Summary
Marvel Studios has struggled with its latest phase in storytelling, leaving various plotlines seemingly untouched for quite some time. One plotline fromThe Eternalsis set to be addressed inCaptain America: Brave New Worldwhen it hits theaters next year. However, there’s one major plotline fromThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierthat should be addressed inThunderbolts.
Emily VanCamp’s Sharon Carter was a minor character inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier. However, her character’s story was a pretty important one. She was revealed to be the Power Broker, and yet, despite the revelation of her character’s new arc, Marvel Studios hasn’t touched on it since. WithCaptain America: Brave New Worldalready set to tackle plenty as it is,Thunderboltsseems like the perfect movie to address Carter’s Power Broker storyline.
Sharon Carter’s Turn as the Power Broker
Emily VanCamp made her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut inCaptain America: The Winter Soldierwhere she worked undercover as Agent 13, playing a nurse who lived across from Steve Rogers. The duo had a bit of an on-screen romance develop, with Rogers not finding out Carter’s true identity asPeggy Carter’s great-niece until Captain America: Civil War. It was then, following Peggy’s funeral, that Rogers would come to learn Carter’s true identity. The duo wouldshare an on-screen kiss, and it would be the last of Carter’s appearances within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Until she returned for the Disney+ limited series,The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, this time with a twist. Following the events ofCaptain America: Civil War, Carter took off for fear of being captured for being on Team Cap. She’s still very much on the run when she pops up inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and has built an entirely new life and identity as the Power Broker in Madripoor.Avengers: Endgamesuggested Carter had died following the snap, but in reality, Carter had used her presumed death to help her become the ruler of the criminal underworld.
For fans of the character, the decision to make Carter an anti-hero of sorts was a surprising one. Especially as it felt out of character for her. However, Marvel Studios looked to have a plan for Carter who, after being pardoned at the end ofThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, had secured government resources for her buyers back in Madripoor. Unfortunately, though, like numerous other projects throughout this latest phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Carter’s turn as the Power Broker seemed to be a plotline that would soon be forgotten. At least, for now.
Thunderbolts is the Perfect Place for the Power Broker
While it seems highly unlikely Carter will appear inCaptain America: Brave New World, which is already busy tackling another forgotten plotline fromThe Eternals, Carter could appear in another Marvel film coming next year. Marvel Studios is set to releaseThunderboltsnext summer, and there are two characters fromThe Falcon and the Winter Soldieralready confirmed to appear in that project:Bucky BarnesandUS Agent. Given Barnes is now a Congressman, and US Agent is now set to work alongside him and a slew of other complicated heroes, bringing in Carter’s Power Broker doesn’t seem like a reach. In fact, the film could touch on Carter’s undercutting of the CIA from the inside, while still focusing on the group of reluctant heroes. As it stands,very little is knownregarding Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts, especially asan official trailer for the projecthas yet to be unveiled. This means there’s still plenty that remains unknown about the project. Although VanCamp has yet to be announced for any upcoming Marvel projects, that doesn’t mean a Carter appearance isn’t entirely out of the question.
Given how little payoff fans have seen fromend credit scenes, and various plotlines introduced across multiple films and shows, Marvel Studios needs to start following up on its many open threads. Especially given how out of left field Carter’s turn as the Power Broker felt inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Yes, Carter needed to find a way to survive, but to change her character so drastically felt wrong. Bringing her back to further explore this new character arc, and help to make sense of Carter’s life afterCivil Warwould prove to be a vital step forward for the character. After all, as it stands, the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn’t exactly done well by Sharon Carter thus far. If Marvel Studios is smart, it’ll bring Carter back forThunderboltsand continue with the journey it set forth for her inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and give the character time to shine yet again, rather than letting her simply be yet another untied plotline from Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
