he Has So Much Wisdom To Offer Them
Recently, Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier opened up about how Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes enters the film’s story. Notably, the character has been part of the Marvel Cinematic universe since way back in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. Bucky originally appeared as the best friend of Steve Rogers/Captain America, before he was brainwashed by Hydra into becoming the Winter Soldier. Throughout his time in the franchise, he has been a hero, a villain, and an antihero, undergoing an emotional journey to regain his sense of self.
Bucky’s next appearance in Thunderbolts* sees him teaming up with other MCU antiheroes, such as Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Ghost, and US Agent. Of how each character will continue their respective arcs throughout the film, Schreier stated: “For all of them, we tried to start fresh.” Given how many films the MCU is comprised of, the director aimed to create a story that didn’t require homework to watch, instead opting to “use what they’ve been through as backstory.” Singling out Bucky, Schreier asked himself: “What’s a new challenge, what’s a new arc that we can watch that character go through?“
Catching up with Screen Rant’s Joe Deckelmeier, Schreier addressed finding a new path for Bucky to walk after so long in the MCU. The director explained:
ScreenRant: You said that you wanted to give every Thunderbolts* character a clean slate, including somebody like Bucky Barnes. What was the challenge of introducing him in a way that both felt fresh and true to his story?
Jake Schreier: First off, just to have Sebastian Stan in your movie is such a privilege. But also, he’s been through a lot of what they’ve been through, and he’s resolved a lot of those arcs that they have not yet resolved. And so the challenge there was really like, “What is a new arc that we can take Bucky on?”
This idea of watching him try to uncomfortably fit and embracing a new path, and wondering if there’s some new path to helping the world. Having done all of this stuff and having been in so many of these movies, there’s a kind of meta angle to it also. And then finding, I think as anyone would find, their frustrations in that – it’s not as immediate as you would want it to be.
Maybe in the end, even though it seems so unexpected, this group of misfits could be exactly the right home for him because he has so much wisdom to offer them, having gone through what they have not yet processed.
Bucky Barnes Put In The Work To Become A Hero
After spending decades being brainwashed into committing heinous acts such as killing the Starks, Bucky finally broke free of Hydra’s control due to the dedication of Steve. Since then, he has worked hard to become a hero again, helping save the universe from Thanos and supporting his foe-turned-friend Sam Wilson accept the mantle of Captain America. Out of every character in the MCU, Bucky has had perhaps the most complicated arc.
Each member of the team is at an earlier point in the same journey Bucky has already been through.
Though Bucky had seemingly chosen to return to civilian life and pursue a political career, Thunderbolts* sees him pulled back into the action. Stan himself explained why his character takes this turn: “It’s like the Al Pacino quote from Godfather III, ‘every time I try to get out, they pull me back in.’ Bucky is going to come across this group, and realize that they’re quite similar, in a way, to him. So I think he feels he can contribute and be a leader.“
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This aligns perfectly with Schreier’s statements regarding Bucky as a mentor. Each member of the team is at an earlier point in the same journey Bucky has already been through.
Bucky Barnes Becoming A Leader Is A Pay-Off To Steve Rogers’ Faith In Him
Despite almost 15 years in the MCU, Bucky has never played a leadership role in any appearance. Steve was always at the helm during their team-ups, be it with the Howling Commandos or the Avengers. As such, putting him into a mentor role is, as Schreier hoped, treading new ground for Bucky.
Moreover, he is one of the few MCU characters to have undergone a serious redemption arc, and the rest of the characters of Thunderbolts* haven’t done so yet. Bucky has not only proven himself a hero, but he did the work to heal psychologically. Helping others do the same is the best possible tribute he can pay to Steve for believing in him.
