How Thunderbolts* Continues The Story Of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

By Ben Gibbons

Published Sep 24, 2024

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Custom image by Yeider Chacon

With the trailer for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier almost appearing like a prequel. The MCU has built an empire on interconnected stories, with heroes appearing across numerous films and teaming up. Throughout the Infinity Saga, this momentum of bringing heroes together continued to build at a rapid pace before the crescendo that was Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

However, despite these connections being established in the original Saga, the Multiverse Saga has yet to feature an epic team-up of various heroes. Of course, there were numerous crossovers, but none came close to the scale of the earlier hits. In fact, this played out in the shows as well, with the likes of TFatWS featuring a hero team-up, but still lacking a bigger connection. Fittingly, the MCU is now set to use that story as part of the foundation for the first real super team crossover film of the Multiverse Saga.

How Thunderbolts* Continues Bucky's Story After The Falcon And The Winter Soldier

The Winter Soldier Is Still Searching For His Purpose After Steve

Of course, the movie brings characters back from early entries, such as Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Black Widow, but there is one pivotal rivalry that will continue into Thunderbolts*. As TFatWS wrapped up in the final episodes of the limited series, Bucky is able to confront his dark past when he reveals his identity as the Winter Soldier to his neighbor, whose son he had killed while under Hydra's control. While this provides a satisfying resolution for the reformed assassin, his future is less certain.

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10 Biggest Thunderbolts* Reveals & Hidden Details In Marvel's New Trailer

Thunderbolts dropped a lengthy teaser trailer eight months before the film's release, with some big reveals hidden in plain sight throughout.

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With Sam Wilson and Bucky setting off on separate paths, Bucky's future is left in limbo. Wilson goes on to become Captain America, and will star in his own feature film where he will go head-to-head with several major villains, but Bucky is still trying to adjust to life without Steve, and without a clear purpose. While he was heroic at times, and his past was muddied by evil influences, Bucky does not feel worthy of being a superhero. Unfortunately, it appears that the confusion and manipulation is still underway, with Bucky appearing to fight both for and against the Thunderbolts in the film.

How Thunderbolts* Continues John Walker's Story After The Falcon And The Winter Soldier

John Walker Becomes The U.S. Agent

On the other hand, John Walker had a clear future laid out for him as the new Captain America with the government's backing. He was injected with super soldier serum and given the shield that Steve once used in order to protect and save the world on multiple occasions. However, Walker was far less noble, and more easily influenced by power and fame. His journey in TFatWS saw him gradually fall from his heroic position, to become something far darker and more brutal.

Despite losing his position as the official Captain America, he was approached by Valentine Allegra de Fontaine at the end of TFatWS to recruit him as part of a special secret task force. Thunderbolts* is set to explore that new team, and what happened in the time between the series and the movie as Walker appears to continue to struggle with the loss of his title and shield. Interestingly, Thunderbolts* will also see Walker and Bucky team up after having fought on opposite sides throughout TFatWS.

Thunderbolts* Finally Reveals The Team Valentina Allegra de Fontaine Assembled

To date, the mysterious Valentina has also appeared in a handful of other MCU projects where her presence and influence has hinted at something much bigger coming down the line. In a similar vein to how Nick Fury would appear in random MCU films during the Infinity Saga, recruiting the Earth's Mightiest Heroes for some mysterious purpose, Valentina appears to show up and recruit more murky characters who possess extraordinary talents. In addition to TFatWS, she appeared in a post-credits scene during Black Widow where she appears to recruit Yelena.

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Then again, she shows up in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever when some hints about who she is finally appear, as she has been appointed the new director of the CIA. She was also formerly married to Everett K. Ross, the CIA agent who first appeared in Captain America: Civil War. It's clear that Valentina has considerable influence, but why she is recruiting some of the least savoury heroes of the MCU is still unclear. Fortunately, Thunderbolts* is positioned perfectly to clarify both her story and continue the events established in TFatWS.