Bucky Barnes’ MCU future looks bright as a congressman in Captain America: Brave New World, but a historical detail dropped in Captain America: The Winter Soldier may reveal why he’ll be back to his old anti-hero ways in Thunderbolts*. Bucky Barnes’ MCU story is full of tragedies, from believing he lost his best friend in WWII to losing his arm and getting brainwashed by Hydra into becoming a killing machine. Bucky broke his Winter Soldier programming after the events of Captain America: Civil War, and he tried to start from scratch in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Following The Falcon and the Winter Soldier‘s optimistic finale, Captain America: Brave New World brought back Bucky Barnes in a cameo appearance, and revealed that Bucky is now running for congressman. However, Bucky may not spend too long in the political sphere, as he’s set to join Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s anti-hero team in the upcoming Thunderbolts*, where he’ll resort to some of his Winter Soldier skills to fight Sentry. In between Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*, some secrets about Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier past may come to light and ruin his political aspirations.
Bucky Barnes’ Worst Winter Soldier ᴀssᴀssination Could Ruin His Congressman Wishes
One Of Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier Crimes Might Be Unforgivable
At this point in the MCU’s timeline, most of the Avengers’ backgrounds are already public knowledge. Most of the world has forgiven Tony Stark’s warmonger origins, Bruce Banner’s disastrous Hulk-outs, and Black Widow and Hawkeye’s undercover ᴀssᴀssinations. Bucky Barnes’ participation in the Avengers’ battles against Thanos may also have helped people forgive him for his Winter Soldier crimes. However, the world may not yet know that the Winter Soldier ᴀssᴀssinated John F. Kennedy in the MCU. This piece of MCU history could be a game-changing revelation that would flip Bucky Barnes’ reputation upside down.
In Fox’s X-Men universe, Magneto is responsible for the JFK ᴀssᴀssination, though he argues that he was only trying to save the president, but failed.
Steve Rogers learned about Howard and Maria Stark’s deaths while discovering Bucky Barnes’ activities as the Winter Soldier in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Captain America: The Winter Soldier also revealed that Bucky killed JFK in the same scene, where sH๏τs of the JFK ᴀssᴀssination suggest the Winter Soldier was the real shooter. Regular citizens may forgive Wilson Fisk for his criminal allegations, and they may forgive Bucky Barnes due to the involuntary actions of his crimes, but Bucky’s role in such a historical event would be indefensible.
Bucky Barnes’ Congressman Career May Be Short-Lived Anyway
Bucky Barnes Will Be An Anti-Hero Once Again In Thunderbolts*
Bucky Barnes seems to be excited about his political aspirations in Captain America: Brave New World, but he appears to be apathetic once again in Thunderbolts*. If Bucky’s run for congressman worked, he likely wouldn’t be joining the Thunderbolts. So, regardless of whether Bucky’s role in the JFK ᴀssᴀssination comes to light or not, his destiny still seems to revolve around his anti-hero persona.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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Spider-Man Homecoming 4
- Release Date
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027
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