MCU Theory: How The Original Black Captain America Changes Everything

2. Sam Wilson's Burden

Despite the fact that Sam was handed the shield at the end of Endgame by Steve Rogers, we know that he doesn't start the Disney+ show as the new Captain America. For a start, the hint is in the title.

The big rumour is that Sam rejects the Captain America mantle, which leads to the government taking their own approach and hiring John Walker - otherwise known as US Agent in the comics - who will become the government endorsed new Captain America while Sam and Bucky presumably continue to operate underground.

Given the events of Civil War and Bucky's story, it should come as no surprise that Sam would reject the government using him as a symbol. It's disrespectful to Steve's memory and it's worth remembering that during Infinity War, Steve is still operating underground. In Endgame, he's retired. There is no Captain America because Steve hasn't healed his rift with the government. Why would Sam agree to be their puppet?

But the suggestion put forward by SlashFilm's sources is that after initially rejecting the mantle, Sam is convinced when he discovers the story of Isaiah Bradley, who was the original Captain America.

Presumably, the show will slightly redevelop Bradley's history if that "original" label is to be believed: so instead of Project Rebirth, we find out that the quest to develop Steve's serum involved the clandestine experiments on other test subjects. In essence, Sam and Bucky will discover that the US government were no better than HYDRA and the Soviet Union, who used guinea pig test subjects to create their own super soldiers and assassins.

And who better to blow that secret apart than Zemo...?

[CONTINUED - Page 3 of 4]