The Big Cameo in Captain America: Brave New World Is of Congressional Importance

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In Marvel’s “Captain America: Brave New World,” it’s no shock to see Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) debuting as Captain America, having starred in the 2021 Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” If you had a guess about who it might be, you’d likely be correct on your first try. What is surprising, though, is that this character’s appearance adds to the delight of the movie. Moreover, their onscreen presence hints at a future film with twists and turns that are both intriguing and unforeseen.

Spoilers to follow.

Following Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), who was the initial Captain America, passing his shield to Wilson at the end of “Avengers: Endgame”, Wilson struggled with the responsibility of the red, white, and blue mantle in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”. Here, he shared the screen with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), who was once a frenemy but became an ally to him – another gift from Rogers. Later in “Brave New World”, Barnes made a reappearance, sporting his signature long hair, providing Wilson with guidance and familiarity at a crucial moment. Meanwhile, Torres (Danny Ramirez), the new Falcon, had been seriously injured while attempting to halt a missile over the Indian Ocean, mirroring how Barnes initially perished during World War II in the Captain America comics. Wilson feels responsible for this injury.

Clearly, Barnes has experienced guilt deeply, having been a brainwashed assassin for many years, yet he subtly recalls why Rogers trusted him initially by reminding Wilson of this fact. This moment is heartwarmingly sincere, and if it were just a typical guest appearance, that would be the whole story. But then Wilson makes a light-hearted remark about Barnes’s supposed speechwriters aiding him in his words, and before anyone can fully grasp the comment or even notice Barnes dressed unusually in a suit – the conversation surprisingly shifts to him considering a run for political office.

Indeed, that aligns with the facts. Previously known as the Winter Soldier, he’s now embarking on a political journey aiming for your votes in the upcoming election to secure a seat in Congress. In fact, it seems we might have an idea about the election results already.

Intriguing viewers might have spotted Barnes donning a congressional badge in the recent trailer for Thunderbolts, Marvel’s upcoming team-up film that resembles Suicide Squad. Interestingly, his co-star Wyatt Russell hinted at this during a red carpet event several months ago, mentioning Barnes as a congressman. However, everyone around him seemed to dismiss it as a joke at first.

It’s not surprising that Barnes follows other Marvel superheroes who have ventured into politics, with Iron Man serving as Secretary of Defense, Daredevil becoming Mayor of New York City, and Rogers running for president in 1980 (he withdrew to avoid political bias, but an alternate version of him won the presidency in the Ultimates universe). However, this political ambition for Bucky is unlike anything seen in the comics.

Following his demise in a flashback during the 1960s, Barnes was reborn as the bionic-armed, mind-controlled assassin known as the Winter Soldier in 2005. Since then, he’s been a significant figure within the Avengers team. He’s assumed the role of Captain America, traveled through time, died and come back to life again, and even held the title “The Man on the Wall,” a crucial protector of Earth akin to the Watcher. Despite his extensive adventures, he’s never sought political office – until now.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Bucky Barnes didn’t inherit the shield like he did in the comics before Rogers, which may suggest that Marvel Studios is having him emulate Rogers’s comic-book role symbolically, though not as Captain America. With his age at 110 years old, Bucky will soon become the oldest active U.S. congressperson in history, surpassing South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond by a margin of only ten years. It remains unclear whether he’ll be the first congressperson to assassinate a president (though some interpret a subtle moment in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as implying this). Bucky’s political career is arguably one of the most significant off-screen events for any Marvel character, comparable to Hulk gaining speech between Avengers movies and Tony Stark and Pepper Potts repeatedly breaking up and getting back together.

In simpler terms, the trailers suggest that the character named Barnes will assemble a team that seems unusual for an unofficial task. This includes a former Black Widow and two characters resembling Captain America. The idea of a congressman going on such a mission is amusing, but it also introduces unexpected risks. It’s possible that there could be an investigation into his actions, or perhaps he’s being forced to do this due to blackmail, or maybe he’s extremely dedicated to his constituents. If he keeps the hairstyle, I’d definitely consider voting for him!

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2025-02-14 03:55