The pilot episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier introduced a replacement for Captain America, and it wasn't title hero The Falcon. Instead, the man in the new suit is John Walker, and actor Wyatt Russell says he's steeled himself for the backlash.
Russell told USA Today, "People are probably going to hate it, and some people are going to love it." He continued to say that projects like The Falcon and The Winter Soldier "are there to make people feel emotions, and I'm hoping that that's what this show can do for people. Hopefully, they don't hate me too much." On the other hand, "it would be an honor, I guess, to be disliked in the Marvel universe," he said.
An elderly Captain America bestowed his shield to Sam Wilson/The Falcon (Anthony Mackie) at the end of Avengers: Endgame, revealing he had chosen to retire. In the first episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson donates the shield to the Smithsonian Institution's Air and Space Museum, but several months later, Walker is introduced to the public as U.S. Agent.
This mirrors a storyline begun in Captain America #323, published November 1986, in which John Walker is introduced as Super Patriot, an antagonist for the Star-Spangled Avenger. After Steve Rogers resigns, Walker is announced as his replacement in Captain America #333, published in September 1987. After a disastrous run, Walker becomes U.S. Agent in Captain America #354, published June 1989.
Russell says, "I don't think there's really been many MCU characters who've had quite the dilemma he's had in terms of trying to fit into this sort of moralistic superhero world. He's been thrust into this role as Captain America and he's going to do it his way, and he wants to do it right. But his way is a very specific way that he has learned through being basically a trained human hunter. I mean, that's what Marines are. They're not Steve Rogers, they're not the same. They're not like Boy Scouts anymore. They're a little bit more gnarly."
Directed by Kari Skogland, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier stars Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell, Noah Mills, Carl Lumbly and Daniel Brühl. New episodes debut on Fridays on Disney+.
Source: USA Today