Why Sam Wilson aka Falcon will be the next Captain America after 'Avengers: Endgame'
Contains spoilers
Well before the release of 'Avengers: Endgame', there were speculations galore that by the end, he would relinquish his title and it would either be taken over by Sam Wilson aka Falcon or his close friend Bucky Barnes aka Winter Soldier.
Following Thanos' defeat and Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) death, the responsibility is on Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) to return the infinity stones to their previous past locations. As Rogers goes back to the past thanks to the Quantum realm, Falcon (Antony Mackie), Bruce Banner aka Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Bucky Barnes aka White Wolf (No more Winter soldier, we'll explain more about this in the article) wait for him to come back only to realize that he doesn't. However, they do see an old man sitting by the lake nearby; Sam approaches him, realizing it's an elderly Steve Rogers.
It is revealed that Rogers lived out his whole life with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) in the past and comes to the present to deliver the shield. He hands it to Wilson and tells him that it belongs to him now. Bucky nods his approval and Wilson promises Rogers that he'll do his best.
Leading to the theory of why was Wilson chosen as the next Cap ahead of Bucky?
Simple. Bucky is now officially the 'White Wolf.' After 'Captain America: Civil War', Rogers (Chris Evans) and Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) decide to take Bucky to Wakanda and resolve the brainwashing by HYDRA. Bucky was next seen in the post-credits of 'Black Panther' where Wakandan children refer to him as 'White Wolf.'
His next appearance was in 'Infinity War' where he battles alongside the Avengers in Wakanda before being a victim of Thanos' snap and was brought back in 'Endgame.'
At this stage, Bucky is seen as someone who will probably spend some more time in Wakanda and if the directors stick to the White Wolf comic theory, the former assassin may head the Hatut Zerare, Wakanda's secret police force. This would also mean that the character would go on to play a prominent role in 'Black Panther 2.'
Wilson, on the other end, has always been a man who is ready to serve the country. His introduction in 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' shows him as a character who was previously a soldier and in many ways relates to Cap's ideologies. Be it the time when he helps him take down HYDRA with the help of Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) or understands the logic behind Cap's decision to back Bucky during the events of 'Civil War.'
In many ways, Wilson was the friend that Cap never had. While Bucky was still his childhood pal, Wilson was a friend, and most importantly one of the Avengers who has been in numerous missions with Cap. The fact that he always stood for what was right would have most probably given Rogers the faith that he would be the right one to take up the mantle.
There have been ample comic references that both Wilson and Bucky would wield the shield, but eventually, both relinquished the role back to Rogers, but with the Russo brothers deciding that it would be Wilson, it's interesting to see how this sets up the duo's upcoming miniseries, 'Falcon and Winter Soldier.'