Bucky Barnes (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

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Bucky Barnes
Marvel Cinematic Universe character
Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
First appearanceCaptain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Based on
Bucky Barnes
by
Adapted byChristopher Markus
Stephen McFeely
Portrayed bySebastian Stan
In-universe information
Full nameJames Buchanan Barnes
Aliases
  • Winter Soldier
  • White Wolf
Nicknames
  • Bucky
  • Buck
Title
U.S. Army
)
Occupation
  • Assassin
  • Soldier
Affiliation
  • Hydra
  • Soviet Union
  • Howling Commandos
  • Strategic Scientific Reserve
  • United States Army
Weapon
Origin
Brooklyn, New York
, United States
NationalityAmerican

James Buchanan Barnes is a fictional character portrayed by

assassin
throughout the 20th century.

Barnes comes into conflict with Rogers and his allies during the

Wakanda, where Shuri
eventually cures him of his programming. Barnes aids the Avengers in the conflict against
Flag Smashers, he partners with Sam Wilson
to stop them.

As of 2023[update], Barnes has appeared in seven MCU films, as well as in a lead role in the miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021). He is expected to return in the upcoming film Thunderbolts (2025). Sebastian Stan's portrayal of the character has been met with positive reception. He and Stan Lee are the only characters besides Steve Rogers who appeared in all three Captain America films.

Alternate versions of Barnes from within the MCU Multiverse appear in the animated series What If...? (2021–present).

Concept and creation

When Joe Simon created his initial sketch of Captain America for Marvel Comics precursor Timely Comics in 1940, he included a young sidekick. "The boy companion was simply named Bucky, after my friend Bucky Pierson, a star on our high school basketball team," Simon said in his autobiography.[2] Following the character's debut in Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941), Bucky Barnes appeared alongside the title star in virtually every story in that publication and other Timely series, and was additionally part of the all-kid team the Young Allies. Live-action performances of Steve Rogers in television and film serials began within a few years after its creation, with a 1990 feature film resulting in critical and financial failure,[3] but none of these adaptations included Bucky as a character.

In 2005, Marvel launched a new Captain America series (Volume 5) with writer

bionic arm, periodically upgrading it as technology improved. Programmed to be a Soviet assassin for Department X – under the code name the Winter Soldier – he is sent on covert wetwork
missions and becomes increasingly ruthless and efficient as he kills in the name of the state.

In the mid-2000s,

Merrill Lynch, allowing them to independently produce ten films, including Captain America. Paramount Pictures agreed to distribute the film.[5][6][7] In April 2010, Sebastian Stan, who had been mentioned in media accounts as a possibility for the title role in Captain America, was cast as Bucky Barnes. Stan was contracted for multiple films.[8]

The origin story of Bucky Barnes follows that of the comic books, particularly Ultimate Marvel for certain elements like growing up as Steve Rogers' childhood best friend in Brooklyn instead of a younger sidekick met later. However, his story diverges from there, with "the Winter Soldier play[ing] a major role that's completely different to the comics".[9] In the comic books, Steve Rogers is murdered in the aftermath of the Civil War storyline, leading to Bucky Barnes becoming the next Captain America. In the MCU Rogers survives Civil War,[10] eventually passing the mantle of Captain America to Sam Wilson in Avengers: Endgame.[11]

Fictional character biography

Early life and World War II

James Barnes was born on March 10, 1917. He and

Abraham Erskine
and becomes Captain America.

In 1943, while on tour in

Howard Stark
fly him behind enemy lines to mount a solo rescue attempt. Rogers infiltrates the fortress of Schmidt's Nazi science division, Hydra, freeing Barnes and the other prisoners, with Barnes having just been experimented on by Hydra. Barnes becomes part of an elite unit assembled by Rogers called the Howling Commandos, participating in numerous missions against Hydra and the Nazis. However, during one such mission, Barnes falls off of a train and is seemingly killed.

