The Marvel Cinematic Universe usually takes creative liberty when translating beloved comic book tales into epic big-screen productions, which is a strategy that has been received well by fans, so far. The amount of content they have to work with is unparalleled and although viewers can speculate, it’s hard to know which direction the MCU plans to take their characters in any future movies or shows. With so much untapped potential, there are hundreds of captivating storylines that could be plucked from the comics and used as inspiration for the upcoming Captain America 4 film.
The stories from the comics themselves, in combination with the unique minds working at Marvel Studios, means that Captain America 4 will be a hit no matter what, but some stories would definitely be way more interesting than others. There’s a lot of projects set for release before Sam and Bucky’s story continues in 2023, meaning the MCU could look very different by the time Sam and Bucky are back. However, taking cues from the Captain America comics and reviving Steve’s oldest enemy, the Red Skull, might be exactly what Captain America 4 needs to have audiences sitting on the edge of their seats.
In the comics, Red Skull was one of the toughest villains Captain America had to face, especially since the Skull always found ways to cheat death. After being murdered by none other than the beloved Winter Soldier, Red Skull was later brought back into the modern world during the Tales of Suspense comic series. Fans know that Red Skull is still lurking around the MCU, guarding the Soul Stone on the planet Vormir, as seen in Avengers: Infinity War. He was assumed to be dead after battling it out against Steve in Captain America: The First Avenger, but his cameo in the Infinity Saga proves that he’s impossible to kill in both the movies and the comics.
It’s rare that Marvel brings back characters without hinting towards any major future events, and given how crafty Red Skull is, he’s probably been plotting his revenge during the many years he’s been trapped on Vormir. Having him return in Captain America 4 would make for a pretty surprising and pretty intense showdown, all while giving Bucky the chance to take care of unfinished business.
Red Skull was a crucial part in creating the legacy that is Captain America, because he was the first bad guy Cap ever challenged. His significance to Captain America and Bucky’s story is extremely prevalent both in the MCU and the Marvel comics, so reviving him in a modern setting would allow Marvel Studios to take full advantage of this crazy character.
By coming to terms with his history as the Winter Soldier and making amends with people in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Bucky took a huge step towards untangling himself from Hydra. He’s finally starting to let go of Steve and move on with his life, but as long as Red Skull remains alive in the MCU, a piece of Bucky’s dark past will always be lingering in the shadows.
Giving Bucky the opportunity to face off with Steve’s old foe could be exactly what he needs to prove to himself that he's as strong and capable as Steve said he is. When looking at the events that led to Bucky becoming the Winter Soldier, it all ties back to Red Skull, so getting rid of him might be the final step in Bucky’s journey towards freeing himself from his past.
In Marvel comics, Sam also teamed up with Steve to take down Red Skull, because Red Skull actually had control over Sam’s mind for quite some time. Red Skull’s influence led Sam to believe that he was nothing but a criminal, until he and Steve worked together to foil Red Skull’s evil plans.
If Red Skull were to return in Captain America 4 and set his sights on Sam, the new Cap would have the chance to do what Steve never could- beat Red Skull permanently, once and for all. Not only would this force Sam and Bucky to continue building their relationship, but it would also allow Sam to prove that he was the perfect person to take up the Captain America mantle.
Sam and Bucky’s story is pretty grounded in reality. They have yet to experience the same level of multiversal madness and outer space chaos that many of Marvel’s other heroes have. Since Red Skull has spent so much time in other parts of the galaxy, there’s a good chance he’s picked up some new tricks along the way. Red Skull coming back in Captain America 4 would be the perfect way for Marvel to expose Sam and Bucky to otherworldly threats and integrate them deeper into the MCU multiverse.