the Winter Soldier

His escape at the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier Began Bucky Barnes’ redemption arc in the MCU, as he spent the previous decade carrying out assassinations and performing cruel acts under HYDRA’s mind control. His time in Wakanda saw him finally break free of HYDRA’s conditioning, however The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Proved that he had not yet fully committed to his actions as the Winter Soldier. Bringing together and leading the Thunderbolts team in Phase 5 might be the best way for him to finally move on.

Spending time with the dysfunctional Thunderbolts proves to Bucky that he isn’t all that bad, and in fact spends many years trying his best to tone down and make up for his actions as the Winter Soldier. He seems to be embracing his more brutal tendencies in the teaser trailer for thunderbolts*Suggesting his redemption arc may be completeAnd he can be at peace with his identity, whether it’s as the Winter Soldier or under the little-used moniker of White Wolf. Bucky Barnes can become an independent, well-rounded hero in thunderbolts*No longer associated with Captain America.