Summary
- Bucky Barnes could potentially become Captain America in an alternate timeline in the MCU Multiverse Saga.
- A cameo as Captain America for Sebastian Stan in an upcoming Avengers film makes sense in the multiverse context.
- Although not essential to the story, a Bucky Barnes Captain America cameo would be a satisfying nod to fans of the comics.
The MCU has its official Steve Rogers replacement set in stone, but Avengers: Secret Wars could still make my Bucky Barnes Captain America dreams come true. Sebastian Stan’s Bucky caught the attention of many fans when he was introduced as Steve’s best friend in Captain America: The First Avenger. Bucky’s MCU story has come a long way since then, from escaping death to becoming a temporary villain. One thing that was always expected was that Bucky would take over as Captain America when Steve’s time was up, but the MCU has strayed from that possibility.
While I am sad that we’ve yet to see Bucky as Captain America on the big screen, Sam Wilson taking over the mantle makes complete sense for the story that’s unfolded in the MCU. Sam was just as loyal a partner to Steve as Bucky was, and Bucky’s path of atonement in The Falcon & The Winter Soldier was a much better direction for him than rushing into the Captain America role. Even though Bucky’s MCU future is set for Thunderbolts*, there’s still one last chance for Bucky to take up the Captain America mantle in the MCU.
Bucky’s Captain America Could Appear In Avengers 5 Or 6 Thanks To The MCU Multiverse
Bucky Barnes Became Captain America For A Time In Marvel Comics
I, along with many Marvel fans, like to believe that there’s an alternate timeline where Bucky did become Captain America. What sounds like wishful thinking could actually become a reality thanks to the Multiverse Saga. The era has already provided us with Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter acting as a Captain America variant, and the concept of the multiverse makes any cameo possible, such as John Krasinski’s Reed Richards and Channing Tatum’s Gambit. By this logic, it wouldn’t be too difficult of a task for Marvel to have a variant of Captain America played by Sebastian Stan cameo in the MCU.
The perfect project for Stan to make this cameo would be the upcoming Avengers films, as both are sure to be heavily multiverse-focused. Doomsday and Secret Wars will likely be the biggest battle that the MCU heroes have ever fought, so they will need all the help they can get. Having Stan’s Captain America variant appear for a few scenes would actually make sense in the context of the two Avengers films, so the cameo could work without being forced into another project.
Why The MCU Has To Give Us Bucky Barnes’ Captain America At Least Once
The MCU Has Teased Bucky’s Cap A Few Times
The reason so many fans expected Bucky to take up the Captain America mantle is because he does so in the comics. Before Anthony Mackie’s Sam was cast, many envisioned Stan in the Captain America role after Chris Evans. However, Sam was the right choice for the MCU’s next Captain America, and Bucky seems satisfied taking a backseat. A Bucky Barnes Captain America cameo isn’t necessary to the MCU’s story, but incorporating it would be a nice nod to the comics and the fans. It would also deliver on all the teases in past MCU movies, where Bucky picked up Steve’s shield.
The Multiverse Saga is the best time for Stan to make a cameo as Captain America, as it’d ensure he gets to play the character at least once before his Marvel contract runs out. Having his cameo strictly be a multiversal variant would also ensure that none of Sam’s spotlight is taken away from his Captain America role in the main MCU. It may be a stretch to keep hope alive for a Bucky Barnes Captain America cameo, but I’m hoping that either Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars can deliver on this dream casting.
Upcoming MCU Movies