Does this photo confirm Sebastian Stan's Bucky will become Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Captain America: Civil War shook the Marvel Cinematic Universe to its core so heavily that even its pillars could crumble in the movies ahead.
A character poised to be at the centre of a seismic shift in the Marvel movies is Sebastian Stan's cyborg badass Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier, Captain America's old war buddy-turned-HYDRA sleeper agent-turned-Cap's buddy again.
At the end of
Civil War,
Captain America literally renounced his superhero name after his brutal fallout with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) over protecting Bucky from the US government.
Now, we have the first possible bit of evidence that Bucky could assume the mantle of Captain America in the Marvel Universe thanks to a picture of a sweet-looking shield from Sebastian Stan's Instagram account.
Of course, that shield looks awfully similar to Cap's own weapon of choice - albeit with a Winter Soldier star in the middle.
Along with the picture, Sebastian Stan thanked its creators and cryptically added: "Will come in handy…"
If the Marvel Cinematic Universe does go the route of having Bucky become the new Captain America, it would only be taking a page from the comic books it's based on.
In Marvel Comics lore, Bucky Barnes is one of the many who have assumed the mantle of Captain America during brief periods where the original Steve Rogers was either missing, dead or renounced the name.
Currently in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Bucky is on ice (literally) in the African nation of Wakanda after fleeing with Steve Rogers at the end of
Captain America: Civil War.
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DISNEY
That location is key because Wakanda is home of the all-powerful metallic substance known as Vibranium, used to create both Captain America's shield and Bucky's own arm.
As for how this will ultimately play out, it remains to be seen. However, we do know that Sebastian Stan will return for
Avengers: Infinity War… and
he's hinted at an appearance in the Wakanda-set Black Panther too.
That heavily-anticipated
Avengers sequel is out on May 4, 2018.
Does this confirm Bucky is the new Captain America?