Marvel Studios' Avengers: Endgame culminated with Steve Rogers traveling back in time to return the six Infinity Stones. After completing his mission, though, he chose to remain in the past with Peggy Carter, eventually reuniting with Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson in the present day as an elderly man.
It was then that Steve passed on his shield -- and the mantle of Captain America -- to Sam, and according to Joe and Anthony Russo, there's a good reason for him choosing Falcon over the Winter Soldier.
"The thing we’ve loved exploring about Bucky is, he’s got a very complicated history," Anthony said. "He has a damaged mind. You don’t want to hand a very powerful weapon to somebody who is vulnerable like that."
"Falcon is an amazing character who is certainly very deserving of the shield," Joe added.
In the comics, both Bucky and Sam have served as Captain America -- Bucky after Steve was killed following Civil War and Sam after Steve had the super-soldier serum stripped from his body, which transformed him into a frail old man.
Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Avengers: Endgame stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Brie Larson, Paul Rudd, Don Cheadle, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira and Bradley Cooper, with Josh Brolin as Thanos. The film is now available on Digital HD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD.
Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson will reunite in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+ in fall 2020.