Avengers 4 Theory: 10 Clues Bucky Will Take Over As Captain America

"Then finish it. Because I'm with you 'til the end of the line."

by Ewan Paterson
Marvel Studios

With Avengers: Infinity War having brought together dozens of characters from the MCU - everyone, from the Avengers to the Guardians of the Galaxy and beyond - it was always going to be the case that certain characters would struggle for screen time. Few, however, would've likely thought that Chris Evans' Captain America would be one of them - even if it makes sense in the grand scheme of things.

Although yes, Infinity War's ending was decidedly more deadly than what most MCU fans have grown accustomed to, it would be wise for them to steel themselves for what Avengers 4 may yet bring. It won't all be smiles and happy returns, and with the surviving members of Earth's Mightiest Heroes representing (for the most part) the past of the franchise, don't be surprised to see a few more departures incoming.

The fate of one particular Avenger has, however, proven difficult to reconcile with fans. Steve Rogers' time is at an end, and though it might be difficult to contemplate an MCU without Captain America, there's no way that mantle goes unclaimed.

But who will wield the shield come Phase 4? Whether it be allusions on the screen or off it, there's only one man who can: Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes.

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Content Producer/Presenter

WhatCulture's very own resident movie guy, Ewan has been working in the content creation biz for over 10 years now, having started as a freelance contributor to WhatCulture Gaming all the way back in 2015. After graduating with a First-Class Honours in History from Northumbria University in 2017 (where he won a prize for a totally killer dissertation on the Watergate years), Ewan took on the role of Comics Editor at WhatCulture and quickly developed WhatCulture Comics into one of the biggest superhero-focused channels on YouTube. He followed this with a brief hiatus at Screen Rant in 2021, where he worked across the Gaming and Film sections as a writer and editor, before returning to WhatCulture as a Senior Content Producer / Presenter in 2023. He started his own podcast, We Love Dad Movies, in 2022, and has contributed several written pieces to the Eisner-nominated comics website Shelfdust as well. In his current role, Ewan incorporates his love of cinema, comic books, and history into written pieces and video essays for WhatCulture's Film & TV channel, as well as WhatCulture Gaming and WhatCulture Horror, with a particular focus on nineties-era Dad Movies, old school Westerns, and Golden Age Hollywood Noir. John Carpenter is his fave, and he thinks Batman Beyond should never have been cancelled. If that's your vibe, you'll probably like his stuff.