Here are five things that could happen to John Walker, aka the new Captain America after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Warning: Spoilers for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier episode 4
The end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier‘s fourth episode was a shocking ordeal, to say the least, and fans everywhere saw something they would have never expected to happen with one of the MCU’s most iconic symbols. Captain America’s shield has endured some pretty nasty situations in its tenure fighting for freedom alongside Steve Rogers, but under the new Captain America things took a very dark turn in the legacy of the Vibranium disc of liberty.
John Walker witnessed the death of his friend Battlestar at the hands of Karli, and letting his emotions cloud his judgment, the new Cap commits a heinous act of violence on one of the Flag Smashers. After seeing proof that Walker took the last vial of super solider serum, viewers are immediately given a front-row seat at the reveal of his true character.
Walker is no Steve Rogers, and this horrific event proves the old Cap was right to give Sam the shield in the first place at the end of Avengers: Endgame. It will be interesting to see how things play out for the Captain America replacement and what his journey will look like as a result of the world seeing what his idea of justice looks like. Will he own up to his mistake and face the consequences like a man? Or will he cover it up with the notion that this is what it takes to ensure the world gets back to normal post-blip?
Whatever does happen, many people are already pondering where Walker fits into the future of the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, and if the character is to survive the final installments of the Disney+ series, then where will he end up after the credits roll on the season finale? Here are five possible things that could go down for John Walker after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Become Zemo’s new Winter Soldier
It is no secret that Zemo is not a fan of superheroes, especially those with the super-soldier serum running through their veins. But it does seem like he is enjoying having the aid of the Winter Soldier. Bucky seems to be venturing away from that identity, hopefully, to be the White Wolf in the new Wakanda series after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier ends, so the Marvel villain will need someone else to be his Winter Soldier.
A broken and lost John Walker may be very easy to manipulate, and it’s no secret that Zemo isn’t above using Hydra’s methods as a means to an end. Having memorized the Red Skull’s Nazi handbook, the Baron knows how they broke Bucky and got him to be one of the MCU’s most notorious killers.
It is known he enjoys killing super-soldiers, but the evildoer may feel it’s his fault Walker has the serum in his system. Zemo’s arrogance was the reason he wasn’t able to destroy all the vials before getting knocked out by the shield. Keeping him alive and breaking down his mind, so the enhanced soldier is under complete control would allow the Baron to not only continue his mission but also give him an edge in future titles.
It would be pretty cool if Sam Wilson takes up the mantle as the new Captain America, and a new Winter Soldier under Zemo’s control would serve as an exceptional rival after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier ends.
Join the Ten Rings
Walker is not going to have a ton of options after what he did, and it may be difficult for him to get a gig with any group after everyone sees the footage of his horrendous misuse of Cap’s shield. It’s not likely S.H.I.E.L.D., S.W.O.R.D., or the Avengers will be hitting him up anytime soon. So the question that remains is where will the new Captain America go after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier?
One option could be that he goes underground and starts a life of crime. Superhuman strength would a long way in the underbelly of the MCU’s society, and Walker may do very well, even getting the attention of certain criminal organizations that are about two become a big deal in the successful shared universe. Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is set to heavily introduce the evil Marvel organization who have been hinted at in films like Ant-Man, Iron Man, and Iron Man 3.
If Marvel is planning on bringing him back in the future, adding him to the evil entity’s roster would definitely be a bold move that would defy expectations. They are already diverting for the US Agent source material in an effort to give fans something new, and Walker joining the Ten Rings would be a great way to keep that going after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Lead the Thunderbolts
There has been a lot of talk about a Thunderbolts project showing up at some point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it would be pretty cool if the New Captain America was in the mix for that highly anticipated endeavor. Whether it is a film or a Disney+ series, this will definitely be Marvel’s answer to The Suicide Squad, and Walker would be a great addition to the crew as the one leading the charge on whatever wild ride they have in store for fans.
His attitude and no-holds-barred, rule-breaking demeanor may be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to choosing the right person to lead a bunch of untrustworthy, enhanced individuals for a mission of great importance with a danger level to the highest degree. And if Thunderbolt Ross is at the helm, Walker would make a solid Rick Flagg as the guy running things in the field.
If the Thunderbolts are, in fact, coming, it seems likely they would start laying the groundwork for those who will be in the lineup, and Walker would be a magnificent candidate to lead the entire ordeal after the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The New Captain America with Taskmaster, the White Wolf, Zemo, Agent 13, and Florence Pugh’s Black Widow would be something many fans would camp out all week to see go down.
Become The New Red Skull
The last time fans saw someone take the super-soldier serum, resulting in homicidal behavior similar to what was seen in the fourth installment of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (that wasn’t involving Bucky as the infamous Captain America nemesis), was the case of The Red Skull. This crimson-headed psychopath took the serum as well, and it did not turn him into a hero by any means.
Dr. Erskine told Steve back in Captain America: The First Avenger that the serum will make a good man great, so if it’s taken by an evil son of a gun, things will not end well. While Walker may not have the same expertise and experience The Red Skull had, he could very well become a new modified version of the dreaded Marvel villain.
As his time in the service and time as Captain America have only resulted in loss and pain with no significant change occurring, Walker may find answers in Hydra’s manifesto and come to terms with the notion that the nefarious organization’s ideals may be the only way to ensure the madness ends. While it may seem wild, it’s completely within the realm of possibility that he could very well become the new Red Skull to be the new rival for Sam Wilson’s Captain America after The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
Search for Steve Rogers
There may be an instance where Walker just simply realizes the error in his ways and surrenders the shield and the status of Captain America to a more deserving party. But then what will he do now that he has the super-soldier serum crossing through his veins? Will he allow himself to rot away in a cell, or will he search out the one person that may be able to give him some answers as to how to be a better hero?
There aren’t a lot of people that know what Walker is going through, and it’s hard to find many people who have successfully taken the super-soldier serum and lived to talk about it, But there is one individual in the MCU that the New Captain America may seek out after The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and he won’t have to go to the moon to talk to him either.
Steve Rogers is still out there somewhere as an old man living out his final days, most likely in solitude. It would be crazy to do something down the line that shows Walker meeting up with his predecessor for some words of wisdom on how to do better with the gifts he has been given. Casting a new actor to play Grandpa Cap with him acting as the Mr. Miyagi to a Padawan super-soldier who’s lost his way would be something Marvel fans could easily get behind.
What do you think will happen to John Walker after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier? Let us know in the comments below!