The Falcon and The Winter Soldier has established new stories. These plot threads will surely be explored in the future of MCU. Be it in the form of series or movies, I believe that the MCU has successful expanded beyond Phase 3. We have finally found our new Captain America. Sharon Carter, as most of us had predicted, is the real Power Broker. She is the one to hold great influence all of Madripoor. Her power and position as the Power Broker and perhaps a CIA (or SHIELD) agent is very effective.
The post-credit scene of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier set up Sharon’s future in the MCU. She finally got her due as Sam promised it. She is not a fugitive anymore and has been granted a full pardon by the government. And as I’ve mentioned, she even got her old position back at the CIA. So, the Power Broker has infiltrated the CIA. Before the post-credit scene ends, she can be seen talking to someone on call. She says. “We’re going to have full access to government secrets, Prototype Weapons, you name it.”
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier leaves a lot of scope for many plot threads to be tied later on. But one of them seems to be hanging unattended. Let’s trace our steps back to the first episode of the series. Sam decided to give up the shield and put it back on display at the Smithsonian. There, we saw Colonel James Rhodes meeting Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). This particular moment is layered deeply. Rhodes can empathize with Sam as both of them are cut from the same cloth. Sam lost Steve and Rhodey lost Tony. Rhodey signed off with a promise to see Sam around later. This could be the first hint to the series leading into Armor Wars.
This brings us back to Sharon Carter. She is now reinstated within the government and has extremely easy access. We have a theory that she might be connected to the real Mandarin (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) as one major fight in the trailer for the movie takes place in Madripoor. This place is the Power-Broker’s kingdom. And through her status, she might be connected with villains and organizations like Hydra, Leviathan, AIM, Kingpin, the benefactor of Sonny Burch, and even Norman Osborn.
Another possible speculation is Iron Man 2‘s Justin Hammer could be connected to her as well. The reason why I say this because he is connected to the comics too which I’ll explain in a moment. He had a strong interest in replicating Stark’s technology. If this is the case, this could very well be who Carter was in contact with during the recent post-credit scene. Actually, it makes for a good plot for Armor Wars. Of course, with added elements.
In the comics, Armor Wars was an Iron Man miniseries by writers Bob Layton and Dave Michelinie and artists Mark D. Bright and Barry Windsor-Smith, and it dealt with Tony’s struggle with the Spymaster, who stole his technology and sold it to Justin Hammer. It’s a power struggle as Stark-inspired suits fall into dozens of the wrong hands. Even though it’s a very important arc in the comics, it is just not possible for it to pan out in the MCU in exactly the same way.
But Kevin Fiege and co will obviously have it covered. Sharon, as the Power-Broker is all set to trade the government secrets and advanced technologies. So, she can replace the Spymaster. While she may or may not return, she could certainly be referenced being the weapons dealer that sells ammunition in the black marker. Also, Armor Wars could mark the return of Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer. Apart from him, Armor Wars leaves ample room for other cameos as well. Scott Lang was Tony’s backup in unraveling the mystery of who stole his technology in the comic. But with Don Cheadle in the light, we could have others like Riri Williams, or even Sam and Bucky show up to help him.
During a previous interview with BroBible’s Post-Credit Podcast, Cheadle discussed the impact Tony Stark’s passing would have on War Machine’s character in Armor Wars:
“The death of Tony Stark, I’m pretty sure, will play a role in the series. Where we’ve been sort of progressing Rhodey—even in the last film where he’s now up again and he’s now walking again and he’s now mobile again—so as the technology continues to develop and we keep making innovations in the suit and what happens, I imagine there’s gonna be another elevation and another way that we’re going to keep digging into that part of Rhodey.”
Created by Malcolm Spellman and directed by Kari Skogland, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier stars Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell, Noah Mills, Carl Lumbly, and Daniel Brühl. All episodes are now streaming on Disney+.
