11 Years Later, Marvel Is Running Out of Time to Give This MCU Character the Movie They Deserve

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2025 is another major year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with several projects across film and television coming to audiences. Thunderbolts* will bring together various characters from past MCU projects. One of the team’s most prominent members will be Bucky Barnes, otherwise known as the Winter Soldier. As the MCU has progressed, few characters have been around longer than Bucky since he first appeared in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. Bucky is one of the biggest supporting characters in the MCU, and his role doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.

Since the MCU has stumbled a little bit in recent years, Marvel Studios has been trying to recapture its past success by leaning on familiar characters and actors. While Bucky isn’t on the level of Captain America or Iron Man, he’s still a mainstay of the MCU who has become a key character in his own right. Black Widow was in a similar position as the Winter Soldier, and she eventually received a solo film. Now, Marvel Studios should give the Winter Solider the same treatment before it’s too late.

Sebastian Stan’s Star Power Is Rising

Sebastian Stan has had a long road to stardom and was best known for a role in Gossip Girl before landing the role of Bucky in the MCU. He initially auditioned for the role of Captain America but was later cast as in a supporting role. Bucky’s origins in the MCU took inspiration from the original Ultimate version of the character as Steve Rogers’ childhood best friend instead of a younger sidekick. Bucky seemingly met his end in Captain America: The First Avenger, but it turns out he survived the fall and became the Winter Soldier.

“It’s become really convenient to pick on [Marvel films],” Stan said. “And that’s fine. Everyone’s got an opinion. But they’re a big part of what contributes to this business and allows us to have smaller movies as well. This is an artery traveling through the system of this entire machinery, that’s Hollywood. It feeds in so many more ways than people acknowledge. Sometimes I get protective of it because the intention is really f***ing good. It’s just f***ing hard to make a good movie over and over again.” — Sebastian Stan defending MCU films.

Stan has appeared in many projects as Bucky in some shape or form, but amid his MCU, he’s also turned to independent films to build an impressive resume. Over the years, Stan has gone on to make a major impression in films like I, Tonya, and series such as Pam & Tommy. In 2024, Stan took an even bigger leap in his career with his performances in A Different Man and The Apprentice; the latter earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Stan continues to rise in the ranks of Hollywood, and since he’s already got a major role in the MCU, it would make sense for Marvel Studios to capitalize on it and move forward with a solo Winter Soldier film.

James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes made his comic book debut in Captain America Comics #1 in March 1941, created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

In 2005, Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting brought Bucky back from his longtime death in the comics as the Winter Soldier.

There have been countless incredible arcs in the MCU, and a lot of that has to do with the many appearances characters have made over the years. Bucky is certainly among the best, starting out as Steve’s best friend and then turning in the killing machine known as the Winter Soldier. Bucky would continue to play a major role in the Captain America sequels, with Steve doing whatever he can to save his brainwashed friend from HYDRA’s control. Captain America eventually succeeds, but Baron Zemo then frames him for killing T’Challa’s father. Winter Soldier also has to deal with his past missions, namely killing Tony Stark’s parents.

Bucky becomes such a pivotal part of the MCU that he tore the Avengers apart. Eventually, the Avengers reform to defeat Thanos, and Bucky joins that battle. Bucky has the ultimate redemption arc in the MCU that’s up there with Loki.His next appearance will be in Thunderbolts*, where he will serve as a congressional representative and also seemingly hunt down and then join the new MCU team. While Bucky may not be the new Captain America in the MCU, he’s still a complex character who’s ripe for more exploration. For instance, he becomes the Man on the Wall and defends Earth in space. There’s also room for Bucky to become a mentor type like Nick Fury down the road based on his background as a hero and a soldier.

An MCU Reboot Could Be on the Horizon

Avengers: Secret Wars is set for a May 2027 release.

Marvel Studios’ X-Men reboot is also rumored to arrive in 2027.

The MCU is currently in its second main saga, centering around the concept of the multiverse. There’s a lot of speculation Avengers: Secret Wars will wrap up all that has come before and lead to a reboot of the MCU, following a similar practice that occurs in the comics every few years. With a new MCU saga on the horizon, it’s expected to largely focus on mutants now that Marvel Studios has the rights to the X-Men and is currently developing a new film. The X-Men are a major corner of Marvel Comics and could easily carry the MCU for an entire saga.

Therefore, one of the biggest questions is how other Marvel heroes will fit into the MCU with a potential focus on mutants moving forward. If the mutants are the future of the MCU, then it could be hard for the Winter Soldier to have a place in it. Bucky also very much represents the early years of the MCU, and if the Multiverse Saga plans to end the first two decades of the franchise, then a proper send-off should happen sooner rather than later.

There aren’t many MCU characters left who deserve a solo film as much as the Winter Soldier because he’s been a key force in the franchise since the very beginning. As the MCU appears to be wrapping up all that has come before it, Stan deserves the opportunity to lead his own MCU project as the Winter Soldier. Bucky may not have succeeded Steve Rogers as Captain America in the MCU, yet there are still plenty of exciting directions to take him before a potential reboot comes.

There’s also the fact that Sebastian Stan has never been bigger as an actor, and with his Oscar nomination, it’s likely his rate will only go up. He’s a charismatic lead who can easily carry his own solo film in the MCU. Bucky is also one of the most layered characters in the MCU, with the best redemption arc next to Loki. Marvel Studios eventually gave Loki a spin-off, and it remains the best Disney+ series to date. The studio also gave Black Widow a solo film after serving the same role Bucky has. A Winter Solider film makes sense based on what’s come before, and it can lean into some of the MCU’s best moments. It just needs to happen before the franchise shifts its focus to the mutants.

“}]] Bucky Barnes has been part of the MCU since Phase One and continues to play an active role, but he’s still waiting for a proper solo project.  Read More