I've Figured Out Why Bucky Barnes Isn't Leading The New Avengers In The MCU (Because He's Doing Something Better)

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Thunderbolts*Before watching Thunderbolts*, I was fully expecting Bucky Barnes to serve as the leader of the new MCU team. However, that’s not exactly the case. While Bucky may not be the Thunderbolts’ outright leader, I’ve decided that his actual role with the team is actually much better going forward in the MCU, both for the team and his character.

At the end of Thunderbolts*, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine publicly renames the Thunderbolts as The New Avengers. While it was a means for Val to save face following the Void’s attack on New York, the Thunderbolts* post-credits scenes confirm the Thunderbolts took in stride, having Val under their thumb while also embracing their new roles as the MCU’s newest superhero team. That said, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes isn’t exactly the leader of the New Avengers in the new MCU movie, though I’ve come to realize his true role on the team is far better.

Bucky Barnes Does Not Seem To Be Leading The Thunderbolts/New Avengers

Yelena Is Definitely More Of The Official Team Leader

At the beginning of Thunderbolts*, Bucky Barnes is serving as a congressman who’s trying to aid in the ongoing impeachment proceeding of Val as Director of the CIA, operating within the system. That said, Bucky eventually takes matters into his own hands after receiving intel about the OXE Group’s vault from Val’s ᴀssistant Mel. Encountering Val’s former ᴀssets that were supposed to kill each other but largely ended up working together, Bucky ends up apprehending Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, U.S. Agent, and Ghost so they can testify against Val.

Ultimately, Bucky convinces the group to look beyond their darker pasts to help him bring down Val after he learns about Bob aka Sentry: “The past doesn’t go away. So you can either live with it forever…or do something about it.” However, the movie gradually positions Yelena Beova as the group’s effective leader by the movie’s end. Likewise, the final post-credits scene in Thunderbolts* undoubtedly has Yelena in charge of the New Avengers, who’re now operating in The Watchtower (formerly Avengers Tower). That said, Bucky is notably featured over Yelena’s shoulder, offering recommendations and suggestions.

Why Bucky Is Better As A Mentor Rather Than The New Avengers’ Outright Leader

He’s A Chapter Ahead On His MCU Journey

Bucky Barnes takes his vibranium arm out of the dishwasher in Thunderbolts_ trailer

Rather than being the New Avengers’ team leader outright, it seems as though Bucky Barnes has become more of a mentor for the team. After all, Bucky’s been in the superhero game trying to make up for his own darker past for much longer than the rest of his new allies. He says as much to the team before the movie’s third act, telling them all that he’s been where they’re at, knowing that taking action in the right direction is what helps most when trying to deal with the past.

I do think that the mentor-type role for Bucky fits his character much better, rather than having a primary spotlight as a full team lead. He’s a chapter ahead of everyone else on this new team, who all share similar morally complex journeys. As such, that’s going to be a key advantage for the New Avengers going forward into the MCU heading into Avengers: Doomsday and beyond.

Bucky’s New Role Introduces A Fresh Team Dynamic For The MCU

Perfect For Legacy MCU Characters

Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes looking unamused in the Thunderbolts (2025) trailer

A “Mentor” role for legacy MCU characters like Bucky Barnes is something we may be seeing more of in the future. It’s certainly a newer team dynamic that could be pretty exciting for the MCU. After all, it currently boasts a healthy mix of characters who’ve been around as early as Phase 1 (like Bucky), and those who’ve only recently been introduced during the post-Endgame era of the MCU.

Just like Bucky having this kind of advisory role with the New Avengers, I could easily see someone like Vision or Clint Barton’s Hawkeye serving as a mentor to the next generation of heroes, like the expected Young Avengers. At any rate, I do believe that Bucky Barnes’ role with the New Avengers is a much better fit than being a full team leader. Overall, it definitely feels more like his style, and it’s going to be exciting to see how his journey continues alongside his new MCU team in the future.

Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters from Marvel Studios.