Hydra assassin

The Hydra experimentation on Barnes causes him to survive his fall, and he is recaptured by the Hydra wing of the

Isaiah Bradley in Goyang and half of his cybernetic arm was destroyed during the skirmish.[a]

In 1991, Hydra uses Barnes to kill

an assassination made to look like a car accident, during which he steals a case of super soldier serum from their car.[b]

In 2009, Barnes was sent on a mission to assassinate a nuclear scientist in

S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Natasha Romanoff attempted to protect the scientist, but Barnes managed to kill the scientist by shooting a round through Romanoff's stomach while she covered him.[c]

In 2014, Barnes, still operating as the Winter Soldier, leads a group of assailants to ambush

Brock Rumlow and other agents, remembering Rogers, but gets put back into the mind control. Rogers and Wilson later storm two Helicarriers and replace their controller chips, but Barnes destroys Wilson's suit and fights Rogers on the third Helicarrier. Rogers fends him off and replaces the final chip. Rogers refuses to fight Barnes in an attempt to reach his friend, but as the ship collides with the Triskelion, Rogers is thrown out into the Potomac River
. Barnes, freed from Hydra's mind control, rescues the unconscious Rogers before disappearing into the woods.

Later, Barnes visits his own memorial in the Captain America exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution.

Dealing with brainwashing

In 2016, Barnes has taken up residence in

Wakanda
, chooses to return to cryogenic sleep until a cure for his brainwashing is found.

Sometime later, Barnes is cured by T'Challa's sister, Shuri and is given the name White Wolf.

As proof that he is cured, Barnes is taken to a cave where the trigger words' effect is shown to be nullified by

Ayo.[e]

Infinity War and resurrection

In 2018, Barnes, while still living on a farm in Wakanda, is given a new vibranium arm by T'Challa. He reunites with Rogers after he, Wilson, Romanoff, Maximoff, Vision, Rhodes, and

Outriders and witnesses Thor, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot's arrival. When Thanos arrives, completes the Infinity Gauntlet, and snaps his fingers, Barnes disintegrates in the Blip
.

In 2023, Barnes is restored to life and brought to the destroyed

Mjolnir
to their timelines. When Banner is unable to bring Rogers back, Barnes points Wilson to a nearby park bench, and watches as an elderly Rogers passes his mantle to Wilson.

Partnering with Sam Wilson

In 2024, Barnes is living in

pardoned
and attends government-mandated therapy, where he discusses his attempts to make amends for his time as the Winter Soldier. He has nightmares about his past, but is not forthcoming with his therapist about them. She notes that Barnes is isolating himself from his friends and has been ignoring texts from Sam Wilson. Barnes tells her that he made amends, including confronting a formerly Hydra-affiliated U.S. senator whom he helps bring to justice. He also befriends an elderly Japanese man named Yori, the father of one of the Winter Soldier's victims, but doesn't tell him of their connection. Yori sets Barnes up on a date with a bartender named Leah, which ends quickly after she brings up Yori's deceased son and Barnes leaves.

Barnes soon learns that

Isaiah Bradley, a veteran American super soldier Barnes fought during the Korean War, and his grandson Eli
, but Isaiah refuses to help them uncover information about additional super soldier serums due to his disdain for Barnes and having been imprisoned and experimented on by the government for thirty years. After leaving the house, Barnes is arrested for missing a court-mandated therapy appointment, but is released when Walker intervenes.

Zemo and the Dora Milaje

Again refusing to work with Walker, Barnes suggests they visit Helmut Zemo, who is imprisoned in

Dora Milaje
Ayo, who demands Zemo.

Ayo gives Barnes eight hours to use Zemo before the Wakandans take him, as Zemo killed their king T'Chaka. When Ayo and the Dora Milaje come for Zemo, Walker refuses to hand him over, and Barnes intercedes, causing Ayo to use a failsafe that deactivates his vibranium arm.

