Why Falcon Doesn’t Have Captain America’s Shield After Endgame

Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) had Captain America’s shield at the end of Avengers: Endgame, but somehow it will find its way into a museum in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. At the end of the fourth Avengers movie, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) ended his career as Captain America in the MCU and handed the shield off to Falcon, who he believed should be his successor.

Falcon and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) will share the spotlight in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the second show on Marvel’s Disney+ slate in Phase 4, which will also bring back existing MCU characters Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), Batroc the Leaper (Georges St. Pierre), and Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp). Being introduced in the upcoming Disney+ series is U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), who in the comics was a more aggressive version of Captain America who temporarily replaced Steve in the late 1980s. A new trailer for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier previews a team-up between the titular heroes and their battle with the show’s villains.

The beginning of the trailer reveals that Cap’s shield will end up in a museum sometime after it was given to Falcon in Endgame. Clearly, it was his wish that Sam keep it, but it appears that this isn’t what will happen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – or at least, not right away. Based on the direction the story is expected to take with U.S. Agent becoming the new Captain America, it’s likely that government officials will have their own opinions on what should become of the shield. That’s to be expected, considering that they created Captain America. They may feel entitled to both the title and shield. If so, they could order Falcon to give it up.

It won’t help Sam’s case that he may have a weak argument if he tries to convince the government to let him keep it. Since the time travel mission was supposed to be kept a secret, he may not be able to give a detailed account of how he got his hands on the shield in the first place, or explain what happened to Steve Rogers. Perhaps, more importantly, there are the issues that they may have with Falcon, specifically. He may not be regarded as a fugitive anymore, but they won’t easily forget that Sam fought on Steve’s side in Captain America: Civil War. That reason alone is enough for them to pick someone else, since he directly defied an order from the government. In their minds, U.S. Agent would be a much more favorable choice to represent America and its ideals.

It could be that, after the museum scene, the shield will be removed and handed over to him, since he’s been seen using it. Giving it to him would make sense, based on what’s known about the character in the comics. John Walker is fiercely loyal to his country and he’s good at following orders. And while Falcon may share the same sense of patriotism, Walker is more likely to do what he’s told, whereas Falcon may lean more toward Steve’s idealism. That being said, U.S. Agent may not maintain possession of the shield for very long. By the time The Falcon and the Winter Soldier ends, it could be returned to its rightful owner.