As Marvel Studios dives deeper into the depths of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4, its second new project will take a look into the MCU’s real world with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. After WandaVision largely focused on supernatural events and Wanda Maximoff’s reality-altering abilities, this next entry will cover a much more grounded story continuing from the Captain America legacy in this universe.
Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan will face new challenges all across the globe after the presumed death of their close friend, Steve Rogers, who passed the Captain America mantle to Sam Wilson at the end of Avengers: Endgame. On top of everything that’s directly in front of them to tackle, there is the lingering issue of the universe-changing events from the end of the Infinity Saga to keep in mind.
As it turns out, these events will certainly have lingering events through the course of the MCU’s future as well.
THANOS' SNAP PERMANENTLY CHANGING THE MCU
In today's worldwide press conference for Marvel Studios' The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, head writer Malcolm Spellman was asked what exactly brings things the plot to where it starts in this next Disney+ show.
Spellman referenced back to Thanos' snap in Avengers: Infinity War, saying that dispatching him has "created a situation where the entire world is dealing with one single issue." This leads to new villains in this story responding to that event, all believing "that he or she is a hero:"
"I think what worked out really nicely was that, where Endgame leaves off, dispatching Thanos has created a situation where the entire world is dealing with one single issue, which is very familiar to what’s going on today. And everything is born from that, the villains in this series are responding to that, every villain in this story would tell you that he or she is a hero. The heroes are responding to that in their personal lives, and that A-story plot, it’s all born from one single organic thing, and it’s continuing from what happens after Endgame. That sort of galvanizes and affects everybody on the planet at the same time."
THE EFFECTS OF THE MAD TITAN
Avengers: Infinity War shocked the MCU fandom in 2018 by ending with a definitive win for Josh Brolin’s Thanos, who used the Infinity Gauntlet to wipe out “50% of all living creatures,” according to Black Widow. Avengers: Endgame took this a step further by keeping this event in play for five years before the Avengers brought everybody back to life.
The Blip was utilized to great effect in WandaVision to start Phase 4, and it appears that it will play a key role in the plot of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as well. Particularly, it seems evident that Thanos’ actions will inspire a new class of villains to emerge from the rubble of the Infinity Saga’s conclusion.
Those who lived during the five-year time gap in Avengers: Endgame had unimaginable struggles to deal with, which seems to have turned many to unforeseen darkness along the way. Fans are already seeing signs of Helmut Zemo taking inspiration from the Mad Titan in his wardrobe choices, and it will be exciting to find out how this develops further.
"Episode 1" of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will premiere on Disney+ on Friday, March 19.
