We’re deep into Marvel’s Phase 4, but there are always more shows and movies on the horizon. One of the first entries into the post-Infinity War Marvel landscape was the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Starring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, the TV show explored Captain America’s complicated legacy as Sam finally came to terms with becoming the next Cap.
When the dust settled, Sam Wilson was no longer the Falcon; he was a new Captain America. Unlike Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Sam’s Cap has no superpowers, instead relying on a new high-tech suit given to him by the Wakandans as well as his instinct to always do the right thing every time. times he can. Say what you will about Marvel’s Phase 4, but Sam Wilson’s transition to Captain America was handled beautifully.
Shortly after the end of the show’s first season, it was announced that Mackie would be getting his own Captain America movie. Captain America 4as known until an official title was revealed, has flown pretty low under the radar since then, with very few details surfacing.
But now we get a big one: the movie officially has a director attached. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Nigerian American filmmaker Julius Onah would direct Captain America 4. Onah’s biggest credit to date is The Cloverfield Paradoxone of the JJ Abrams episodes Cloverfield series that premiered on Netflix in 2018. Falcon and the Winter Soldier creator and head writer Malcolm Spellman will pen the script, alongside Falcon personal writer Dalan Musson.
Falcon/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in Marvel Studios’ THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All rights reserved.
Chris Evans gently pushes back the recalcitrant: “Sam Wilson is Captain America”
Whereas The Falcon and the Winter Soldier covered Sam Wilson’s journey to become Captain America pretty completely, there are still segments of the fandom that have a hard time accepting anyone other than Chris Evans in the role. This was evident even in this Hollywood journalist announcement, which somewhat awkwardly stated that Anthony Mackie would “reprise his longtime Marvel persona of Sam Wilson, but not, however, Wilson’s longtime alter ego and Captain America sidekick Falcon.”
THR also pondered whether Evans would appear in the film. “It’s unclear whether Chris Evans will reprise his role as Steve Rogers, aka the original Captain America (although if the question of who gets to wear the shield continues, all bets are off. Additionally, having stacked solo castings and movie releases is a main Marvel ingredient at this point.)”
Let’s start by saying that the question of who has the right to wear the shield was literally the whole point of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. At this point, it shouldn’t be up for debate, unless Captain America 4 revisits this thread in a very helpful way. But some fans are taking those lines from the article and presenting them as a rallying cry for Evans to return as Cap.
Evans, for his part, has none of it. “Sam Wilson is Captain America,” he replied directly in the THR Tweeter thread that meditated on his return.
Old Cap has spoken. Let the man enjoy his retirement and let Sam Wilson and Mackie have their moment.
Captain America 4 does not currently have a release date, but is expected in 2024 or later.
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