The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Will Connect To At Least 3 Future Marvel Projects

The anticipation surrounding The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is at an all-time high, and this was further amplified by the slew of trailers that surfaced online. Based on what's been revealed so far, the upcoming Marvel series will reunite Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes for an action-packed adventure while also tackling the legacy of Captain America along the way. 

On top of that, the topic of heroism is expected to be one of the core elements that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will also break down throughout its six-episode run, which makes sense due to the inclusion of the star-spangled mantle. At this stage, it's unknown how Sam will deal with the responsibility of taking the shield from Steve, but the marketing for the film has already hinted that the Avenger will be hesitant regarding the matter. 

Now, a new tidbit about the much-anticipated Disney+ series has emerged, giving viewers a taste of what's to come for Sam and Bucky's MCU future. 

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER'S MCU CONNECTIONS REVEALED 

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier director Kari Skogland recently sat down with Entertainment Weekly to talk about the upcoming Disney+ series, and one of the topics discussed was the symbol of Captain America in the modern world. 

When asked about the definition of a hero, Skogland shared that a hero in today's world “embraces a whole other layer of responsible citizen” where she described it as a “first responder.” The director then compared this attribute to Sam Wilson, explaining that it is an essential part of the show's “exploration of what is a hero:” 

“Traditionally, a hero has been painted as being a warrior or a soldier of some kind, and now a hero embraces a whole other layer of responsible citizen, which is first responder, and more so than ever in our today's international story. Frontline first responders, which is also what Sam is, become very much an integrated part of our exploration of what is a hero.”

On a separate note, the show's head scribe, Malcolm Spellman, revealed that he's “not allowed to talk about" which other MCU projects will tie directly to the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but he did point out that there are “three projects” that he is aware of. 

Spellman also can't talk about if The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will have a sophomore run on Disney+, admitting that this tidbit falls under the “spoiler realm:” 

"We have a future charted for characters post-Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but I don't want to say much more than that."

A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR SAM WILSON AND BUCKY BARNES 

Skogland's comments about the definition of a hero in the modern MCU mirrors the real-world events that are happening right now. Comparing Sam to a frontline first responder could be more than just a reference to the character's backstory, but it could be a hint of the emotional and heroic journey of the Avenger in the series. 

Anthony Mackie already revealed that taking the Captain America mantle is a “major burden” for Sam, which means that the plot of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will likely include a lot of reflection for the character on why he is the right man for the job.

In a way, this could be where Bucky enters the mix, and this should serve as a prime opportunity for the former assassin to help Sam to realize that Steve made the right decision, ultimately leading to the conversation about the true meaning of becoming a beacon of hope for the world. 

This theme is essential, considering the current state of the MCU. Given that the narrative will be informed by The Blip, Sam's transition into Captain America is a necessary move in the eyes of the public. While the road to get there will not be easy, especially due to the government's plan involving US Agent, the evolution of Sam from a hesitant individual to a transformed hero by the end of the series should serve as a needed inspiration for the public. 

Meanwhile, the three projects that Spellman teased that would tie into The Falcon and the Winter Soldier remain to be seen, but the possibilities are endless. Given Don Cheadle's already-confirmed appearance as War Machine, it's possible that the premise of Armor Wars could be teased within the show. 

Based on the grounded nature of the series, there's a chance that elements of Hawkeye and Moon Knight could be featured, may it be a line of dialogue or a subtle Easter egg. Considering the massive scale of Secret Invasion, several plot threads from that series could be integrated into the story of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as well. 

Whatever the case, it's safe to say that Sam and Bucky's future is bright, and the series will only be the beginning of bigger things to come for the duo.