Here's How 'Captain America 4' Could Re-Imagine John Walker as US Agent
Yes, all eyes will be on Anthony Mackie in the fourth installment of the iconic franchise… but.
'Captain America: New World Order' is definitely on track to make some history. First of all, it's going to be one of the few Marvel movies that continue the solo franchise with a new hero inheriting the mantle (or the shield, in this particular case), as Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson takes over the title of Captain America after Steve Rogers' retirement.
Secondly, 'New World Order' might be a good platform to re-introduce another quite important character that we have already got to know in 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier': John Walker.
Not exactly the best candidate for Captain America's shield, John Walker seems to have reclassified into US Agent – a character nothing like Steve Rogers or Sam Wilson. As we have seen in 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier', Walker has been recruited by Val – oh, sorry, by Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine herself – for what is most likely to become Thunderbolts, the MCU 's new and promising team-up.
Given that Thunderbolts have a less picture-perfect reputation in the Marvel universe than Avengers, 'New World Order' might reveal something new about US Agent, potentially establishing his role in 'Thunderbolts', fans believe.
"Soft-reintroducing John Walker in this makes sense. The moviegoing audience gets primed for Thunderbolts, they don't waste precious runtime doing this in Thunderbolts, and there's already an earlier plot connection between him and Sam, which warrants him appearing in this movie in some capacity vs another movie." – /Antrikshy
It remains unclear whether John Walker is a full-blown villain in the MCU. Despite him going rogue at some point in 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier', the majority of fans would rather classify him as an antihero. Thunderbolts, in turn, are, if we may, a Marvel version of DC's Suicide Squad – a team of former or active supervillains and antiheroes that are going to behave like true heroes as they are desperately trying to sell themselves as ones.
'New World Order' might dig deeper into that, with the possibility being that not only John Walker but also other potential Thunderbolts candidates will make an appearance in the movie. It remains to be seen to which extent Captain America would be able to call them his friends – if there would be such a chance.
'Captain America: New World Order' premieres in theaters on May 3, 2024 as part of Phase Five of the MCU.