Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan. Falcon, now Captain America and the Winter Soldier. Anyway, however you want to name this duo, it’s a pretty iconic one. In fact, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes even had a whole MCU Disney+ show all to themselves, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. And that’s why, since Captain America: Brave New World was announced, fans have been buzzing with one question on their minds. Will Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes appear in Captain America: Brave New World and reunite with his longtime companion Sam Wilson on his new cinematic adventures. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan have both been shooting down rumors of this occurrence. But, of course, they would. Now that Captain America: Brave New World is in theaters, we are here to answer the question on everyone’s minds. Did Bucky and Sam reunite? Here’s what went down.
Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes IS in Captain America: Brave New World
Surprise! Sort of. Bucky Barnes is, in fact, in Captain America: Brave New World, but only for one cameo scene. Despite heavy implications from Marvel that Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie hadn’t filmed together since The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, they do reunite in Captain America 4. Stan’s Bucky Barnes appears later in the movie than we may have thought, just before the third act begins. But we are glad to see him when he does.
What Happens In Bucky Barnes’ Cameo Scene in Captain America: Brave New World
So Bucky Barnes appears and reunites with Sam Wilson in Captain America: Brave New World, but what happens in their one scene together? Bucky arrives to comfort Sam at one of his lowest points in the movie. Although Sam managed to avert an all-out world war over the adamantium found in the dead Celestial, his teammate and mentee Joaquin Torres was severely injured during the fight to preserve peace and is now critically wounded and in surgery fighting for his life. Additionally, Sam’s mentor and friend, Isiah Bradley, remains in prison, framed for an assassination he had no choice but to attempt.
In his cameo, Bucky arrives to be a sounding board for Sam in this critical moment of doubt in Captain America: Brave New World. At the crux of the conversation between Bucky and Sam is Sam questioning whether can be a successful Captain America as a serum-less human and whether or not he measures up to Steve Rogers.
“Steve made a mistake.” Sam reveals his doubts to Bucky in one of his most vulnerable Captain America: Brave New World moments. Sam Wilson thinks Steve Rogers might have made a mistake in choosing him to become Captain America. But Bucky assures him that Steve Rogers didn’t give Sam the shield and Captain America title because he was the strongest of all heroes but because he was Sam Wilson, a compassionate, empathic, and good human being. Sam Wilson is enough.
What Does This Sam and Bucky Reunion Scene Reveal About the Characters
The reunion between Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes is one of the most beautiful scenes in Captain America: Brave New World. You can really feel the chemistry and the history between the characters and actors. It kind of makes us wish they could have spent a whole movie together instead of apart.
But even in one small cameo, Bucky and Sam reveal a lot about one another in this moment. On Sam’s part, it’s really nice to see an MCU hero, especially a man, reveal so much vulnerability about himself, and during a quiet conversation and not a fight at that. Sam Wilson is willing to lean on his friends and express his fears and that’s what makes him truly right to be Captain America.
Meanwhile, on Bucky Barnes’ end, this Captain America: Brave New World cameo scene reveals the clear impact a friendship with Sam Wilson has had on him. After spending years as a human weapon, Bucky has had a lot of emotional growth and healing to do. While his therapy sessions in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier did not pass our approval meters, telling Sam, “I love you, buddy” is a nice way to show all the evolution that Bucky Barnes has had in the MCU. In this emotional scene, Bucky Barnes is able to reflect back the counseling and love that Sam Wilson has given him throughout the years and truly be there for his friend. We’re also glad to see Bucky rocking his longer hair again in Captain America: Brave New World. That is the true character development we have been looking for.
We Learn Bucky Is Running For Congress in this Captain America 4 Scene, Setting Up the Thunderbolts*
On a more serious business note, we learn something very important about Bucky Barnes’ MCU future in this scene. It’s revealed in Captain America: Brave New World that Bucky Barnes is running for Congress. Sam jokes that his speech writer helped Bucky write his comforting words to Sam. And Bucky reveals that he’s late for a campaign fundraiser. Captain America: Brave New World also refers to him as “Future Congressman James Buchanan Barnes.” We don’t know what state Bucky Barnes is running for congress in, what political party he belongs to, what his platform is, or anything else.
We feel… dubious about this political journey for Bucky Barnes. We have to say we never saw that coming. But we guess this Captain America: Brave New World scene sets up Bucky Barnes’ journey in his next MCU appearance, Thunderbolts*. Will Bucky’s political aspirations go wrong, forcing him to work for the government as part of this anti-hero team? Will Bucky’s Congressman status actually help create the Thunderbolts in the first place? We know Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is the Director of the CIA and so involved with the government, and she’s putting together the Thunderbolts team in the MCU. Is this how Bucky Barnes will come into her sights? Only time will tell.
There Are 3 Other Bucky Barnes References in Captain America: Brave New World
In addition to Bucky Barnes’ cameo scene in Captain America: Brave New World, Bucky Barnes is actually referenced three more times.
Firstly, Sam Wilson mentions Bucky Barnes when discussing how Isaiah Bradley might have been framed for attempting to assassinate the president. He tells Joaquin Torres that he once had a friend who could be controlled using trigger words. Bam, that’s Bucky.
Secondly, we see a picture of Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson in Sam’s apartment during Captain America: Brave New World. Bucky is sporting his short haircut, making us feel like this picture was taken during The Falcon and the Winter Soldier days. It’s nice to see that Sam keeps a picture of him and his friend around to make his apartment feel like home.
Finally, while fighting Red Hulk during the final battle of Captain America: Brave New World, Sam Wilson proclaims, “Should have taken that serum, Bucky’s full of shit.” And yep, that’s the relationship we know and love between Buck and Sam in the MCU.
Will Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson Reunite Again in the MCU?
Sam is now building a new Avengers team, and, meanwhile, Bucky Barnes is about to join the Thunderbolts because “the Avengers are not available.” It’ll be interesting to see if Sam and Bucky’s paths meet again in the Thunderbolts* and if they’ll end up on clashing teams. But we bet, if nothing else, that the pair will reunite in the upcoming Avengers movies. Captain America: Brave New World doesn’t seem like the last time we’ll see Bucky and Sam on screen together.
Captain America: Brave New World is in theaters today.