Falcon and the Winter Soldier star Sebastian Stan doesn't know what the future holds for the MCU's Winter Soldier.
In an interview with Comicbook.com, Stan was asked if he knew when Bucky Barnes would be returning to the MCU. "I don't, I really don't," he said. "I haven't known that for ten plus years, I always am very happy when I get to live another day, hopefully before I get too old. We'll see, anything is possible." Stan has previously stated that he would keep playing Bucky as long as Marvel wanted him to, saying, "As long as they'll keep calling, I'm there...I'm just going for the ride."
Stan first appeared Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers's best friend and fellow soldier who was brainwashed into becoming an assassin, in 2014's Captain America: The First Avenger, and again in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Civil War as well as appearances in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. He went on to co-headline his own TV series in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier opposite Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson. The show ended with Sam taking up the mantle of Captain America following Steve's retirement and John Walker's disastrous attempt at playing super-soldier.
Marvel has already confirmed that the upcoming fourth Captain America film will focus on Sam's new status as the Star-Spangled Hero. Vice President of Production and Development said of Sam's journey, "He's going to be the underdog in any situation. He's not a super-soldier. He's not a hundred years old. He doesn't have the Avengers. What happens with this guy who announces publicly kind of, without the support, 'I'm new Captain America.' What happens next? I think is fascinating because he's a guy. He's a guy with wings and a shield, but he is a guy." Considering Sam has an established relationship with Bucky, it's not unreasonable to think the Winter Soldier could have a part to play in the next step of the Captain America saga.
Additionally, a part of Bucky's journey sent him to Wakanda, where he was finally deprogrammed of his brainwashing and gifted a new metal arm and the nickname "White Wolf." Stan has said he'd "absolutely" want to be a part of future stories set in the kingdom. While there are no reports yet of Bucky making an appearance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel is developing a spin-off series focusing on other parts of Wakanda, so there is potential for other MCU characters, including Bucky Barnes, to be a part of that story as well.
Fans can witness the latest part of Bucky's story in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, available to stream on Disney+.
Source: Comicbook.com