With such a lot of uncertainty surrounding theatrical releases in 2021, it's no wonder most major movie studios chose to give last night's Super Bowl a miss. It's simply not worth spending millions of dollars promoting titles which could be pushed into 2022, but streaming is safe from those issues.
That's likely why Disney+ had a big presence during the Big Game, and Marvel Studios didn't miss the opportunity to hype The Falcon and The Winter Soldier ahead of its March 19th premiere.
The footage shown in that was clearly chosen carefully in order to not give too much away, but we still have plenty to talk about. There were some great reveals in there, and we now have a much better idea of what to expect from this next chapter in Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes' story. That includes a possible mutant location, the show's villains, a big return, and a whole lot more.
So, to take a look through this breakdown, simply click on the "Next" button down below!
10. Therapy Session
Sam and Bucky don't like each other, so we're finding it hard to believe they're sitting through this apparent therapy session by choice. Remember, they're both wanted fugitives following the events of Captain America: Civil War, so working for the government might be the only way to stay out of prison.
That likely comes with mandatory therapy sessions like this one, though this could just as easily be a debriefing of some sort. Regardless, this is an interesting way to develop their partnership.
The heroes played a key role in the battle against Thanos, and if S.W.O.R.D. is aware of Captain Marvel and the Scarlet Witch's role in fighting the Mad Titan, chances are they know what Sam and Bucky did for the world as well. That could explain why they're seemingly being given another chance here.
9. Madripoor
Set photos (and reliable insiders) have indicated that this mysterious location is, in fact, Madripoor.
A fictional location in Southeast Asia, this island is something of a haven for mutants, and where Wolverine spent quite some time hiding out as "Patch." Viper, a.k.a. Madame HYDRA, has frequently ruled over the island, so there are lots of ways The Falcon and The Winter Soldier could be used to set the stage for the eventual arrival of the X-Men in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This is certainly a compelling sign that Marvel Studios is embracing the locations they acquired during the Disney/Fox merger, and it appears we'll be spending quite a bit of time on Madripoor.
8. Baron Zemo's Sinister Plan
Wanting vengeance for the death of his family after the Avengers destroyed Sokovia during their battle with Ultron, Zemo set out to tear Earth's Mightiest Heroes apart in Captain America: Civil War.
His plan succeeded, and the rift between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark sent shockwaves throughout the MCU. However, they ultimately reassembled, while Zemo ended up behind bars. In The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, the Baron is picking up where he left off, and plans to rid the world of superheroes.
It's an ambitious plan, and he must have something big in the works. We know he won't succeed (Phase 4 would be pretty bland if he did), but this series could set him up as a key player. After all, if you can't beat them, join them, and that's where the Thunderbolts could eventually come into play.
7. Funeral For A Friend?
In the main trailer for the Disney+ series, a military event of some sort is taking place. The "Big Game" TV spot, meanwhile, shows a sombre Sam Wilson looking at a display with Steve's uniform and shield. Later, we also see a huge portrait of Cap, and it feels a little too much like a memorial for our liking.
Steve Rogers was clearly a very old man when he returned to the present in Avengers: Endgame, so it wouldn't be a major surprise for the leader of the Avengers to have passed away off-screen.
It's feasible this is also the moment John Walker is named the new Captain America (after Sam declines to wield the shield), but Marvel Studios will have to shed some light on Steve's whereabouts here.
6. Flag Smashers
In the comic books, Flag Smasher is the founder of U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M, an organization whose purpose is to destroy nationalism. In the MCU, it seems Flag Smasher will become the Flag Smashers, a group that likely has similar goals to U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M in this shared world.
Led by Erin Kellyman's unnamed character, we see more of the group in action here against Sam and Bucky. They're definitely pretty formidable, and likely a major threat to the MCU at this time.
We wouldn't be remotely surprised if Baron Zemo is pulling their strings, while it will be interesting seeing if those rumours about Songbird pan out. We just don't know enough about The Falcon and The Winter Soldier at this point to be sure, but they're a group worth keeping an eye on.
5. BuckyCap
Rumour has it that Marvel Studios shot an alternate ending for Avengers: Endgame which saw Steve Rogers hand his shield over to Bucky Barnes instead of Sam Wilson. For now, all the signs are pointing to The Falcon taking over the Captain America mantle, but there's a cool Easter Egg here for fans.
While Sam is seemingly practising using Steve's shield, it's Bucky - no stranger to wielding it - who catches the iconic weapon. Could there be resentment here that he wasn't chosen by his old friend?
As interesting as that might be to explore, it feels more likely that Bucky is going to try and support Sam (reluctantly as, you know, he hates him) as he struggles whether to become Captain America.
4. Sharon Carter Returns
Emily VanCamp first joined the MCU in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as an undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. agent spying on Steve Rogers. We later learned that she was actually the great-grandniece of Peggy Carter, and while romance between the two was teased in Civil War, that never developed.
Of course, Sharon ended up betraying the C.I.A. in order to help Captain America, and leaked promo art has confirmed that she's a wanted fugitive in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
We get a glimpse of that here as she's reunited with Sam and Bucky. While she holds them at gunpoint, could their interests align? We just hope Sharon is able to clear her name, and continue serving her government as there's still a lot Marvel Studios can do with this character in the MCU.
3. The MCU's New Captain America
Despite the fact we've already seen Wyatt Russell's John F. Walker/Captain America in set photos and promo art, Marvel Studios is trying hard to keep the character under wraps in this series. You can't even make his face out in the poster for the series, a strange decision so late in the game.
Perhaps they're hoping fans think Steve Rogers has somehow returned, but make no mistake about it, the Cap you see here is indeed Walker. What leads to him wielding the shield remains to be seen, but if Sam Wilson declines the opportunity, then perhaps the government chooses Steve's replacement?
We know the comic book version of John is a tad unhinged, and he may well fall under the control of Baron Zemo. Whatever the case may be, we hope he ultimately becomes U.S. Agent!
2. Who's This?
This blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in the "Big Game" TV spot could mean a lot...or nothing at all.
We have no clue who this guy is, but we do have a pretty compelling theory. With rumours pointing to Sam Wilson struggling to decide whether he should take the Super Soldier Serum, perhaps we'll be introduced to the MCU's version of Weapon X? That could tie this series in Black Widow's Red Room, while laying the groundwork for Wolverine's eventual introduction in this shared world.
So, yeah, this could be a random baddie, someone working in that Madripoor nightclub, or our first look at Weapon X. Your guess is as good as ours for now, but we'll soon find out either way.
1. Staring Contest
This scene is likely indicative of the sort of humour we can expect when The Falcon and Bucky team-up in the Disney+ series, and it should be a lot of fun watching this unlikely pairing in action.
The way the two heroes are sitting has driven "shipping" fans into something of a frenzy online, but the fact they're sitting here having a staring contest is in equal parts hilarious and ridiculous.
Something tells us these two will end up being firm friends by the time all is said and done. However, getting to that point should be a lot of fun, and we can't wait to get invested in this future bromance.