The upcoming Captain America: New World Order and Thunderbolts movies might be betraying Steve Rogers’ Marvel Cinematic Universe legacy. Chris Evans’ journey as Steve Rogers, the former Captain America, seems to be done in the MCU. The hero appeared as an old man during Avengers: Endgame‘s ending, after having gone back to the past to live with Peggy, to pass his shield on to Sam Wilson. Following a long journey in the MCU, Steve Rogers has amassed one of the universe’s most renowned legacies, and his successors, both new Captain America Sam and best friend Bucky Barnes, need to keep that legacy alive.
Sam and Bucky got the spotlight on Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series. The show focused on Sam’s journey to becoming the new Captain America and Bucky coming to make peace with his tortured past as the mind-controlled cold-blooded Hydra assassin known as the Winter Soldier. Sam’s next appearance will be in 2024’s Captain America: New World Order, his first movie as the new star-spangled hero, whereas Bucky will be part of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s new covert team in the upcoming Thunderbolts movie story. Both movies will test the duo’s ability to maintain Steve Rogers’ legacy due to one character.
Sam & Bucky Both Have To Work With A Steve Rogers Enemy
Legendary actor Harrison Ford has surprisingly joined the MCU, with the star taking over the Thunderbolt Ross role from the late William Hurt. Ford will make his debut in next year’s Captain America: New World Order before a rumored turn in Thunderbolts. Both Sam and Bucky will have to work with Ross in some way, which will go against Steve Rogers, as the hero was an enemy of Ford’s character. Steve and Ross stood on different sides of the Sokovia Accords back in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, with both characters never seeing eye to eye in the MCU since. Their rift led to Steve and his team becoming fugitives.
It has been revealed that Thunderbolt Ross will be the US President in Captain America: New World Order. That already presents a major shift in the character’s dynamic in the MCU, which will lead to a difference between how Bucky and Sam interact with Ford’s character from how Steve Rogers dealt with Ross in the past. While Captain America: New World Order will have its hands full depicting what an active relationship between the President of the United States and Captain America in the MCU looks like, Thunderbolts is rumored to include Ross as the Red Hulk, which would present another dynamic to his relationship with Bucky.
Captain America 4 & Thunderbolts Have To Address Steve Rogers’ Legacy
While Ross might be the new President of the United States, that does not erase his stance on the Sokovia Accords, which Steve was vehemently against. Both Captain America: New World Order and Thunderbolts will have to delve deep into Sam and Bucky’s relationships with Ross and Steve to properly address what working with the politician means for the characters. Now that Ross is the new President of the United States, it might be right for Bucky and Sam to work with him, but Captain America: New World Order and Thunderbolts need to show how that impacts their loyalty to Steve, keeping his legacy in the MCU alive.
Key Release Dates
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
