Is another person going to replace Steve Rogers as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before Sam Wilson gets his opportunity? Possibly, as Wyatt Russell has been added to the cast of Disney+’s upcoming series ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ as John Walker, a character that replaced Rogers in the comics during a storyline in the ’80s. He may be better known these days as the US Agent. This news accompanied the confirmation that Emily VanCamp will be returning as Agent 13, Peggy Carter’s grand-niece Sharon. Her return was revealed in May, but this makes it official.
‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ is one of the new TV shows being offered on Disney+, along with ‘WandaVision’, ‘Loki’, ‘Hawkeye’,and the just-announced ‘Moon Knight’, ‘Ms. Marvel’, and ‘She-Hulk’. Kari Skoglan (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’) is set to direct the six-episode series, with a script by Malcolm Spellman (‘Empire’). While details are scarce, it is believed that the show will follow as Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) graduates from The Falcon to the new Captain America. Also returning are Sebastian Stan as Bucky/The Winter Soldier, and Daniel Brühl as Helmut Zemo.
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John Walker originally appeared as the villain Super-Patriot, but later, when the US government stripped Steve Rogers of the title of Captain America, Walker replaced him. Rogers donned a new mostly black costume and called himself simply The Captain. After that storyline, Rogers reclaimed the role of Captain America, and Walker donned the black “The Captain” costume, but adopted the new codename of the U.S. Agent.
Walker was envisioned as a Captain America for the Reagan Era– a tougher, more aggressive and proactive hero, similar to the characters Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Willis were playing in movies of that period.
His replacement of Rogers came during a period when James “Rhodey” Rhodes had replaced Tony Stark as Iron Man for a couple of years, and Beta Ray Bill and later Erik Masterson did the same for Thor.
Wyatt Russell stars as the lead, Sean “Dud” Dudley on AMC’s ‘Lodge 49’. The second season of that series just kicked off. He also appeared in last year’s horror movie ‘Overlord’, and may also be recognized from the “Playtest” episode of ‘Black Mirror’. He is currently filming the upcoming Showtime series ‘The Good Lord Bird’, with Ethan Hawke.
It’s anyone’s guess what role Russell’s John Walker will first assume on ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’. Will he start out as Super-Patriot? Or will be debut as the new Captain America? Will he be friend or foe? We’ll have to wait and see!
Disney+ launches on November 12, with ‘The Falcon and Winter Soldier’ expected to debut in Fall 2020.
