The Super Bowl gifted Marvel fans with one of their best looks at The Falcon and The Winter Soldier with the trailer giving away some huge details about the show.
While fans may have not been treated to as many Marvel trailers at the Super Bowl as they would have hoped, Marvel Studios did release another trailer for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
This marks the second trailer released for the six-part Disney Plus series, as Marvel released the first trailer during Disney Investor Day. However, this trailer provides us with more of an insight into what the series will be about.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier trailer breakdown
Featuring characters from both Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War, the series will honour Chris Evans’ portrayal of Steve Rogers throughout, as his two best friends Sam Wilson/Falcon and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier work together, despite their rivalry.
Some of their chemistry and comedic banter is certainly a highlight of the trailer, but fans are also given a glimpse into some insane action scenes and appearances from characters such as Baron Zemo, US Agent and Sharon Carter.
While fans will have to wait until March to see what the series is ultimately about (besides the legacy of Captain America), the trailer did provide them with some details to keep them talking up until the first episode is released.
5. Masked villains emerge
The second trailer featured our first look at some of the villains that Falcon and the Winter Soldier will be battling against. These villains appear to be a group of soldiers that form a small army, who all can be seen wearing masks with hand prints painted on them.
The heroic pair of Wilson and Barnes most notably fight these soldiers on top of two moving trucks during the trailer, with the band of villains appearing to be anything but pushovers.
While their name is not revealed during the trailer, earlier material from the Disney+ series went on to reveal that the group of soldiers will be known as the Flag Smashers, an homage to the character who was a villain to Steve Rogers during the 1980s.
This was revealed in a tweet by TFATWS Brasil, with the logo for the Flag Smashers looking exactly like the images of the gang we saw showcased in the trailer.
Flag Smasher was a character who was the complete opposite of Captain America, wishing to cause anarchy and abolish nations. Creating a one world state could be the motivation of the Flag Smashers group in the upcoming series, with their ties likely linked to another villain appearing in the series.
If they are anything like the character from the comics, then this group will be a thorn in the side for both Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
4. Zemo’s motivation revealed
Fans have been excited to see Daniel Brühl return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since he was first announced to be appearing in the Disney+ series.
The last time fans saw Zemo, the villain had been successful in his plans by causing the events of Captain America: Civil War. He turned the Avengers against each other, fracturing Iron Man and Captain America’s relationship forever. This resulted in the villain being locked up for his crimes under maximum security.
However, his appearance in the upcoming series will see him escape somehow, with the character appearing in a more comic-accurate costume this time around. While he may be dressed differently, however, Zemo’s motivations have not changed.
Through Brühl’s voiceover in the Super Bowl trailer, it is made clear that the character is still bent on destroying the superhero community for the damage he believes they have caused.
The character is seen carrying his iconic mask and wearing a distinctive trench coat as he looks at a statue and walks atop a shipping container (a location we see later in the trailer).
Whether Zemo is allied with either US Agent or the Flag Smashers is questionable, however it is likely that he is manipulating the events of the series given his tactician skills that were displayed in Civil War.
3. Sharon Carter returns
While fans knew that Agent Sharon Carter would be making her return for the series, it was extremely interesting to see her in the trailer. During her brief appearance, Carter holds a gun to Wilson and Barnes before realising who they are as the three then go on to fight three goons in a shipping yard (and winning with relative ease).
This scene showcases that Carter will once again be uniting with Falcon and the Winter Soldier, much like the character did during the events of Captain America: Civil War when the pair were on the run from Tony Stark’s pro-registration team and trying to stop an army of super soldiers.
However, the most interesting part of her appearance was her fight scene. This not only showcased her ability to kick butt, but also put her in the same location as a major villain in the series. Both Sharon and Zemo are seen in a shipping yard during the trailer, hinting that the two characters could come to blows during the Disney+ series.
While a confrontation between the two would be intriguing, I would be putting money on Sharon to beat Zemo, who may be humbled by Agent 13. What role she plays in the story remains to be seen, but it seems certain that Agent 13 will once again be an ally to both Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
2. Bucky and Sam go to therapy
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier‘s Super Bowl trailer opens with a scene of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes sitting at a table, where a lady asks them questions. Talking like she is a therapist, she asks them both some questions, turning to Bucky to inquire “how does Sam aggravate you?” – a moment that leads into some hilarious banter between the two in different scenes.
It seems that the pair may have to go to an Avengers version of couples counselling, as the two heroes have had a lot of trouble working with each other in the past. This therapy session could be set up in order to help the pair work together, but it doesn’t seem to be working as the two engage in a staring contest that aggravates the therapist.
While this scene may not be a therapy session at all, it does showcase that the relationship between the two will be a major focus of the series, with the banter and rivalry between them providing the series with much of its comedy.
The MCU may be creating one its best bromances yet between the Falcon and The Winter Soldier, with Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan’s chemistry being a major highlight of every scene the two appear in.
1. Bucky and Sam will both wield the shield
All signs seemed to be pointing towards Sam Wilson becoming the new Captain America for the MCU. Steve Rogers’ handing over of the shield to Mackie’s character at the end of Avengers: Endgame and the potentially leaked merchandise from the series both indicate that Falcon will become the new Star-Spangled Avenger.
However, while this trailer showcases that Falcon will be getting a lot of use out of the shield, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes is also shown to be wielding the shield throughout.
While this scene could just be a nod to the fact that Bucky was also one of the fan-favorite choices (alongside Sam) to become the next Captain America, Anthony Mackie has also cast some doubts on the idea of Sam automatically following in Rogers’ footsteps as the new Cap, telling the Jess Cagle Show:
"“No, we don’t know that yet. The show, the idea of the show is basically, you know, and at the end of Avengers: Endgame, Cap decided he was going into retirement and he asked me if I would take up the shield, but at no point in time, did I agree to or say that I would be Captain America. So the show walks the line of who is going to take up the shield and who’s going to be Captain America if Steve isn’t coming back.”"
This comment makes it seem like the story will be discovering which of the pair will become the new Captain America, with Barnes still an option to take up the mantle that his best friend once held. It seems likely that Sam Wilson will still become the new Captain America, but the trailer showcasing a moment with Bucky holding the shield could be a teaser for what’s to come in the MCU’s future.
Both characters are worthy of the shield, and having Bucky Barnes become Captain America would be in-line with the comics and something that fans have clamoured for since his first appearance in the MCU. And yet, the very same could be said for Sam Wilson. The question is: Which one of them will wield the shield?
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