Recent developments surrounding Captain America: Brave New World have made one notable absence in the upcoming MCU movie much worse. Captain America: Brave New World is slated for release on February 14, 2024, and will feature Sam Wilson in his first solo cinematic outing carrying the eponymous mantle. The events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier saw him reconciling with the pressure of being bestowed the shield and responsibility of the title of Captain America despite being distinctly devoid of the Super Soldier Serum that bestowed Steve Rogers with his superpowers.

Steve Rogers was the first person on whom the super soldier serum worked as intended. Since then, the Super Soldier Serum has been misappropriated numerous times, but not before Arnim Zola and HYDRA were able to successfully replicate and administer the formula to Bucky Barnes, who was brainwashed to become the Winter Soldier. This story was adapted in one of the MCU’s greatest movies, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, with Bucky being closely associated with mind-controlled super soldiers ever since. That is, until now.

Marvel Is Continuing Bucky’s Big MCU Story Without Him

Exclusive footage of Captain America: Brave New World unveiled that mind-controlled super soldiers will be heavily involved in the narrative. This was shown to be the case as Isaiah Bradley (among others) attacked President Thunderbolt Ross after hearing a specific tone before Wilson sprang into action to protect him. It is a familiar scene as it emulates Bucky’s dark past before Shuri cured him of his brainwashing.

Bucky’s MCU story is inexorably linked to the Super Soldier serum and the fact he has been used as a weapon by nefarious actors. This has always been central to Bucky’s character, with the erstwhile Winter Soldier being racked with guilt over the grievous crimes he has committed while brainwashed by HYDRA. These include the murder of T’Challa’s father and both of Tony Stark’s parents, making him one particularly controversial figure and one focal point of Captain America: Civil War as the two Avengers sought their vengeance.

Barnes has since been undergoing treatment for the nightmares induced by his past before striking up a deep friendship with Sam Wilson, the new Captain America. The fact that Barnes does not feature in the next Captain America sequel, then, despite it also including brainwashed super soldiers is puzzling. He has come far since being a brainwashed weapon himself but is still far from completing a character arc heavily involved with the Super Soldier Serum.

Why Bucky Being Removed From The Super Soldier Story Hurts His Arc

Bucky Barnes has yet to reach closure on his tainted past. Despite being an integral participant in the continued defense of Earth, Bucky’s inner turmoil has nothing to do with Thanos or cosmic threats to existence itself. Instead, his arc concerns Earthly governments, the military, humanity, and the distinctly grounded repercussions and implications of their actions. Though the US government has exonerated Bucky Barnes for the crimes he committed while brainwashed, it is still unclear whether Bucky has exonerated himself.

This makes excluding him from a story that will continue the trend of mind-controlled soldiers being used as weapons against political figures a frustrating notion. It seems like the perfect context for Bucky to achieve inner peace as he fights against a force that removes free will from soldiers. Ironically, his upcoming appearance in Thunderbolts* seems poised to do the exact opposite, as he will presumably be a part of the team that a government organization has pulled together to enact their political will.

Why Bucky Isn’t In Captain America: Brave New World

Ultimately, excluding Bucky from Captain America: Brave New World has its merits. Bucky and Sam starred alongside one another in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but it is time for both to enjoy their individual time in the limelight. Captain America is also tied to the super soldier story, after all, and even more closely linked to the military and the US government (the clue is in his name). Therefore, having Captain America go it alone in his first solo movie will strengthen his character arc, as will having Bucky lead a team in Thunderbolts*.

Furthermore, Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* will be released within months of one another. It would be too much of a good thing to have Bucky star in both, while Thunderbolts* can still feasibly allow him to wrestle with his tumultuous past, especially given his proximity to government bodies. Until further details about Thunderbolts* emerge, there is little reason to assume that Bucky Barnes’ arc won’t be served just as well in his upcoming movie as it would in Captain America: Brave New World.