Well…I had a cool theory about John Walker in Thunderbolts*. Originally the government’s chosen Captain America replacement, John Walker (Wyatt Russell) was unable to live up to the iconic shield as was seen in 2021’s Falcon and the Winter Soldier. However, Walker will now be featured as the U.S.Agent in the MCU’s upcoming Thunderbolts* movies, complete with a brand-new shield.

In Falcon and the Winter Soldier, John Walker’s Captain America took the Super Soldier serum developed by Wilfred Nagel for the CIA. Following the death of his partner Lemar Hoskins aka Battlestar, an unhinged Walker publically murdered one of the revolutionary Flag-Smashers using Steve Rogers’ shield, an act that saw him losing the mantle and shield along with a dishonorable discharge, only to be recruited by CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine to become the new U.S.Agent. While I had high hopes for Walker’s new role and shield, the newest trailer for Thunderbolts* has debunked a big theory I had in the funniest way possible.

I Really Wanted John Walker’s New U.S.Agent Shield To Be Made From Adamantium

Rivaling Captain America’s Classic Vibranium Shield

At the very end of Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Walker is shown sporting his new black and red U.S.Agent costume as Val’s newest operative. However, he didn’t yet have a new matching black and red shield like he does in the comics. That said, the very first trailer for Thunderbolts* had me very excited with the reveal that Walker will get his hands on a new gray shield, one I thought might have been made from adamantium.

Captain America: Brave New World is set to debut the MCU’s version of adamantium, an indestructible metal rivaling vibranium that’s most famous for being used in the Weapon X program to cover Wolverine’s bones and claws. As a result, I thought it would be pretty cool if Val had an adamantium shield made for Walker as an effective replacement for the traditional vibranium Captain America model, especially seeing how Thunderbolts* is set to be the next MCU release after Brave New World. However, the newest trailer seems to have debunked that idea.

The New Thunderbolts* Trailer Completely Breaks My MCU Theory

Walker’s Shield Is SUPER Bent

Hilariously, there are multiple sH๏τs in the new Thunderbolts* trailer where John Walker’s shield is extremely bent. It seems as though something will happen where the gray shield will practically be folded in half over Walker’s arm, and he’ll just be trying to make do with the lesser shield as best he can during the battle to save New York with his fellow teammates brought together by Bucky Barnes. To that end, it seems as though the upcoming movie is going the comics route where Walker is wielding a weaker shield compared to Captain America’s (with several replacements when/if they get damaged).

As a result, it really doesn’t look like John Walker’s shield will be made from adamantium like I was hoping for, which would have been a cool weapon and fun means of bridging the first two MCU films in 2025. That said, one could argue that Walker’s new shield could still be made from adamantium but gets bent by The Sentry, serving as a testament to the new character’s impressive powers and strength by bending an indestructible metal. However, that’s just conjecture. It feels more likely that John Walker’s shield is going to be made from a more common metal that’s easier to damage and bend.

Why I’m Not Too Upset About U.S.Agent’s Shield Problem

The Lesser Shield Highlights Walker’s Overall Character Arc

The new Thunderbolts* trailer definitely pours cold water on my adamantium shield theory. However, I’m not all that upset about it, as John Walker wielding a lesser, inferior shield does support his overall character arc. It very much helps represent his overall feelings of inadequacy, especially after his past mistakes and losing the opportunity to serve as the new Captain America in the MCU. Now, the challenge for Walker will be to overcome those feelings as the U.S.Agent to see if he and his fellow Thunderbolts can actually be heroes (something David Harbour’s Red Guardian humorously already believes they’re capable of becoming).

Marvel’s Thunderbolts* will be released in theaters on May 2nd.

Upcoming MCU Movies

• 
  
  

  
  

  Captain America: Brave New World

  Release Date

  
  February 14, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  Powered by

  
  

  
  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse