The shocking Thunderbolts theory brings back the Winter Soldier

The trailer for the thunderbolts* This movie could indicate a big change for the Winter Soldier in the upcoming MCU release. As the MCU continues to expand and embrace more heroes and villains from the vast multiverse, one upcoming title is set to bring back a number of characters that have faded into obscurity in the movies. thunderbolts* Brings together a group of misfit heroes, or perhaps more appropriately anti-heroes, in order to go on a secret mission. The details of the story are still under wraps, but the latest trailer release has fans excited about what's to come.

However, as with any trailer drop, there is a lot of speculation about what the moments revealed in this three-minute teaser could mean for the movie and the characters that will appear. While it's clear that Elena reunites with her father, and John Walker finds a new reason to take up his shield, there are other characters whose fates are less clear from the trailer. Namely, Bucky Barnes, who was last seen working closely with Sam Wilson in The Falcon and the Winter SoldierHowever Now appears to be running with a very different crowdIncluding the man he helped bring down in that series.

The Thunderbolts trailer sets up Bucky fighting the team

Bucky doesn't seem to be himself in the Thunderbolts* trailer

However, even that isn't that clear, as the trailer also sees Bucky pick up a rocket launcher, and fire it at the rest of the team as they appear to escape in a vehicle. There are short clips that See Bucky standing with John WalkerBoth in the elevator, and in the office of Valentina, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, but the rest of the trailer puts a cloud over this relationship. However, everything could be explained if Bucky's old self, the brainwashed Winter Soldier, was back.

Although the team's intentions are unclear, and the mission they're embarking on is totally in the dark, it doesn't seem to be the kind of mission heroes are hired for. Yes, the Avengers have disassembled, but they are not all gone. However, Valentina chooses to recruit smaller figures with extraordinary gifts, like Elena and John in order to carry out whatever mission she is put together. While Bucky Barnes' past is a sad oneHe is not evil.

However, his old self is. The Winter Soldier is a dangerous assassin who was created and controlled by HYDRA after World War II. Bucky somehow survived the war, but remained in prison, which led to him becoming an experiment of HYDRA that they used to wreak havoc and perform contract killings. And these thunderbolts* The movie is proof of that Bucky may actually be back under the brainwashing spell Which leads him to act like the winter soldier.

Bucky uses a classic Winter Soldier tactic against the Thunderbolts

A familiar weapon from Captain America: The Winter Soldier is back

One scene in particular in the trailer provides the biggest link that could indicate that Barnes is brainwashed. When the rest of the team are driving at speed, they see a Shadowy figure aiming a weapon at their vehicle. The trailer reveals that it's Bucky, and he's holding an odd-shaped weapon pointed at the getaway vehicle. When he fires the weapon, it flies over the car at high speed, incapacitating the people inside.

However, this weapon is not new, and has been used by Bucky before in one specific instance. When Bucky is still under the control of HYDRA in Captain America: The Winter SoldierHe goes after Nick Fury early in the film. As the head of SHIELD, Fury presents the biggest threat to HYDRA, and it's clear they want to take care of him so they can expand their operations and operate without interference. Bucky is assigned to do the dirty deed, and he Use a familiar weapon to shoot at Fury's car And turn it over. The same clunky rocket launcher, with a large circular section wedged into the front of the gun.

While the character using the same weapon may not be enough evidence to prove he's back to his old ways, or that someone has found a way to trigger him again, it raises the question. Bucky working with John Walker is weird. Bucky fires a rocket launcher at a group of people in a car While remaining expressions is strange. All things considered, it seems like something has happened to make Bucky act in rash and aggressive ways. And it might be easy to assume that means he's become the Winter Soldier once again.

Has Bucky become the Winter Soldier again?

Who can control the Winter Soldier in Thunderbolts*?

The Winter Soldier may also be a completely different entity than Bucky. They speak a different language, they have drastically different codes of conduct, and although Bucky has been seen to have emotions, the Winter Soldier remains without anything So inherently human. The trailer doesn't reveal any moments where Bucky talks, or even properly interacts with the others. This may indicate that Bucky is no longer himself.

If someone like Valentina, or someone else with ill intentions was able to get inside Buck's head, and reactivate his Winter Soldier persona, it would make him an incredibly dangerous weapon, and an effective tool to command and send on missions. Consider it Doesn't feel like Bucky would just put aside his differences and start working with John WalkerThe theory can hold a lot of weight. Of course he doesn't act like himself, but whether this is because his brainwashing has taken over again, or just because he was given an option that was too good to refuse, is not clear from the trailer that has just been released.

All of that said, it seems like Bucky is acting out of sorts. In his latest appearances, he has a sense of humor, opinions that he is willing to share, and a strong sense of morality. In the trailer for thunderbolts*There is no evidence that any of these aspects of the character remain. Granted, it's only three minutes of the entire film, and it may have been cut on purpose to hide other details, but from what's been shown so far, it seems likely that Bucky will be brainwashed into thunderbolts*.