Marvel Studios should introduce one major Captain America villain who has been missing from the MCU to perfectly explain a controversial storyline from Phase 4's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Both Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson have taken on powerful villains as Captain America, but there are many more from Marvel Comics who haven't yet faced the MCU's Star-Spangled-Man. With Sam Wilson taking on the Red Hulk, the Leader and the Serpent Society in Captain America: Brave New World, now may be the perfect time to debut another formidable foe.
Captain America: Brave New World will mark Sam Wilson's theatrical debut as Captain America, releasing four years after he officially assumed the title at the end of 2021's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Sam Wilson teamed up with Bucky Barnes to fight the Flag Smashers, while another returning MCU character also had a prominent role in the Phase 4 series. This culminated in one of the MCU's most confusing storylines, however, as the former hero was controversially transformed into a sinister villain, but Marvel Studios could easily explain this weird evolution.
Sharon Carter’s Villain Twist In The Falcon & The Winter Soldier Was Controversial
Emily VanCamp's Sharon Carter Became The Power Broker In Phase 4
Emily VanCamp reprised her role of Sharon Carter in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, adding another Captain America-related character to the series' roster. However, the former SHIELD agent was revealed to have become the powerful Power Broker, Madripoor's most influential crime boss, after becoming a fugitive from the United States in Captain America: Civil War. Sharon Carter being revealed to be a bona fide villain in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier came out of left field, and was a surprising and unwelcome alteration to her character.
What If...? just reminded audiences of a controversial Phase 4 twist involving Sharon Carter, which doesn't spell good news for her MCU return.
Back in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Civil War, Sharon Carter had been a staunch ally to Steve Rogers' Captain America, and even, disturbingly, his brief love interest. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier could have given Carter a return to grace, perhaps even allowing her to follow in her Aunt Peggy's footsteps, but, even after being officially pardoned, she still set to work infiltrating government secrets for her own nefarious purposes. This controversial twist could now be redeemed, however, if Marvel Studios debuts one iconic Captain America villain in the MCU.
Doctor Faustus Manipulated Sharon Carter To Become A Villain In Marvel Comics
Sharon Carter Killed Captain America In Marvel Comics
Johann Fennhoff, a.k.a. Doctor Faustus, is one of Captain America's oldest adversaries in Marvel Comics, having made his first appearance back in 1968's Captain America #107. Fennhoff is a psychiatrist and criminal mastermind who uses psychological manipulation to bring his enemies to their knees, rather than physical strength. This makes him a truly sinister villain, and this was perhaps most evident during 2006's Civil War storyline, which saw him manipulate Sharon Carter into falling in love with Steve Rogers' Captain America and ultimately into assassinating the Star-Spangled-Man.
Ralph Brown portrayed Johann Fennhoff in the first season of Marvel Television's Agent Carter series, but this show is not currently considered to be canon to the MCU's main timeline, so a new Doctor Faustus could still be introduced.
The fact that Doctor Faustus manipulated Sharon Carter into becoming a villain and murdering Steve Rogers in Marvel Comics means there is precedent for this story to also be explored in the live-action MCU. Introducing Doctor Faustus could provide the perfect explanation for Sharon Carter's villainous turn in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, as well as creating the opportunity for other psychological stories to unfold in the MCU. Steve Rogers was soon revealed to have survived in Marvel Comics, but Doctor Faustus' impact on the MCU could be much more permanent.
Doctor Faustus Would Be A Fantastic Villain For Sam Wilson & Sharon Carter In The MCU
Sharon Carter's MCU Future Is Uncertain After The Falcon & The Winter Soldier
In lieu of having many physical attributes, Doctor Faustus instead became one of Captain America's most grounded and sinister antagonists in the decades since his 1968 debut. In his first appearance in Captain America #107, Faustus induced nightmarish hallucinations in Steve Rogers' mind, which would be amazing to see adapted for a Sam Wilson storyline in the MCU, particularly since Sam wasn't involved in the fight against the Scarlet Witch in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Doctor Faustus also has a long history with the Carter family, so it would make sense to connect him to Sharon Carter in the MCU.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier ended with Sharon Carter being pardoned and promising to infiltrate the United States government to steal state secrets and equipment, and that was the last time she was seen in live-action. Variants of Sharon Carter have appeared in Marvel's What If...? series, as recently as 2024's season 3, but her live-action future in the MCU has not been confirmed. It would be great to see Emily VanCamp's Sharon Carter return alongside Sam Wilson to battle Doctor Faustus, hopefully restoring her to a bona fide hero.
Where Could Doctor Faustus Debut In The MCU?
Doctor Faustus Could Have A Bright Future In The MCU
Marvel Studios has many opportunities to debut Doctor Faustus in the MCU, though his most likely introduction would take place in an upcoming Captain America movie. Captain America: Brave New World is already packed full of villains, so it's unlikely Johann Fennhoff will appear alongside the Red Hulk, the Leader and Sidewinder. It seems likely that Brave New World will lead to more solo movies starring Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson, however, and one of these future projects could pit Captain America against Doctor Faustus in a grounded, psychological storyline.
Sam Wilson's MCU Project
Year
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
2014
Avengers: Age of Ultron
2015
Ant-Man
2015
Captain America: Civil War
2016
Avengers: Infinity War
2018
Avengers: Endgame
2019
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
2021
What If...? Season 3
2024
Captain America: Brave New World
2025
Captain America isn't the only hero that Doctor Faustus has taken on in Marvel Comics, so the villain could debut in any number of upcoming MCU projects. Faustus once briefly controlled Peter Parker, so Tom Holland's new Spider-Man trilogy could feature the sinister antagonist, while he has also fought Daredevil, the Fantastic Four, Black Widow and Ms. Marvel. This could mean that Doctor Faustus may debut in future storylines after Daredevil: Born Again, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Thunderbolts* and even a possible, but unconfirmed, Ms. Marvel season 2.
There are many powerful Avengers villains from Marvel Comics that haven't yet appeared in the MCU, but may have already been set up for the future.
Marvel's 2022 Midnight Suns video game saw Doctor Faustus fight to resurrect Lilith and bring her under HYDRA's control. This could lead to Faustus debuting to become a formidable villain to the MCU's rumored Midnight Sons team. Whatever the future might hold for Johann Fennhoff's Doctor Faustus in the MCU, there's no doubt he'd somehow be connected to Captain America and Sharon Carter. This means he could become the perfect vehicle to explain Sharon Carter's The Falcon and the Winter Soldiertwist, which many still want to see resolved.
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