Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Thunderbolts*.Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, one of the stars of Thunderbolts*, is one of the most beloved characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it seems like the franchise can’t find a way to put the former Winter Soldier in the important spot he deserves to be even after 14 years. In the comics, Bucky was Steve Rogers’ first successor as Captain America. I always thought that would be the case for Bucky’s MCU journey, as not only is he Steve’s best friend, but Stan had one of Marvel’s longest contracts early on, and Bucky is also a super-soldier.

However, Bucky was skipped in favor of Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson becoming the new lead of the MCU’s Captain America movies. While he lost that important part of his Marvel Comics story, I felt like Bucky’s confirmed presence among the stacked cast of Marvel’s Thunderbolts* could make up for it, as Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige confirmed Bucky would be the leader of the team. After having watched Thunderbolts*, I still have the feeling that even after 14 years of his debut in the franchise, the MCU is still sadly wasting Bucky Barnes’ potential.

Bucky Barnes Has One Of The Most Interesting Stories In The Entire MCU

The Character Has To Face An Incredibly Dark Past

Becoming Captain America might not be part of Bucky’s MCU story, but the character surely has one of the MCU journeys with the greatest number of interesting — and heartbreaking — twists. It all dates back to World War II, when Bucky served with his best friend, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, before he seemingly fell to his death. Then came the darkest period of his life. While we know the Winter Soldier-era Bucky was mind-controlled by HYDRA to murder so many people, being tortured between ᴀssignments, it was also the period where Marvel seemed to have a clear plan for him.

I love how Bucky’s journey is one of self-reflection and reclaiming power over his life. His brief Black Panther appearance helped show how he was freed from HYDRA’s mind control, with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier showing how Bucky was getting help to deal with his past and trying to atone for the sins he committed as the Winter Soldier. Despite the fact that the series was key to Bucky’s journey in multiple ways, Sam Wilson becoming Captain America was the true focus of the show. Going into Thunderbolts*, Bucky became a congressman, trying a different approach to justice.

Thunderbolts* Still Sidelines Bucky Barnes Despite Him Having A Key Role

The Former Winter Soldier Was Absent From The Action For Too Long

Since Bucky was a congressman and not someone doing Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s bidding before Thunderbolts*, he does not get trapped in the vault with John Walker, Yelena Belova, Bob, and Ghost. As such, he is absent from a large portion of the movie, with those four characters bonding and becoming the basis for the Thunderbolts to form into a team. Since Feige claimed Bucky would be the leader of the team, I was expecting Sebastian Stan’s MCU character to be deeply involved in the movie, which he simply was not.

I don’t mean to say that Bucky did not play a key role in Thunderbolts*. Bucky was the one to make the Thunderbolts become a team and go after Valentina, with his dark past and popularity in the MCU helping the other characters understand that they could be heroes, too. That said, it was clear that Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova was Thunderbolts*‘s main character and the de-facto leader of the team, not Bucky. He takes some time to become an active part of the story, and when he does, Bucky is not the main character I expected him to be.

Avengers: Doomsday And Secret Wars Might Be The MCU’s Last Chance To Give Bucky His Due

A Fracnhise Reboot Could Be Coming Soon

I really wanted Thunderbolts* to give Bucky Barnes the lead role that he deserves after his 14-year MCU journey so far, because I don’t know how much time we still have with him. Sebastian Stan is now 42, and while he could theoretically keep playing Bucky for another decade, I don’t know if that is necessarily what his career plan looks like. With Captain America actor Chris Evans mostly moving on from the MCU, Stan, who joined the franchise at the same time as Evans and followed him throughout the MCU, could be on a similar trajectory soon.

Avengers: Secret Wars is rumored to reboot the MCU, which would be the perfect way for veterans to leave and allow new actors to breathe life into characters like the original Avengers, Bucky Barnes, and more. With Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom being a major threat, there is also the possibility that beloved heroes may die, which could be the case for Stan’s Bucky, making for a heartbreaking death that impacts several characters. For these reasons, I hope Bucky Barnes plays a key role in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, as it could be Marvel’s last chance to do so.

All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday

  Release Date

  
  May 1, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

  Release Date

  
  July 31, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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