An important and distressing theory about Bucky Barnes has emerged about Rays* based on its trailer – but the MCU already debunked it several years ago. The main Rays* The cast made up of several notable villains and anti-heroes from previous installments of the MCU is one of the main selling points of the upcoming Marvel film, with a lot of excitement for the film centering on how it will combine these characters into an unusual team. . With so many different ways of relating to these characters, it is natural that many theories about the imminent story will emerge.
This is especially true after the release of Rays* trailer, which allowed viewers to speculate more about what happens based on excerpts from the film. However, some of these theories seem more likely than others. In fact, a controversial theory that has emerged about Bucky Barnes and how his story could be based on the trailer appears, mercifully, to have already been undermined by previous reveals in the MCU timeline - which will likely come as a relief to many fans. of the character based on how much it would have made him suffer.
Thunderbolts* trailer sparked theory that Bucky becomes the Winter Soldier again
Bucky Barnes' behavior in the Thunderbolts trailer* has sparked a theory that he has returned to being the Winter Soldier
THE Rays* The trailer revealed a lot of interesting things about what to expect from the next MCU film, and it also raised a number of interesting theories about the story that's about to unfold. One of them focused on the long-term history of a major Marvel hero, with the theory postulating that Bucky Barnes becomes the Winter Soldier once again in the film.
This idea seems to come primarily from the scene in the trailer where Bucky fires a rocket launcher at a car containing other team members - a scene that directly parallels Barnes using a rocket launcher while under the effects of brainwashing. in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Likewise, the trailer doesn't have many moments showing Bucky definitively as a member of the group - or even showing him talking or interacting in a way that feels more in line with Bucky himself than his Winter Soldier alter ego. .
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine - who positioned herself as the figure who united the team and defined its mission - has already established herself as a manipulative figure willing to bend others to her will. As such, it would apparently be normal for her to reset Bucky's previous brainwashing and use it against him, allowing her access to a human weapon with no free will to oppose it.
6 years ago, Marvel revealed how Shuri deprogrammed Bucky
The MCU has already shown that Shuri freed herself from Bucky's Winter Soldier programming triggers
Although this theory is based on the Rays* trailer itself, the MCU's previous history seems to directly oppose it. Following Captain America: Civil WarBucky is back Avengers: Infinity War seemingly free of his Winter Soldier programming, allowing him to carve a new path for himself.
Avengers Infinity War Prelude #1 shed more light on the details of how this was possible in early 2018. The comic showed Shuri undoing Bucky's brainwashing, with her explaining that she developed a complex algorithm that could "release the influence of trigger words"ensuring that Barnes was still able to maintain his memories and personality. This appears to remain the MCU's official explanation for how the Winter Soldier's deprogramming happened, which presents problems for the Rays* theory.
Why it's impossible for Bucky to become the Winter Soldier again
Shuri removed the path for Bucky's Winter Soldier personality to become active again
Shuri removing the influence of the triggers that turned Bucky Barnes into the Winter Soldier means there is no way for him to return to this statesince they were the ones who reverted it to that form. This appears to have ended Bucky's time as the Winter Soldier, with his story going on to delve into the complicated question of what life would be like for someone who was brainwashed into being an assassin for an evil, shadowy organization and then found their freedom so many years later.
In fact, given The Falcon and the Winter Soldier focuses squarely on Bucky exploring the consequences of his deprogramming and his trauma from years as a brainwashed assassin, it seems unlikely that the franchise is about to go back in time for him in terms of forcing him to revert to his alias. Turning Bucky into the Winter Soldier again would not only stunt his character's growth during this time, but it would also make this chapter of his life effectively pointless, as in many ways he would have to start all over again.
How Thunderbolts* Can Still Handle Bucky's Winter Soldier Personality
Thunderbolts* is still prepared to deal with the Winter Soldier, but in a different way
Although it doesn't seem Rays* will have Bucky once again becoming the Winter Soldier, that doesn't mean the film won't still deal with the persona. The director and cast of Rays* have mentioned that the film explores its characters' mental health following their respective stories in the MCU thus far, and doing so with Bucky naturally means some focus will be on his time as the Winter Soldier.and the lasting impact this traumatic period had on the character, even after he began his healing path in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Given how much this experience has occupied Bucky's life, it stands to reason that the Winter Soldier is still at the forefront of his mind, even if he is no longer beholden to the trigger words previously used to turn him into this figure. With Rays* taking Bucky back to a world of anti-heroes that is sure to remind him of his time as a brainwashed HYDRA agent, it wouldn't be shocking if the silent demeanor shown in the film's trailer simply reflects him dealing with those lingering memories while taking participate in the events of history.
Marvel's Thunderbolts* is a superhero film based on the comic book team of the same name. The film is part of the fifth phase of MCU films. The film sees the likes of Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell, the Red Guardian and others as an unlikely group of heroes and villains coming together to fight for good.
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February 14, 2025
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July 25, 2025
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July 24, 2026