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Credit: Marvel StudiosFor the past six weeks, the world has watched John Walker (Wyatt Russell) take up the mantle of Captain America, after Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) handed over the shield to the government in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. It became clear to Marvel fans over the weeks that Wilson just wasn’t ready to become the new star-spangled hero even after being given Captain America’s shield, and — as we saw in last week’s blockbuster episode — questioned whether the United States of America would ever be ready for a Black man to become their Captain.
The record-breaking series has gone on to outperform its predecessor, WandaVision — the sitcom set in small-town Suburbia headed up by Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany’s Vision — and the Star Wars Disney+ launch show, The Mandalorian. Fans have adored seeing the unlikely pairing of Wilson with Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), as well as the return of Captain America: Civil War (2016) favorites, Sharon Carter AKA Agent 13 (Emily VanCamp) and Daniel Brühl’s anti-hero, Baron Helmut Zemo.
Warning: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Spoilers Ahead
Last week’s highly anticipated episode (Episode 5: “Truth”), which aired on the back of unprecedented hype — namely due to the cast and crew dropping hints pretty much daily — saw the reveal of a potential new villain in the MCU — Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played by decorated television actress, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Fans erupted over the appearance of Louis-Dreyfus and speculation has already begun over what her motives are and who else could yet appear. We know for the time being that de Fontaine should have made her Marvel Universe debut in Black Widow (2021) before it’s reshuffle. Wyatt Russell even suggested that Chris Evans would be cameoing as his Steve Rogers counterpart — that wouldn’t be a long shot seen as though there are rumors of him still being around (…on the moon).
“Truth” also saw Wilson sitting down with Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), where the war veteran revealed the sordid history of the super-soldier serum and how he was imprisoned after attempting the rescue of his friends. He ends the discussion by saying “They will never let a Black man be Captain America”. The heartbreaking scene suggests that creator Malcolm Spellman and director Kari Skogland are using The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as a social commentary on race in America. Of course, the Captain America comic book history has already been doing this for some time. Isaiah Bradley’s first appearance as the hero that Steve Rogers made famous was back in 2003, coming out of a concept by the Marvel Comics publishing team around the politics of putting a Black man in the classic red, white and blue colors.
A few weeks ago, a merchandise reveal showed Falcon’s Captain America suit, suggesting that Wilson will go on to become the flying Falcon/Captain America superhero, however nothing has yet been confirmed for the live-action Disney+ television show. Some Marvel fans even speculated that Wilson wouldn’t become Captain America at all. Although some celebrated Anthony Mackie’s Captain America by making the actor trend on his birthday.
Well, despite Bradley’s warning, it seems that Sam Wilson will become the new Captain America as a leaked TV spot has surfaced on YouTube. It looks like it’s time for John Walker to move over and face the consequences of his actions, as the Falcon soars through the sky donning the famous red, white and blue. The video — which also shows scenes of Karli Morgenthau (Erin Kellyman), Bucky Barnes, John Walker and Sharon Carter — appears to be for a post-finale world, stating “All Episodes Streaming Now” under the title card.
Even though the TV clip is a “blink and you’ll miss it” appearance, it also looks like the new suit is straight out of the comic books which is sure to delight Marvel fans.
You can clearly see the Disney+ logo in the bottom right hand corner, too.
You can watch the full video here:
While fans don’t have long to wait until the finale of Kevin Feige’s latest MCU television project, the leaked TV spot is sure to answer the questions of whether Sam Wilson does take up the mantle of Captain America after Steve Rogers handed him the shield at the end of Avengers: Endgame (2019). We may even get to see a new superhero duo on the scene, due to Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres being told to “keep” Wilson’s broken wings in the latest episode.
This massive reveal will play a huge part in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and will also hint at the possible future of these characters in the MCU. The final fight between Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes, John Walker and the Flag-Smashers will hopefully come to a head this week. We may even see the reveal of the mysterious Power Broker.
What do you think to Sam Wilson’s Captain America suit?