10 Most Exciting New Faces Coming To The MCU
3. Wyatt Russell – John Walker (Falcon and the Winter Soldier)
Something extremely pronounced in the comics which has been rarely touched upon in Marvel films is just how many people have taken up the mantle of Captain America. The upcoming Disney+ series Falcon and The Winter Soldier looks to change that, as it follows post-Endgame Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes trying to live up to Steve Rogers’ legacy. It looks like they’ll have their work cut out, seeing as John Walker will be appearing.
More commonly known as USAgent, Walker was a long-time critic of Captain America and sought to become an updated version of the figure. During the Civil War storyline when Rogers ditches the SHIELD in protest of the Superhuman Registration Act, Walker gets his chance and becomes the government appointed Captain America.
How this background will translate into the MCU is unclear, but my educated guess would be that Thaddeus “Thunerbolt” Ross didn’t get the memo when Steve gave Sam his shield at the end of Avengers: Endgame, so appoints his own replacement.
Cast as this relatively unknown Cap-wannabe is someone relatively unknown (for his acting at least), former ice hockey player Wyatt Russell. If he looks at all familiar, you might have caught him in supporting roles for Cowboys vs Aliens or This is 40, or maybe you’re just seeing a lot of his father in him… that’s right, his dad is none other than Kurt Russell.
The cynic in me wants to point out that his dear old dad has a long term relationship with the Disney Corporation, starring in their content since the age of 14, and that he’s even already been in the MCU as Ego the Living Planet (that Celestial chap I mentioned before.)
But when we consider the blonde hair and blue eyes of Steve Rogers/Chris Evans, Wyatt Russell does look like he’d be an excellent knock-off replacement. And so, if only for aesthetic reasons, Russell is an absolutely perfect choice to play John Walker. Whether or not he can actually play the character well remains to be seen, but so far we have little reason to doubt his acting prowess.