Defeating the Flag Smashers

Walker, having taken a supersoldier serum and enraged by the death of his partner, Hoskins, uses his shield to kill one of the Flag Smashers in front of horrified bystanders, who film his actions. Wilson and Barnes demand the shield from Walker, starting a fight in which Walker destroys Wilson's wingsuit. The fight ends with Wilson and Barnes taking the shield and breaking Walker's arm. Barnes finds Zemo in

Sokovia and hands him over to the Dora Milaje. Barnes later travels to Wilson's hometown in Louisiana
to deliver a briefcase from the Wakandans to Wilson. He meets Wilson's sister, Sarah, and her two sons. After fixing the Wilson family's boat, Barnes and Wilson train with the shield and agree to move on from their pasts and work together. Barnes confesses that he was angry that Wilson gave away Captain America's shield because he feels like it is his last connection to the past, and apologizes for not considering the implications of giving the shield to a black man.

Barnes goes back to New York City and runs into Carter. He then fights against the Flag Smashers, as well as saving GRC hostages from arson. During a fight against Morgenthau, Barnes falls off the ledge to a riverbank. After Walker and the Flag Smashers do the same, Barnes helps Walker up and they join Wilson, who is in his new Captain America suit, to find the Flag Smashers after

Georges Batroc
helps them escape. Barnes and Walker ambush three of them and see them taken into custody. After the GRC members are rescued, Barnes listens to Wilson's speech, before leaving with an injured Carter. He then goes to Yori's apartment and tells him that he, as the Winter Soldier, killed his son. He delivers his completed notebook to his therapist's office and sees Leah again, before leaving for Louisiana. There he joins Wilson, Sarah, her sons, and the community for a cookout and opts to remain there with Wilson.

Alternate versions

Several alternate versions of Barnes appear in the animated series What If...?, with Stan reprising his role.

Fighting alongside Captain Carter

In an alternate 1943, Barnes fights alongside Captain Peggy Carter, Rogers, and the Howling Commandos during World War II.

After the war, Barnes and Rogers hunt down and destroy every HYDRA base in the world. In 1953, they complete their last mission, but Rogers is supposedly killed.

By 2014, an elderly Barnes has become the Secretary of State of the United States. Following a meeting with the

Brock Rumlow and other agents who come to escort him to safety after a brainwashed Rogers arrives to assassinate him. Although shocked by his friend's survival and brainwashed state, Barnes provides Carter with information on the new power source that had been developed for the Hydra Stomper armor, allowing her to disable it. Watching Carter and Natasha Romanoff
fly off with a captured Rogers, Barnes wishes them luck in saving his best friend.

Zombie outbreak

In an alternate 2018, Barnes is one of the remaining survivors on Earth after a quantum virus outbreak. While journeying to

Camp Lehigh
in search of a cure, Barnes is forced to kill a zombified Rogers and claims his shield. At the camp, the group fights a zombified Maximoff, and Barnes is left behind when he is telekinetically thrown away by Maximoff.

1980's Avengers vs. Ego

In an alternate 1988, Barnes is recruited along with

Ego to prepare Earth for his expansion. Unlike his mainstream counterpart, this version of Barnes appears to serve the Soviet Union rather than HYDRA. They locate Peter in Coney Island and try to subdue him, but have to escape. However, they are saved by Thor. After the team meets at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s base, Barnes accompanies Pym and Lawson to Missouri
. Under orders from his Russian commander Vasily Karpov, he prepares to assassinate Quill, but is stopped by Howard Stark's communication interference who tells him that Rogers believed in him which triggers the real Barnes under his programming. Barnes then abandons his Winter Soldier persona and is last mentioned to be "in the wind."

Merry Man Barnes

In an alternate 1602, Barnes becomes friends with Rogers and Lang, joining them on their Robin Hood-like missions. One day, they stop a carriage carrying

Happy Hogan
and the Royal Yellowjackets attack to arrest Carter. Barnes, Rogers, and Lang later meet Carter, Stark, and Banner to discuss a plan to take Thor's Scepter. They infiltrate the courtroom and while Carter confronts Thor, Barnes engages in a fight with the Red Skull, aided by Rogers. Barnes then witnesses that reveal that Rogers is the time-displaced person setting off the incursion and watches as Carter sends him home, before being sent home as well.

