Why Sam Wilson Is Captain America Now In The MCU

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World!Sam Wilson officially became the MCU’s Captain America in Phase 5’s Captain America: Brave New World after taking up the mantle in Phase 4. Within the MCU’s chronological timeline, Captain America’s iconography was born with Steve Rogers’ participation in Project Rebirth in Captain America: The First Avenger and has continued all throughout his time with the Avengers to the present day. The Captain America legend could have died with Steve Rogers’ retirement in Avengers: Endgame, but Steve himself chose to pass on the torch and keep Captain America’s legacy alive.

Sam Wilson earned his superhero status through sheer talent and resolve. Sam Wilson’s MCU journey started when he met Steve Rogers in Washington D.C., where Steve took a liking to Sam’s personality and background as a pararescue airman and veteran counselor. Sam helped Steve fight the Winter Soldier, became a mainstay member of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as the superhero Falcon, defended the Avengers’ compound from Ant-Man, stood by Steve’s side during the Civil War, and participated in the battle against Thanos. Hence, it’s no wonder why Sam was Steve’s first and only choice for Captain America when he retired.

Sam Wilson Was Given The Captain America Shield At The End Of Avengers: Endgame

Steve Rogers Knew Sam Wilson Was The Best Choice For Captain America

Unlike some of his teammates, Steve Rogers survived the events of Avengers: Endgame unscathed. However, Steve decided to retire as soon as possible, and he chose his successor long before he stepped into the Avengers’ time travel machine. This is why Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers’ best friend for over almost a century, nodded pleasantly when an older, post-time travel Steve Rogers gave Sam the Captain America shield. Steve chose to spend the rest of his life with Peggy Carter in the past, but he also felt morally obliged to return to the present and pass on the torch to Sam himself.

Steve never says it explicitly, but it’s later made clear that what convinced him to choose Sam Wilson over Bucky Barnes is Sam’s courage and humility. With no Super Soldier serum to aid him in battle, Sam Wilson fought aide by side with superhumans and risked his life for the cause, even sacrificing his freedom to uphold his and his friends’ ideals following the Avengers’ dissolution. Steve understood that Sam didn’t need any upgrades to become Captain America apart from the shield.

Sam Wilson Accepted The Role Of Captain America In The Falcon & The Winter Soldier

Sam Wilson Eventually Takes Up The Shield After Giving It Up

Sam Wilson accepted Steve Rogers' offer, but he didn’t feel confident enough to carry Steve’s legacy, which led him to give up the shield at the beginning of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The government saw this as an opportunity to create their own Captain America replacement, assigning the duty to John Walker.

Seeing Captain America’s legacy being transformed into a propaganda tool inspired Sam to recover the shield and fully accept the responsibilities of the role. Since they saw the differences between John Walker and Sam Wilson first-hand, the Dora Milaje provided Sam with a Wakandan-made Captain America suit. On July 7th, 2024, the new Captain America officially revealed himself to the world.

Captain America: Brave New World Was Sam Wilson's First Full Outing As The Character

Sam Wilson Fully Embraces Being Captain America

Although Sam Wilson eventually embraced the title of Captain America at the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it wasn't until Captain America: Brave New World that he had his first full outing as the character. It was the fourth film in the Captain America franchise, and the first without Steve Rogers, marking a significant moment for not only Sam Wilson to officially take up the mantle, but for the MCU as a whole. Like his friend before him, Sam Wilson shouldered the responsibility of what it means to be Captain America.

The film sees Sam Wilson caught up in a political conspiracy, akin to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and by the end, he is attempting to put together a brand-new Avengers team that will be ready to face any threat that might come to Earth. Whether or not Sam Wilson will succeed in putting together a team before something big comes is still too early to tell, but the next outing for the character is on the horizon.

What's Next For Sam Wilson (& Steve Rogers) In The MCU

Captain America Is An Important Piece Of The MCU

Now that Sam Wilson had his first film as Captain America, it opens up the question about where the character might go next within the MCU. It's possible that he could appear in Thunderbolts*, given his connection to Bucky and the fact that he might be looking to recruit some of the team members for the Avengers. If not there, it has already been confirmed that Sam Wilson is part of the cast for Avengers: Doomsday, which could already see a fully formed Avengers team again or still have Sam trying to put together one.

As for Steve Rogers, there have been reports that Chris Evans is returning to Avengers: Doomsday, though who he will be playing remains a mystery. It's possible that he could return as Steve, but he could be going the same route that Robert Downey Jr. did with Doctor Doom and play someone completely new within the multiverse.

Chris Evans addressed the reports of him in Avengers: Doomsday, denying them, of course, indicating that he is "happily retired." This is Marvel Studios, after all, and it is entirely possible that he will actually have a role, but the title of Captain America firmly belongs to Sam Wilson now.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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