With Marvel Studios ramping up its production of films for its Phase 4 of development, there has been much discussion regarding which characters from previous Marvel Cinematic Universe projects will be making a return. One character whose definitive absence has been confirmed is Brock Rumlow or Crossbones, the HYDRA operative played by Frank Grillo in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Civil War.
The Kingdom actor told Variety that, as far as he's concerned, his time playing Crossbones has come to an end. He said that the masked villain, who also made a surprise appearance in Marvel Studios' Avengers: Endgame, wasn't ever really a part of the future of the Avengers, based on how the stories played out in the films.
Crossbones was introduced as part of the HYDRA storyline, which the Marvel films now seem to be done with. Additionally, Chris Evans' Captain America, who was his main adversary, is now finished, so there doesn't seem to be any reason to keep Crossbones around for other plots.
Of course, getting knocked off does not necessarily mean the absolute end for a character. In the world of science fiction, magic, time-travel, experimentation, or the warping of reality can always bring characters back if they die. With all of the possibilities brought forth by Disney Plus' WandaVision, there's always a chance Marvel will bring back Crossbones for a future project; however, Grillo is almost certain that won't happen - he seems adamant that Marvel is done with him as far as that character is concerned.
While Crossbones will not be gracing the big screen in the near future, he will still be around for Marvel's What If...? animated series. Marvel has tapped Grillo to reprise the role in the form of voice acting, so at least he won't be erased from Phase 4 entirely.
Despite his departure from the MCU films, Grillo is still a busy man. This year alone, he has eight movies lined up, including an upcoming sci-fi action flick titled Boss Level, where he will be getting the Edge of Tomorrow treatment. He stars as Roy Pulver, a former soldier who gets stuck in an infinite time loop that is occupied by a group of assassins who kill him over and over again. The film will follow Pulver's attempts at finding the right timeline in which he can save his ex-wife Jemma (Naomi Watts) and his son Joe (played by Grillo's actual son Rio). Mel Gibson will also appear in the film as Colonel Clive Vector, a villain with a serious god complex.
Boss Level premiers on Hulu on March 5, 2021.
Source: Variety