Characterization

In

Band of Brothers "very helpful". About the role, Stan stated, "Steve Rogers and Bucky are both orphans and kind of like brothers. They kind of grow up together and look after each other. It's a very human, relatable thing... I also wanted to look out for how their relationship changes once Steve Rogers becomes Captain America. There's always a competition and they're always one-upping each other. I paid attention to how Bucky is affected by Steve's change and suddenly Steve is this leader".[12]

Bucky re-emerges in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as an enhanced brainwashed assassin after supposedly being killed in action during World War II.[13][14] Regarding the character, producer Kevin Feige said, "Winter Soldier has been methodically, almost robotically, following orders for 70 years."[15] Stan said despite his nine-picture deal with Marvel Studios including his appearance in The First Avenger, he was not sure that Bucky would make an imminent return,[16] and only heard the sequel's official title was "The Winter Soldier" through a friend attending San Diego Comic-Con.[17] Stan endured five months of physical training to prepare for the role and did historical research, stating, "I dove into the whole Cold War thing. I looked at the KGB. I looked at all kinds of spy movies, and all kinds of documentaries about that time, and what it was about. I grabbed anything from that time period. Anything about brainwashing".[18] Stan also practiced daily with a plastic knife in order to be able to do the Winter Soldier's knife tricks without the aid of a stuntman.[19] Regarding Bucky's transition into the Winter Soldier, Stan said, "You know, the truth of the situation is although he looks very different and there's different things about him, it still comes from the same person. I think you'll get to see that no matter what. I think part of my goal here was to make sure that you see an extension of that version but just a different color of that same version in a way. I think he's still the same guy; he's cut from the same cloth".[20] Stan stated he felt the character's introduction in The Winter Soldier was "a preview of the guy", with more aspects of the character being explored in the film's sequel Captain America: Civil War.[21]

This portrayal continues in Captain America: Civil War as an amalgam of Barnes and the Winter Soldier, with Stan saying, "here's the guy when you merge the two. This is what came out. To me, he's never really going to be Bucky Barnes again. There's going to be recognizable things about him, but his path through the [experiences of] Winter Soldier is always going to be there, haunting him."

Hydra programming.[24] Barnes is one of the many characters disintegrated by Thanos with the Infinity Gauntlet at the end of Infinity War who then returns to participate in the final battle at the end of Avengers: Endgame.[25]

Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie at the Falcon and the Winter Soldier 2019 ComicCon panel

The character returned in

web television miniseries created for Disney+ by Malcolm Spellman, based on the characters. The events of the series take place six months after Avengers: Endgame. The series is produced by Marvel Studios, with Spellman serving as head writer and Kari Skogland directing. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan reprise their roles as Falcon and Winter Soldier, respectively, from the film series. Daniel Brühl, Emily VanCamp, and Wyatt Russell also star. As of September 2018, Marvel Studios was developing a number of limited series for Disney+, centered on supporting characters from the MCU films, with Spellman hired to write one on Falcon and Winter Soldier in October. The series was officially confirmed in April 2019 along with Mackie and Stan's involvement. Skogland was hired the next month. Filming began in October 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia and was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
. Filming resumed in Atlanta in September before wrapping in the Czech Republic in October.

Reception

Indie Wire about the character, Stan said "I have a lot of fans that reach out, writing about trauma and telling me about certain situations that they're going through and feeling empowered."[31]

Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations received by Bucky Barnes
Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2015 MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Fight (shared with Chris Evans) Captain America: The Winter Soldier Won [32]
2016 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Chemistry Captain America: Civil War [33]
2017
Kids' Choice Awards
#SQUAD [34]
2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Duo Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Barnes (Stan) (for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) Won [35]

Notes

  1. ^ As mentioned in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
  2. ^ As depicted in Captain America: Civil War (2016)
  3. ^ As mentioned in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
  4. ^ As depicted in the post-credits scene of Ant-Man (2015)
  5. ^ As depicted in a flashback in the episode, The Whole World Is Watching of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)

