Among the best issues that occurred in 2008’s The Unbelievable Hulk, starring Edward Norton, is the movie’s credit score scene. In it, Basic Ross, portrayed by William Damage, will get a shock go to from none aside from Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, who informs the longer term Pink Hulk that he’s placing collectively a crew: the Avengers. Looking back, that wasn’t the primary post-credits scene in cinematic historical past, however it was the one which introduced the most important cinematic franchise of all time. Quickly, post-credit scenes and cameo appearances grew to become Marvel’s favourite software for saying new tasks.
Quick-forward to MCU’s most up-to-date launch, Captain America: Courageous New World, and we’re launched to a brand new Star-Spangled Avenger. Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson dons the celebs and stripes and leads his first MCU movie after the unique Captain America Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) left his protect in Wilson’s possession on the finish of Endgame. Nonetheless, the protect and the mantle of the First Avenger weren’t the one issues Rogers had left Wilson with. He additionally left him together with his greatest pal, James Buchanan Barnes, higher often known as Bucky or the Winter Soldier.
Each Wilson and Bucky held their very own in MCU’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which was renamed to Captain America and the Winter Soldier at its conclusion, providing us a glimpse of what was to return. In fact, the MCU delivered, and Sam Wilson grew to become the Captain. However what occurred to Bucky? Properly, as seen in Captain America: Courageous New World, Bucky is definitely campaigning to grow to be a congressman, establishing his function within the upcoming Thunderbolts*. However when did that occur, and have we missed all of the clues?
To be totally honest, there haven’t been many clues indicating that Bucky Barnes would even take into account getting into the political area within the MCU — at the very least not on the silver display screen. However the thought truly isn’t all that shocking. Whereas The Falcon and the Winter Soldier noticed Sam Wilson wrestling with the load of turning into Captain America and honoring Steve Rogers’ legacy, Bucky spent a great deal of time making amends for his deadly tenure because the Winter Soldier whereas additionally attending remedy to assist him reconcile together with his previous actions as a brainwashed Hydra murderer.
He then seems in Captain America: Courageous New World — after he obtained a presidential pardon for his help in combating Thanos — when Sam wanted some encouragement after his sidekick bought gravely injured. Barnes is simply too acquainted with the sentiments of guilt Wilson is at present burdened by (having unwillingly injured so many) and conveniently seems to supply some heartfelt phrases of encouragement to the brand new Cap, reminding him that Rogers entrusted him with the protect and the image for a motive. Wilson then makes an off-handed joke about Barnes’s speech writers earlier than the dialog casually pivots to Barnes operating for political workplace.
Nonetheless, whereas there haven’t been many clues inside the MCU, some clues had been dropped off-screen throughout future venture bulletins. Discerning followers would possibly’ve observed that Barnes is carrying a congressional pin within the newest trailer for Thunderbolts*, the place he’s set to play a serious function. Moreover, actor Wyatt Russell — set to painting US Agent John Walker within the upcoming movie — did point out that Barnes is now a congressman throughout a red-carpet look a number of months in the past. Admittedly, although, it sounded extra like a joke than an precise risk.
Reality be advised, whereas uncommon for the character and fairly shocking to the MCU audiences, Bucky is hardly the primary Marvel character to run for workplace in comedian ebook historical past. These extra acquainted with the comics know that Tony Stark was the Secretary of Protection, and Matt Murdock (Daredevil) was the mayor of New York Metropolis. Even Steve Rogers was a presidential candidate again within the Nineteen Eighties; two variations of the character, truly — one was elected, and the opposite one dropped out of the race. For Bucky, nevertheless, operating for political workplace is unprecedented, even in comics.
Following the character’s look within the Captain America comedian ebook again in 2005, Bucky has principally been an Avengers mainstay who had, at one level, taken up the mantle of Captain America. He went on quite a few adventures within the comics, together with time-traveling, turning into Earth’s protector and whatnot, however he by no means ran for political workplace. Nonetheless, since he by no means truly obtained the protect within the MCU, this may very well be Marvel Studios’ approach of getting him nonetheless comply with in Steve Rogers’ footsteps and run for workplace.
Whether or not or not that’s true isn’t actually vital because the MCU is thought for taking some inventive liberties with Marvel Comics’ materials, chucking all of it underneath the “it’s a multiverse” umbrella and calling it a day. The primary query now’s whether or not his return to motion within the Thunderbolts* signifies that he’s doubtlessly relinquishing his workplace within the course of, or is he actually that devoted to his constituents?