Thunderbolts Needs To Follow Up On A Forgotten MCU Plotline

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Thunderbolts Needs To Follow Up On A Forgotten MCU Plotline

Key Takeaways

  • Sharon Carter as the Power Broker needs resolution in Thunderbolts.
  • Thunderbolts offers a fitting opportunity to address Carter’s new storyline.
  • Marvel Studios must follow through on open plotlines like Carter’s transformation.

As a die-hard Marvel fan who has followed Sharon Carter’s journey since her debut in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation and frustration at the same time when it comes to her character’s future. On one hand, Emily VanCamp’s portrayal of Carter was captivating, and her transformation into the Power Broker was an intriguing twist that left fans eager for more. However, like many other plotlines in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it seems to have been left hanging without proper resolution.

In recent storytelling efforts, Marvel Studios has been grappling with certain threads left unresolved for a while. One such thread from “The Eternals” is slated to be revisited in the upcoming “Captain America: Brave New World,” set for release next year. Yet, an essential plotline from “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” is expected to be tackled in the upcoming film titled “Thunderbolts.”

Emily VanCamp’s character Sharon Carter, while not a major player in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” played a crucial role. In the series, she was unveiled as the Power Broker, but since then, Marvel Studios has not delved further into her new narrative arc. Considering that “Captain America: Brave New World” already has a lot on its plate, it appears that “Thunderbolts” could be an ideal film for exploring Carter’s Power Broker storyline.

Sharon Carter’s Turn as the Power Broker

Thunderbolts Needs To Follow Up On A Forgotten MCU Plotline

Emily VanCamp first appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Agent 13 (also known as Sharon Carter) in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” During this film, she portrayed a nurse neighboring Steve Rogers and developed an on-screen romance with him. However, it wasn’t until “Captain America: Civil War” that Rogers discovered Carter was Peggy Carter’s great-niece, following Peggy’s funeral. The pair shared a kiss before Carter disappeared from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She made a return in the Disney+ limited series, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” with an unexpected twist: after the events of “Captain America: Civil War,” Carter fled for safety due to being on Team Cap. In this series, she is found living in hiding in Madripoor, where she has assumed a new identity as the Power Broker, ruling the criminal underworld. Contrary to the suggestion in “Avengers: Endgame” that Carter had died following the snap, she actually used her apparent death as a means to gain control over the criminal world.

Fans of the character might have found it unexpected when Carter was molded into a type of anti-hero in the storyline. This shift seemed inconsistent with her established persona. Nevertheless, Marvel Studios appeared to have a strategy for Carter’s development, as she was granted a presidential pardon at the end of “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” which enabled her to acquire government resources for her clients in Madripoor. Regrettably, just like many other plots in this recent phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Carter’s transformation into the Power Broker seemed destined to be a short-lived story arc… for now.

Thunderbolts is the Perfect Place for the Power Broker

Although it appears extremely improbable that Carter will feature in “Captain America: Brave New World,” due to its focus on resolving another storyline from “The Eternals,” there is a possibility that Carter could appear in a different Marvel film set for release next year. Notably, Marvel Studios’ upcoming project, “Thunderbolts,” is slated for summer release, and two characters from “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” have already been confirmed to appear: Bucky Barnes and US Agent. Since Barnes is now a Congressman, and US Agent is set to collaborate with him and a variety of complex heroes, introducing Carter’s Power Broker character might not be far-fetched. The film could explore Carter’s covert actions against the CIA, while still centering on this group of reluctant heroes. At present, details about Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts” are scarce, as an official trailer for the project has yet to be revealed. This leaves much unknown about the upcoming project. Although Emily VanCamp has not been confirmed for any future Marvel projects, a Carter appearance is not entirely impossible.

Due to the minimal impact fans have experienced from post-credit scenes and the numerous storylines introduced across different films and series, it’s crucial for Marvel Studios to address the many loose ends they’ve created. Particularly concerning Sharon Carter’s unexpected transformation into the Power Broker in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”, a change that felt out of place given her character development up until then. While it was necessary for Carter to survive, her drastic character alteration seemed incongruous. Reintroducing her would allow for further exploration of this new character arc and help clarify Carter’s life post-“Civil War”. It’s high time the Marvel Cinematic Universe gave Sharon Carter the attention she deserves, especially considering her underdeveloped storyline thus far. If Marvel Studios wants to make the most of their narrative potential, they should include Carter in “Thunderbolts” and continue the path they set for her in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”, giving her an opportunity to reclaim her spotlight instead of leaving her as another unresolved plot point from Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts is slated to hit theaters on April 30th, 2025.

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2024-09-02 21:03