References

  1. Marvel.com
    . Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  2. ^ Lovece, Frank (July 31, 1992). "Movie Review: 'Captain America'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  3. ^ Russo, Tom (April 25, 2012). "SUPER GROUP". Boston.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014.
  4. ^ Fleming, Michael (May 16, 2000). "Artisan deal a real Marvel". Variety. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  5. ^ Archive of Fritz, Ben; Harris, Dana (April 27, 2005). "Paramount pacts for Marvel pix". Variety. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  6. ^ McClintock, Pamela (June 21, 2005). "$500 mil pic fund feeds Warner Bros". Variety. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  7. ^ a b Bruno, Mike (April 2, 2010). "'Captain America': Sebastian Stan cast as Bucky Barnes". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 7, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
  8. ^ Bacon, Thomas (August 28, 2018). "The MCU Isn't Pretending To Adapt Marvel Comics Stories Any More". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  9. CinemaBlend. Archived
    from the original on December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  10. ^ Williams, Trey; Lincoln, Ross A. (April 26, 2019). "'Avengers: Endgame' – Let's Talk About the Future of Captain America and Sam Wilson". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  11. ^ Ditzian, Eric (January 12, 2011). "Sebastian Stan Talks 'Captain America' Casting And His Year Ahead". MTV News. Archived from the original on August 30, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  12. ^ "'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' Character Bios, Fun Facts (Minor Spoilers)". Stitch Kingdom. February 14, 2014. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  13. ^ Graser, Marc (July 16, 2012). "Mackie mulls Falcon in 'Captain America'". Variety. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  14. ^ "With 'Thor' sequel, a dark age of Marvel villains is upon us". Entertainment Weekly. October 31, 2013. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
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  16. ^ Sciretta, Peter (March 6, 2014). "40 Things I Learned on the 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' Set". /Film. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  17. ^ Orange, B. Alan (July 25, 2013). "Sebastian Stan Talks Captain American: The Winter Soldier". MovieWeb.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  18. ^ On The Frontline: An Inside Look At Captain America's Battlegrounds (Featurette). Captain America: The Winter Soldier Blu-Ray: Walt Disney Home Entertainment. 2014.
  19. ^ Keyes, Rob (March 9, 2014). "Captain America 2: Sebastian Stan Talks About The Future of 'The Winter Soldier'". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  20. ^ a b Trumbore, Dave (September 18, 2015). "'Captain America: Civil War': Sebastian Stan Talks Winter Soldier, Returns Fire at Zack Snyder". Collider. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  21. ^ Breznican, Anthony (December 4, 2015). "Sebastian Stan on the Winter Soldier's friendship and redemption in Captain America: Civil War". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 16, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  22. ^ Armitage, Hugh (February 7, 2018). "Black Panther's post-credits scenes explained". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on February 11, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  23. ^ Breznican, Anthony (March 8, 2018). "Behind the scenes of Avengers: Infinity War as new heroes unite – and others will end". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  24. ^ Ellwood, Gregory (September 11, 2017). "Sebastian Stan Says Marvel Studios Training Put To Good Use On 'I, Tonya' [Interview]". The Playlist. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
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  28. ^ Thielman, Sam (August 9, 2021). "Marvel and DC face backlash over pay: 'They sent a thank you note and $5,000 – the movie made $1bn'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  29. ^ Couch, Aaron (July 16, 2021). "Marvel and DC's "Shut-Up Money": Comic Creators Go Public Over Pay". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  30. Indie Wire
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  31. ^ "MTV Movie Awards 2015: See the Full Winners List". Billboard. April 12, 2015. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  32. ^ Crist, Allison; Nordyke, Kimberly (July 31, 2016). "Teen Choice Awards: Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  33. E! Online. Archived
    from the original on June 25, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  34. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (April 19, 2021). "MTV Movie & TV Awards: 'WandaVision,' 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm' among nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.

External links