No longer is Bucky Barnes causing headaches as the Winter Soldier; instead, Sebastian Stan’s anti-hero has gone full circle to become the White Wolf, a straight-laced freedom fighter who now resides in Wakanda under the protection of T’Challa.
That is, in a nutshell, the journey that’s led Bucky to Avengers: Infinity War, where he’ll be fighting alongside Cap (Nomad?) and Black Panther when Thanos descends upon Wakanda.
On a more personal level, though, Sebastian Stan believes Infinity War presents a “refreshing new take” on his conflicted character, who recently caused so much pain and anguish during Captain America: Civil War – memories that Tony Stark, of all people, hasn’t forgotten.
Via Marvel:
I would say it’s definitely a refreshing new take on the character – from my point of view, at least. You know, it’s a throwback to the old days [Captain America: The First Avenger] when things were a little bit better for him. But the past never leaves you!
Asked if it’s refreshing to stand shoulder to shoulder with Iron Man, Stan remained coy, stating:
That I can’t tell you. But I’ll say this: I don’t think Iron Man has necessarily forgotten everything that’s happened [in Civil War]. And rightly so.
Perhaps most exciting of all, the actor recently revealed his desire to spearhead a Winter Soldier spinoff movie, though it seems more likely that Marvel Studios will save his character for an appearance in Black Widow alongside Natasha Romanoff. Given her Russian roots and longstanding relationship with Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, we’re more inclined to believe that Widow will take the form of an MCU prequel – the question, really, is whether Marvel Studios can secure Renner, Stan and, perhaps most important of all, Scarlett Johansson, for a trip back in time.
Closer to home, Avengers: Infinity War has been slated for release on April 27th, and all signs point to a suitably massive opening weekend at the box office – domestic and otherwise.