A new MCU theory makes Bucky Barnes’ HYDRA brainwashing and the storyline of Captain America: The Winter Soldier even more heartbreaking. After he was reawakened in the modern era and recruited into the MCU’s original Avengers team, Steve Rogers’ Captain America remained under the employ of Nick Fury and SHIELD, becoming the organization’s most elite officer. This, however, put Captain America in the middle of the action when HYDRA, the society he’d fought during WWII, revealed that it had been growing within SHIELD with the help of their own super-soldier.

Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes had seemingly lost his life during a mission in Captain America: The First Avenger, but 2014’s The Winter Soldier brought him back as the тιтular HYDRA-controlled ᴀssᴀssin. While he is still haunted by his actions as the Winter Soldier, Bucky has since freed himself from HYDRA’s brainwashing, with help from the residents of Wakanda, and has rebuilt his strong friendship with Steve Rogers. It’s this powerful bond that informs a new MCU theory, however, suggesting that Bucky’s friendship with Steve Rogers might have been his downfall.

Chris Evans & Young Robert Redford Look Strikingly Similar

Robert Redford Played Alexander Pierce In Captain America: The Winter Soldier & Avengers: Endgame

In recent weeks, some have noticed that there are striking similarities in the physical appearances of Chris Evans and a young Robert Redford. Robert Redford joined the MCU as high-ranking HYDRA member and SHIELD’s World Security Council Undersecretary, Alexander Pierce, in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Redford started acting in the 1960s in projects such as War Hunt and Inside Daisy Clover and Butch Cᴀssidy and the Sundance Kid, and his appearance back then was very reminiscent of Chris Evans as a 1940s-era Captain America in the MCU, supporting a heartbreaking new Winter Soldier theory.

Alexander Pierce May Have Been Chosen As The Winter Soldier’s Handler For A Sinister Reason

Alexander Pierce Might Have Exploited Bucky Barnes & Steve Rogers’ Friendship

A new theory shared on Instagram plays off the idea that Chris Evans and a young Robert Redford look similar, noting that Alexander Pierce in the MCU may have looked like Steve Rogers at the time of Bucky Barnes’ brainwashing. Captain America: The Winter Soldier revealed that Alexander Pierce was Bucky Barnes’ handler within HYDRA, and he may have been given this role because of his similar appearance to Steve Rogers. Anyone else trying to control the Winter Soldier would definitely have been taken down, but the fact that Pierce looked like Rogers may have placated Bucky’s aggression.

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By simply looking like Steve Rogers, Alexander Pierce may have been a calming influence on Bucky Barnes’ subconscious, even if the Winter Solder didn’t remember his friend. This would have made Pierce the perfect brainwashing tool, as Bucky may have believed that it was, in fact, his childhood friend giving him commands to carry out the heinous acts he did as the Winter Soldier. Sebastian Stan has expressed interest in prequel movies focused on Bucky Barnes, exploring his activities prior to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, so Marvel could actually explore Alexander Pierce’s history, too.

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