Summary
If there’s one character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe who has not been given their proper dues, it’s Bucky Barnes, also known as “The Winter Soldier.” However, with the upcoming release ofThunderbolts*, this could finally be about to change.
The newest entry in the MCU, directed by Jake Schreier, will hit theaters on May 25, 2025. It boasts a pretty killer cast of characters – no pun intended – that have fallen more on the villain side of the spectrum than that of heroes.Thunderbolts*involves a team of antiheroes who, finding themselves caught in a death trap, must go on a dangerous mission that will force them to look at the darkest parts of their pasts and overcome what they find.
One character that’s part of this new team on the scene is Bucky Barnes, which is fitting, seeing as he was once a brainwashed super soldier for Hydra, who carried out acts of terrorism and murder whenever his handlers felt the need arise. However, despite playing a large role in the comics and even having his own series more than a couple of times, the on-screen counterpart of The Winter Soldier has gotten shafted over and over again. ButThunderbolts* has an opportunity to set things right.
Inevery film and television seriesthat Bucky has appeared in, he’s always been the “sidekick” to Captain America. It was like this when Steve Rogers carried the mantle and when he bypassed Bucky and handed the Star Spangled shield to Sam Wilson. Which is a sizable deviation from the storyline in the comics.
In fact, in the comic books, Bucky takes up his best friend’s mantle and becomes the leading man of the Captain America series. But for some reason, the creative team for the films decided to go in a different direction.The Thunderbolts*can rectify this by making Bucky the leader of this team of misfits.
It’s time for The Winter Soldier to be given an opportunity to define his own purpose, his “why” for doing what he does. There’s so much depth to explore when it comes to Bucky that hasn’t been touched yet. Diving deep into his feelings of guilt for the acts he committed while brainwashed and doing Hydra’s dirty work. Or taking time to delve into themes of redemption, penance, and atonement for one’s dark deeds. How can he ever regain the trust of the public and be one of the heroes they need?
Also, Bucky Barnes has a lot of experience and is far more morally centered than the other members of the team, meaning that he is essentially theSteve Rogers to their Winter Soldier. The roles could be reversed, and he could experience the pressures of what it’s like to be a leader and an example for others to follow. This would be great for developing his character in later films and projects.
The Morally Gray Nature of the Team Reflects Bucky’s Own Struggle
With his own share of dark deeds from the past and his struggles with coming to terms with what he’s done and how to move on and forge a new identity, Bucky Barnes canrelate to the teaminThunderbolts*which is made up of a collection of messy, broken, troubled individuals with similar pasts hanging over their heads.
Bucky’s inner conflict, the deep desire to do good while wrestling with the violence he committed in the past, is the same kind of journey the members of the Thunderbolts team will take during the course of the film. Take Yelena Belova for example. She was a member of the Red Room, a program that trains people to become assassins. Her fate is similar to that of Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow. Like Bucky, she was brainwashed and turned into a human weapon, having a mission to kill hammered so deeply into her mind that she actually believed in it.
If anyone can walk Yelena through the task ofuntangling such a complex web of emotions, trauma, and identity crisis, it’s Bucky.
Thunderbolts* Could Address Bucky’s Guilt in a Meaningful Way
Several times throughout the MCU, there have been hints dropped that Bucky is racked with emotional pain and guilt over the actions of his past. However, he’s never been given a real opportunity to confront his guilt. It’s hard to imagine such an expansive universe not giving one of its top characters a narrative thread to explore their own trauma and reach the next stage in their own evolution. Alas, here we are.
The Thunderbolts*could feature scenes that would provide Bucky with a chance to experience catharsis, which can only happen if he’s placed in situations where he is forced to make hard moral choices, protect others, or face the darkness of his own past. This could be done through a confrontation witha nemesis from Hydra, for example, someone who digs at him and dredges up the guilt he buried inside until he has to face it and ultimately overcome it, if he wants to defeat the bad guy.
Bucky Barnes is a psychologically deep and rich character that has yet to be explored in a meaningful way. If the creative team behindThe Thunderbolts*is smart, they will take advantage of the chance they’ve been given and fix this problem. After everything this man has been through, it’s time the Winter Soldier gets an opportunity to deal with his past and put his true self out in the world.
