The Winter Soldier may return in Black Panther, says Sebastian Stan

Phase Three of Marvel's Cinematic Universe is laden with team-ups; Iron Man will be showing up in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Hulk will (probably) ragdoll Loki again in Thor: Ragnarok. As far as we know Black Panther will be on his lonesome in his 2018 solo film, but given how Captain America: Civil War ended - with the Winter Soldier going back in the freezer in Wakanda - that might not be the case.

While at Wizard World Philadelphia (via ComicBook.com), Sebastian Stan speculated on his character's future: "I don’t know, man. I mean, there’s obviously a very clear answer but I’m not maybe say it, now. Where did he end up at the end of the movie [Captain America: Civil War]? That’s the movie he should be in. I feel that would be the natural…but I don’t know".

Article continues below

Stan is right in that Black Panther would be the logical film in which to have the Winter Soldier reappear in the MCU. Indeed, Marvel have proven that they are second to none when it comes to planning ahead, and Bucky presently being in Wakanda is no accident.

Pondering what the Winter Soldier's role might be in Black Panther is really intriguing; the two characters were at odds for the majority of Civil War, but it ended with T'Challa doing Bucky a favour. Why the Winter Soldier ultimately comes out of hibernation - and what state he'll be in (Bucky is currently without his signature metal arm) - are fun questions that will hopefully lead to great payoffs.

Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther is released in UK cinemas on February 9, 2018 before opening in US theatres on February 16, 2018.

Images: Marvel

Amon is a contributing editor and columnist for Empire magazine, but is also a Film and TV writer for GamesRadar+, Total Film, and others. He has also written for NME, Composer Mag, and more, along with being a film critic for TalkSport. He is also the co-host of the Fade to Black Podcast, and a video mashup creator. Can also do a pretty good Bane impersonation.