Published Feb 19, 2026, 10:00 AM EST
Kevin Pantoja is a writer and editor at Screen Rant based in New York City, where he brings deep expertise in blockbuster franchises ranging from Harry Potter and Spider‑Man to Succession and the MCU. A passionate storyteller with a creative writing degree (Valedictorian, Full Sail University), Kevin blends entertainment news, feature essays, and pop‑culture commentary into engaging, audience-first content
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At the emotional end of Avengers: Endgame, Steve Rogers handed over his shield to his friend Sam Wilson, trusting him to take over as Captain America. It was a great moment that fans enjoyed and they couldn't wait to see Sam's transformation into the legendary hero. Unfortunately, it hasn't happened.
As of now, Sam Wilson feels like more of an afterthought than the guy who could be leading the Avengers. That's a criticism of the writing of the Marvel Cinematic Universe rather than of the character himself. The franchise has stumbled along the way when it comes to Sam Wilson.
Sam Wilson Was In An Interesting Place After The Falcon & The Winter Soldier
After playing a supporting character for a while, Sam Wilson got his first chance to lead a project in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Alongside Bucky Barnes, Sam was able to have a journey where he feels like he earned the shield, even after denying it in the first place.
Ultimately, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier wasn't the best of Marvel shows, but one thing it did well was set up Sam's story. It was intriguing to watch him struggle with the idea of being a Black Captain America in a country that hasn't treated Black people well throughout its history.
When he finally officially becomes Captain America, he gets to deliver a heartfelt speech that fits in with what we've come to know from Cap. It sets Sam up for an interesting angle going forward.
Captain America: Brave New World Was A Bust
Unfortunately, we didn't see Sam for a few years and when we finally did, it was in Captain America: Brave New World. Giving Sam his own solo Cap film was a great call, yet the MCU mostly fumbled it. For starters, it was more of a sequel to 2008's The Incredible Hulk.
Even the biggest fans of that film weren't clamoring for a sequel nearly two decades later. It was just one of several reasons why Captain America: Brave New World received lackluster reviews from critics and audiences. At no point did this feel like a big movie for the greater MCU.
Sam also has a friend who is his new Falcon, which is, again, a fine idea. However, it's again poorly executed as Sam and Danny's friendship doesn't feel anywhere near as established as that of Sam and Steve, Bucky and Steve, or Sam and Bucky. That makes them a pairing that not many are excited to see more of.
Not Having Sam Wilson Appear Anywhere Else Was A Mistake
Another big thing holding Sam's time as Captain America is that he hasn't popped up elsewhere. The MCU doesn't feel as interconnected as it has in the past, but even small cameos would help. Sam has very few established connections in the franchise, so it's hard to buy him as a leader of the Avengers going forward.
We didn't see him for two years after Avengers: Endgame and then not again until his solo film four years after that. It's almost impossible to reach Steve Rogers' level as Cap, yet the MCU just hasn't done nearly enough to get Sam anywhere near that point. It's a major missed opportunity, especially with Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon.
Created by Kevin Feige
First Film Iron Man
Upcoming Films Blade, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars
First TV Show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Upcoming TV Shows Marvel Zombies, Wonder Man, Vision Quest
Cast Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Brie Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Simu Liu, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Barry Keoghan, Gemma Chan, Ma Dong-seok, Brian Tyree Henry, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, Jonathan Majors
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount's Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
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