Marvel's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Disney+ series will include characters from the earliest days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Falcon and Winter Soldier writer Derek Kolstad told the Script Apart podcast that the Disney+ series intends to feature characters from the "earliest Marvel movies." Though he did not reveal which specific characters will return, Kolstad did say the characters will be reinvented "in a way that's gonna shift the storytelling structure."
Two characters previously confirmed to return in the streaming series are Georges Batroc, who was introduced in Phase 2's Captain America: The Winter Soldier and played by Georges St-Pierre, and Helmut Zemo, who actor Daniel Brühl brought to life in Phase 3's Captain America: Civil War. Both characters survived their respective cinematic debuts, with Batroc escaping after a ferocious battle with Captain America, and Zemo being taken into custody and imprisoned by the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre.
Kolstad's comments suggest the streaming series may incorporate characters from the MCU's Phase 1, which includes the first Captain America film, Captain America: The First Avenger. However, unlike the second and third Captain America films, The First Avenger is set in the past, specifically WWII, which may make incorporating characters in a present-day story challenging.
During the interview, Kolstad expounded on the unique focus of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He explained that both of the series' lead characters were essentially supporting members in the MCU films, comparing them to the sidekick status of Robin in the DC universe. "Here’s what I’ll say: growing up, everyone would give someone like Robin shit. But Robin’s pretty badass, and became pretty badass in the comics," Kolstad said.
According to the writer, the Disney+ series allows the formerly secondary characters to take center stage. Kolstad said that promoting the Falcon and the Winter Soldier to leads will result in "more humanity, more longing, more suffering, and coming to grips with who and what they are."
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, which concluded with an older Captain America retiring and passing his iconic shield to Sam Wilson/The Falcon, played by Anthony Mackie, while an approving Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, played by Sebastian Stan, looked on. The official synopsis for the series states that the two characters will "team up in a global adventure that tests their abilities -- and their patience." The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is slated to debut as the second Disney+ series, following the release of WandaVision.
Directed by Kari Skogland, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier stars Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell, Noah Mills, Carl Lumbly, Daniel Brühl and Danny Ramirez. The series debuts on Disney+ in 2021.
Source: Empire