Episode 2 of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has only just premiered, but we’ve already got some THOUGHTS about how the show will change the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

So, buckle up and get ready to dive into the post-Blip world of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier with these 5 fan theories you need to know about!
Redefining Heroes
Now that the world has completely changed in the aftermath of Thanos and the Avengers, it wouldn’t be a major surprise to see our heroes undergo changes as well. Despite the fact that John F. Walker has the Captain America suit and shield right now, there are quite a few hints towards the fact that Sam Wilson will most likely take up Cap’s title at the end of the show.

Sam does, in fact, become Captain America in the comics as he passes on the legacy of the Falcon to one Joaquin Torres. And, we’ve already met the spunky soldier during the first episode as he continues to make a name for himself in the series.

Of course, we can’t forget Bucky Barnes, who has been trying his best to leave his Winter Soldier days in the past. As he continues on his journey of self-acceptance, it will most likely be a new era for the character. And, this could mean that he adopts a new name as well! While we could see a possibility of Sam and Bucky working together as some sort of “Team Captain America,” Barnes actually may fully lean into the White Wolf title he was given in Wakanda.

And, that leads us into our next theory… .
Black Panther Lead-In
There’s already been quite a few references to Wakanda, and we’re only through two episodes of the series. Since The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will be connected to three upcoming Marvel projects, there could be huge hints towards what the next Black Panther film could look like.

The series has been more like an actual Marvel film cut up into parts, so we could easily see there being an end-credits scene leading into Black Panther 2.
Who’s the Villain Here?
There have been an entire slew of villains that have appeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier already, so it’s hard to figure out who is the REAL big baddie. The Power Broker’s name was dropped during the last episode, which explains the entire super soldier issue happening in the post-Blip world. Curtiss Jackson is the Power Broker in the comics, who happens to make a living off transforming his clients into super soldiers.

Mad scientist Dr. Karl Malus teams up with him to use the serum on the Power Broker’s clients. Later on, U.S. Agent John F. Walker is able to receive his own Super-Patriot powers through the Power Broker company. After he becomes yet another super soldier, he does become overcome by power in the comics. So, will John fall into the cycle of Marvel villains as an evil version of the Captain America? Only time will tell!

BUT, we do know that Helmut Zemo will be featured in the show, as seen on the series posters. His goal in Captain America: Civil War was to destroy the Avengers. So, it would make sense to do so by outnumbering them with additional super soldiers that have the same strength. Zemo hates genetically modified individuals, so he could dispense of them once they’ve done his bidding.

While half the population can’t disappear like in the Blip, Zemo’s perfect world would be one where the Avengers and super soldiers are both gone. And, he could be getting closer with the help of the Power Broker and John F. Walker.
The Thunderbolts
The aftermath of The Falcon and the Winter Soldiers could introduce the “Thunderbolts” put in place by General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. These super soldiers are utilized by the government to create a superhero team that responds to U.S. authority (which means that there could be room for MAJOR corruption).

Zemo helped aid the Thunderbolts in the comics, which means he could be working for the government to weed out the importance of the past Avengers. So this idea of super soldiers, mutants, and other threats could continue to affect Bucky and Sam, not to mention the heroes featured in future films and shows.
Young Avengers, Here We Come!
We’ve been introduced to basically an entire team of Young Avengers as of now. WandaVision gave us Billy and Tommy, while The Falcon and the Winter Soldier just debuted Elijah as the person who later becomes Patriot. We’ve also seen Cassie Lang as part of the Ant-Man franchise, and we know that Kate Bishop will be in Hawkeye and America Chavez will be in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

This is a HUGE deal, since many fans have been speculating that the next group of Avengers could be passed down to a set of Young Avengers. As we step into the next phase of Marvel shows and movies, we would LOVE to see the children of our favorite heroes make a name for themselves in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

We’ll have to keep updating you on all things Marvel as more shows and movies make their debut. Stay tuned with All Ears for the latest entertainment and news!
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What are some of your The Falcon and the Winter Soldier theories? Let us know in the comments below!
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