Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes has been a fan favorite in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for over a decade, but his absence from Captain America: Brave New World (2025) left many scratching their heads. Now, a new report suggests the Winter Soldier might still appear—just not in the way fans expected. Could this mean bigger things for Bucky in the future?
The last time Stan brought Bucky to life in live-action was in 2021’s Disney+ hit The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The six-episode series, helmed by Malcolm Spellman and Kari Skogland, paired Stan’s conflicted Winter Soldier with Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson. Together, they tackled global chaos while redefining what it means to be Captain America.
Mackie now headlines Brave New World, the fourth Captain America film, previously titled New World Order. The upcoming release explores shifting global dynamics, as hinted in the first trailer, which also brings back beloved characters like Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley and Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres. Yet, despite all the returning faces, one notable character is missing—Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes.
Mackie even referenced this, lamenting that he didn’t have his “friends” on set—likely nodding to Stan and Daniel Brühl’s Baron Zemo. However, Marvel insider My Time to Shine Hello claims that Stan will appear in Brave New World, but only briefly, likely teasing his larger role in Thunderbolts* (2025).
A cameo in Brave New World makes perfect sense given the film’s geopolitical stakes. With Thunderbolts* hitting theaters just months later, Bucky Barnes will step into the spotlight as a leader of Marvel’s anti-hero team, joining Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova/Black Widow), David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian), and Wyatt Russell (John Walker/U.S. Agent). Directed by Jake Schreier, the film promises a darker, morally ambiguous chapter for the MCU.
Meanwhile, Stan is fueling speculation about his character’s future. At Tokyo Comic-Con this past weekend, he lifted Captain America’s shield, teasing fans with the cryptic comment, “Not Captain America… yet” (via Comic Book Movie).
Bucky Barnes famously assumed the mantle of Captain America in Marvel Comics, and while the MCU has already passed the shield from Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) to Sam Wilson, Stan’s comments have sparked rumors that he could take up the role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) as a Variant.
Interestingly, Chris Evans is returning, but reportedly not as Captain America. Instead, he’ll apparently reprise a new version of his character, Nomad, alongside Robert Downey Jr.’s Victor Von Doom in Doomsday and Secret Wars.
Since debuting in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Stan has been a mainstay of the MCU and one of its most vocal defenders. Speaking to Variety, he dismissed criticism of Marvel films: “It’s become really convenient to pick on [Marvel films].”
“But they’re a big part of what contributes to this business and allows us to have smaller movies as well,” the actor added. “This is an artery traveling through the system of this entire machinery that’s Hollywood.”
Of course, Captain America: Brave New World isn’t without its controversies. The casting of Shira Haas as Ruth Bat-Seraph (inspired by Marvel Comics’ Sabra) has stirred debates given her character’s Israeli origins and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Marvel has since clarified that Haas’s character will be reimagined as an Israeli former Black Widow with ties to the U.S. government, distancing her from her comic book counterpart.
Outside the MCU, Stan continues to impress with roles in A Different Man (2024) and The Apprentice (2024), where he portrays a young Donald Trump.
Do you think Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes has what it takes to become the next Captain America? Sound off in the comments below!
