5 things to know about 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,' Disney+'s latest Marvel series
Get to know your latest binge-watching obsession before you stream it.
"The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," the newest offering from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, hits Disney+ today.
Starring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson (aka Falcon) and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes (aka Winter Soldier), comic book fans will get to see two beloved characters -- and unlikely friends -- join forces for what appears to be plenty of action and laughs.
"Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan are spectacular actors and we felt like we hadn't explored their stories enough as Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes," Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said.
With the two characters having crossed paths in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and "Captain America: Civil War," Feige said the goal was to learn more about them and dive into their "very fun dynamic."
"We thought that if we ever had the opportunity," Feige said, "we'd watch a whole show with the two of them, and Disney+ finally gives us that opportunity."
Scroll down for everything you need to know about "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" on Disney+.
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1. When did 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' premiere and when do new episodes air?
"The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" premiered March 19 on Disney+, filling the superhero-shaped void left in the hearts of Marvel fans since the "WandaVision" finale aired.
This series, directed by the Emmy-nominated Kari Skogland and with Malcolm Spellman serving as head writer, runs for six episodes, with a new episode available to stream each Friday.
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2. What is 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' about?
According to a series description from Disney+, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" will follow "the pair, who came together in the final moments of "Avengers: Endgame," as they "team up on a global adventure that tests their abilities -- and their patience."
In addition to being packed with action, it seems that the series will feature a lot of levity from the dynamic between Sam and Bucky, as evidenced by their banter -- or lack thereof -- in the official trailer for the series.
The final trailer only continued that thread, featuring the two fighting side by side on various missions before they attempt to put a name on their pairing.
"So we're partners?" Bucky asks. "No, co-workers" Sam responds.
"Not necessarily a team," Bucky clarifies. "No, but we look damn good, though," Mackie quips back.
Continuing the playful nature, Mackie said on "Good Morning America" that he and Stan aren't as competitive on set as their characters are on the show.
Mackie described Stan as "such a relaxed guy" and "such a well-mannered guy," later joking that his co-star was "boring" and pretty much "the complete opposite" of him.
3. Who stars in 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'?
Aside from Mackie and Stan, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" will feature one face familiar to Marvel fans: Emily VanCamp, who has played former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and current CIA agent Sharon Carter in previous Captain America movies.
Sharon is the great-niece of Peggy Carter, the woman (played by Hayley Atwell in the MCU) that Steve Rogers falls in love with when he becomes Captain America. Peggy co-founded and served as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. for a time.
Other stars who will be featured -- but whom we don't know much about yet -- include Wyatt Russell as John Walker and Daniel Brühl as Zemo as well as Erin Kellyman, Georges St. Pierre, Amy Aquino, Adepero Oduye and Danny Ramirez.
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4. Will Captain America make an appearance on 'The Falcon and The Winter Soldier'?
In January, Deadline reported that Chris Evans -- who played Steve Rogers (aka Captain America) in the MCU since 2011's "Captain America: The First Avenger" -- was in talks to return to the role, despite having essentially retired the character in "Endgame."
Evans, around the same time, tweeted, "News to me." Though not specifically calling out the rumor, it was shared without context the same day as the story.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Feige set the record straight on the speculation, saying, "I rarely answer no to anything anymore because things are always surprising me with what happens, but that rumor, I think, was dispelled rather quickly by the man himself."
Skogland said Steve may be the pair's "common denominator" and they might not be "particularly good friends," but that "the connection between them is really compelling."
Spellman added that once you take away their "mutual best friend," the two couldn't be more dissimilar at first glance, explaining, "They are like fire and ice," he said. "Sam reacts spontaneously from the gut, and Bucky is more cold and calculated."
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5. Who will take up Captain America's shield in 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'?
At the end of "Endgame," Steve handed his vibranium shield to Sam, not Bucky, choosing him to carry on the legacy associated with it.
In the trailers for "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," we see Sam struggling with the idea of picking up the shield. At one point he says, "It feels like it belongs to someone else." Bucky responds, "That shield represents a lot of things to a lot of people."
Mackie said he understood his character's hesitation to step into that role.
"Sam considers the shield a representation of the country that we live in. There's a lot of trepidation as far as how does a Black man represent a country that does not represent him?" Mackie said.
"When you think of Captain America, you think of a very specific brand of person," he continued. "And there are so many different lines, so many different avenues, so many realities that we have to live in every day to be a successful Black man in our society. Sometimes it's just too hard to deal with all of those courtships of success. You can't be the same person in every room you walk in because every person you meet expects a different person. For somebody like Sam, he has to ask himself the question if that's something he's willing to deal with."
Stan said Bucky has a vested interest in who takes on the mantle next, considering Steve had been there for him since they were growing up.
"I think the issue for Bucky now is about who will fill the shoes that Cap left behind and the legacy that he left behind," Stan said. "I think Sam definitely grapples with that as well."
"They're both, whether they want to or not, in the shadow of what Captain America means. And I think in Bucky’s mind, Sam is the next guy -- that's who was chosen, that was Steve's wish," he continued. "Bucky wants to see that through -- and if there's any doubt in Sam's mind about it then that's immediately a conflict for Bucky. He still feels very protective of Steve and his legacy."
New episodes of "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" are available to stream Fridays on Disney+.
Marvel is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News and "Good Morning America."