One of the coolest moments in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, starring Edward Norton, was definitely the credits scene. General Ross, played by William Hurt, gets a surprise visit from Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, who drops the bomb that he’s putting together a team: the Avengers. Looking back, it wasn’t the first post-credits scene ever, but it was the one that kicked off the biggest cinematic universe of all time. After that, post-credit scenes and cameos became Marvel’s go-to move for hyping up new projects.
Now, fast-forward to the MCU’s latest, Captain America: Brave New World, and we’re meeting a brand-new Star-Spangled Avenger. Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson is rocking the stars and stripes, leading his first MCU film after the OG Captain America, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), passed him the shield at the end of Endgame. But the shield wasn’t the only thing Rogers left Wilson. He also passed along his best friend, James Buchanan Barnes, aka Bucky, aka the Winter Soldier.
Wilson and Bucky held it down in MCU’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, (later renamed Captain America and the Winter Soldier), giving us a taste of what was coming. The MCU delivered, and Sam Wilson officially became Captain America. But what about Bucky? In Captain America: Brave New World, Bucky is apparently running for Congress, setting up his role in the upcoming Thunderbolts*. But when did this happen, and did we miss all the clues?
Honestly, there haven’t been many hints that Bucky Barnes would even consider politics, at least not on the big screen. But the idea isn’t that far-fetched. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson grapples with the responsibility of becoming Captain America and honoring Steve Rogers’ legacy, while Bucky works on making up for his time as the deadly Winter Soldier, attending therapy to process his actions as a brainwashed Hydra assassin.
Then, in Captain America: Brave New World—after receiving a presidential pardon for helping fight Thanos—he shows up when Sam needs a pep talk after his sidekick gets seriously hurt. Barnes knows all too well the guilt Wilson is feeling (having harmed so many unwillingly) and offers some heartfelt encouragement to the new Cap, reminding him that Rogers trusted him with the shield and what it stands for. Wilson then jokes about Barnes’s speechwriters before the conversation casually shifts to Barnes running for political office.
Even though the MCU hasn’t dropped many hints, some clues appeared off-screen during future project announcements. Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed Barnes wearing a congressional pin in the latest Thunderbolts* trailer, where he’s set to play a major role. Plus, actor Wyatt Russell, who plays US Agent John Walker, mentioned that Barnes is now a congressman during a red-carpet appearance a while back. But it sounded more like a joke than reality.
While it might seem unusual for the character and surprising to MCU fans, Bucky isn’t the first Marvel character to run for office in the comics. Comic book fans know that Tony Stark was Secretary of Defense, and Matt Murdock (Daredevil) was the mayor of New York City. Even Steve Rogers ran for president in the 1980s—actually, two versions of the character! One got elected, and the other dropped out. But for Bucky, running for political office is totally new territory, even in the comics.
Since his appearance in the Captain America comic book back in 2005, Bucky has been an Avengers staple, even taking on the role of Captain America at one point. He’s had countless adventures in the comics, including time travel and becoming Earth’s protector, but he never ran for office. Since he never actually got the shield in the MCU, maybe Marvel Studios is having him follow in Steve Rogers’ footsteps in his own way by running for office.
Whether that’s the reason doesn’t really matter, since the MCU is known for taking creative liberties with Marvel Comics’ material, chalking it up to the “multiverse” and moving on. The real question is whether his return to action in Thunderbolts* means he’s giving up his office, or if he’s truly dedicated to serving his constituents?
