The Marvel Cinematic Universe wasted two villains set up in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as Marvel did not deliver satisfying futures for Baron Strucker and Crossbones. The second installment of Chris Evans' Captain America trilogy saw Steve Rogers pitted against Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier and a resurgent Hydra. Since the movie's ending pointed to Bucky's heroic turn, Captain America: The Winter Soldier left viewers with teases of two future villains for Steve and the Avengers. This included teases for Brock Rumlow to become Crossbones and the introduction of Baron Strucker in the post-credits.
It is understandable that audiences expected Crossbones and Baron Strucker to play big roles in the MCU after Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Frank Grillo's Brock Rumlow casting immediately teased his potential return and transformation into a powerful Marvel villain. Captain America: The Winter Soldier ends with Rumlow alive but severely injured, with the Russos even having the character's costume hint at the Crossbones turn in the future. The movie's post-credits scene also confirmed that Baron Strucker would be a factor in Avengers: Age of Ultron, teasing him as a major threat to the Avengers.
The MCU Killed Strucker & Crossbones Too Quickly After Winter Soldier
Instead of Baron Strucker and Crossbones playing important roles in future MCU installments, they both died within minutes of their next appearances. Avengers: Age of Ultron failed the comics' Hydra leader by having the Avengers quickly defeat him. This failure then played a role in Ultron killing him and using that to taunt the Avengers. Considering Strucker's introduction as one of the last remnants of Hydra, having Loki's scepter, and being responsible for giving Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch powers, the fact that he died so soon in Avengers: Age of Ultron gave the villain no chance to make a real impact.
Similarly, Crossbones died in the opening mission sequence of Captain America: Civil War. The movie finally gave Frank Grillo a chance to put on the Crossbones suit and fight Captain America, but it ended when he detonated a bomb in his suit. This was not the intended plan for Crossbones' MCU future, as the Russos have confirmed he was meant to play a more substantial role in the original plans for Captain America 3 before it became Civil War and Robert Downey Jr. signed on. While Grillo did have the chance to return in Avengers: Endgame briefly, his short-lived turn as Crossbones is a disappointment.
Marvel Already Missed The Perfect Chance For Strucker’s Return
Not only did the MCU waste Strucker and Crossbones' MCU potential, but it also already missed the best place for Baron Strucker to return. His role in Wanda Maximoff's origin means Thomas Kretschmann could have returned to the role in WandaVision. The Disney+ series featured flashback memories of Scarlet Witch's origin and the development of her powers. Baron Strucker's absence from these scenes was noticeable. WandaVision would have been the perfect place for him to be seen again, with the show's episodic nature possibly even allowing the MCU to flesh out the underused character further.
The expansion of the MCU multiverse does leave the MCU with unlimited opportunities to bring back any character in new ways, but these sorts of cameos are not as meaningful. A Baron Strucker return through the multiverse could be exciting if he is shown with his full powers and leading Hydra, but that will not change the fact that he is a very different version of the character shown in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. A return in WandaVision could have helped keep the character's story going.
