Remember the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame when Old Man Steve Rogers is passing on his shield? And standing there is both Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as we all anticipate that he’s going to give it to Bucky. Only, he doesn’t.
Barnes, his friend for literally forever is passed over for Wilson, a dude Cap has known for like five years. It was a bit baffling to me at the time and apparently, this decision is also bothering the Winter Soldier himself. Stan took to Instagram to share a Tweet this week that all but reveals his displeasure with the way his character arc is wrapped up in Endgame.
As you can imagine, his frustrations are now fuel for Twitter’s retort on the matter and based on these reactions, fans are a bit mixed on the story.
the fact Sebastian Stan himself shared this on his instagram story, hinting even the actor didn’t approve of Steve’s ending in Endgame. we – pic.twitter.com/aFiDy1JRUb
— Beb (@BowerxDepp) January 31, 2020
sebastian stan acknowledging that steve loved bucky too much to leave him and that steve's ending was badly written is the best thing to ever happen to the world hands down
— chloe (@theirishkingnjh) January 31, 2020
https://twitter.com/SheekaBlanco/status/1223104691539591173
https://twitter.com/sommarpatriot/status/1223121748620496901
Sebastian Stan is underrated. He was phenomenal in ITONYA. He’s more than just aesthetics 🥺
— 🌧🍙🏳️🌈🎃☃️Clusterfuktoast (@clusterfuktoast) January 31, 2020
https://twitter.com/flaminhotguidos/status/1223115048303783938
https://twitter.com/natscaptain/status/1223116048381005827
https://twitter.com/lillseb/status/1222958771779055616
yup 😂👌#sebastianstan #MARVEL https://t.co/cMnBCkcYjO
— Tania (@_Tanya_88) January 31, 2020
we know sebastian stan is no oscar isaac or john boyega <3 but i can still find his ass funny
— linds! (@rebeIpoe) January 31, 2020
https://twitter.com/wormkids/status/1223322347970744322
Disney waking up and realizing they have to fire Sebastian Stan
— jel ✪ (@spiderboy_peter) January 31, 2020
Sebastian Stan: "😳"
the fandom: pic.twitter.com/5ETU0YamKN
— Newt🌈 (@Nutellafuchs) January 31, 2020
https://twitter.com/midtownhollands/status/1223299886289952768
https://twitter.com/929cait/status/1223291352454057985
One wrinkle to consider in all this is that the upcoming Disney Plus show, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, focuses on Cap’s decision to hand the shield over to Wilson instead of Barnes. This choice has consequences that help drive the first season and will most likely spur a lot of debate.
I bring this up because what if Stan’s social media post is nothing more than a marketing ploy? Perhaps it’s just to drum up more publicity for the series? I can’t imagine Disney and Marvel would need the added awareness, but maybe Stan’s taking a page from his new fellow MCU co-worker Ryan Reynolds’ book?
Then again, the Avengers: Endgame actor has no history of stirring up trouble, especially when it pertains to the franchise that made his career, so this post is definitely a bit curious and it’s understandable why so many fans aren’t sure what to make of it.