Will Bucky Become Cap In Avengers 4?

I'm engaged in a wager with Mr. Ackbar and I can see this going either way, and I'll address both scenarios below.  For clarification taking up the mantle means he puts on the uniform or is referred to as Captain America by the other characters.

YES:

If Bucky winds up deciding to take up the Mantel of Cap it means that Steve will have to die.  Now I know they change things significantly from the comics, but in the comics the decision to call himself Captain America was one he struggled with greatly for a long time.  He avoided it.  For any significant amount of time to pass, this would mean that Steve would have to die in some sort of last stand scenario in Avengers 3, and honestly, I could see that happening.  Cap has been on the run with Widow, Falcon and perhaps others, growing his beard and hiding, but he rises when he's needed most and despite being forced into hiding he still does the right thing and makes the ultimate sacrifice.  This gives plenty of time for Bucky to have an arc in Avengers 4 that ends with him being named Captain America.

NO:

The main problem with the above scenario is Cap's death would seem to have been for very little purpose if it happens in the first film.  It wouldn't lead to the ultimate demise of Thanos so why kill him off there?  Perhaps it is simply saving an opportunity for the others however, allowing them time to form a plan/escape/etc.  There's also the problem of keeping one of the very most important characters in the series out of the final film, and if he's in Avengers 4, he wouldn't die till near the end, and Bucky would have no time for an arc leading to his decision to take up the mantle.  In addition, it has always been my take that Bucky would lead his own Cap film at some point, and again, if the comics have anything to do with it, his first missions were well before he accepted the mantle. He, Falcon, and Widow were tracking down a returning Red Skull who was trying to run for President, and eventually this led to Bucky taking on the role officially. That is a film I could still see happening given their current status, and that is why I don't think he will take on the mantle until he gets the chance to do so in his own film.

What say you?

Aug 13, 2017 16:55:51 GMT @forceghostackbar said:

I totally agree that they would never kill both Cap and Stark in one movie. In fact, I only say Stark will die in movie 3 because that's how I think it should be done. I wouldn't be overly surprised though if Marvel opts to keep nearly everyone alive in hopes of later recasting them. That IMO would be a total cop out, putting money over story. But I think they may do just that.

As far as Bucky goes my logic is this: there's nothing left for the character to do but redeem himself. Two movies is more than enough to do that. The final piece of that arc would be to have him take up Cap's mantle when Rogers is gone, and I think they can do that in the climax of movie four. I actually think it will work best if Bucky's time in the uniform is short and sweet; a nice epilogue to his arc and a final tribute to the legacy of the original Cap. I also think the only way it has any weight to it is if Bucky takes the mantle in the same movie as Cap's death. Maybe he survives the movie, maybe he doesn't. Of that, I'm not quite as sure.

I'm sure they'll keep nearly everone alive.  I'd be surprised if more than 3 die, but I think that's a good thing, not a cop out.  To me it's not a benefit to the story to kill most of them, but yes, they do need to kill some of them.

I agree that Bucky's story can only be about redemption at this point, but my logic is this, Cap has earned the ultimate respect from everybody on the team, and that same team doesn't trust him for shit.  If Cap dies in Avengers 4, I don't see why the team or Bucky would have gone through a grieving process and decided to put him in the suit of their recently dead friend in the climax.  Now if he dies in Avengers 3, I could see there being enough time for that arc to play out.  But it was a massive personal decision for both Bucky and the people who respected Cap.  I'm also not sure what the pay off is for Bucky even if they do put him in the suit.  So just imagine they put him in the suit,,,,,,,,,, forrrrrrrrrrrrrrr what?  What does he do to make it worth it?  In the comics, he wound up saving America from the Red Skull becoming President.  Now that would be worth it.  But is Bucky going to be the ultimate savior of Infinity War?  IDK about that.

Aug 13, 2017 16:55:51 GMT @forceghostackbar said:

I totally agree that they would never kill both Cap and Stark in one movie. In fact, I only say Stark will die in movie 3 because that's how I think it should be done. I wouldn't be overly surprised though if Marvel opts to keep nearly everyone alive in hopes of later recasting them. That IMO would be a total cop out, putting money over story. But I think they may do just that.

As far as Bucky goes my logic is this: there's nothing left for the character to do but redeem himself. Two movies is more than enough to do that. The final piece of that arc would be to have him take up Cap's mantle when Rogers is gone, and I think they can do that in the climax of movie four. I actually think it will work best if Bucky's time in the uniform is short and sweet; a nice epilogue to his arc and a final tribute to the legacy of the original Cap. I also think the only way it has any weight to it is if Bucky takes the mantle in the same movie as Cap's death. Maybe he survives the movie, maybe he doesn't. Of that, I'm not quite as sure.

I'm sure they'll keep nearly everone alive.  I'd be surprised if more than 3 die, but I think that's a good thing, not a cop out.  To me it's not a benefit to the story to kill most of them, but yes, they do need to kill some of them.