Sam Wilson and Anthony Mackie have never been the face of the MCU like Iron Man and Robert Downey Jr., nor the heart of the franchise like Steve Rogers and Chris Evan. He hasn’t carried the weight of being Marvel’s biggest Black superhero like T’Challa and the late Chadwick Boseman. But as Captain America: Brave New World approaches, it’s time to recognize that Mackie’s Sam Wilson has one of the best and most consistent character arcs in the entire MCU.
Through quiet resilience, unwavering loyalty, and a deep sense of duty, Sam has been there at pivotal moments—always on someone’s left, always stepping up when it counts. Now, as he prepares to take center stage, rewatching his journey proves that he has always deserved the shield.
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Unlike characters built on tragedy or larger-than-life powers, Sam Wilson’s story is deeply human. He started as a war veteran working at the VA, helping fellow soldiers reintegrate into society. That’s who he was before he ever became the Falcon—someone committed to lifting others up.
How did Sam Wilson AKA The Falcon earn the shield leading up to Brave New World?
As the MCU evolved, Sam quietly became one of the most reliable heroes, standing by Steve Rogers, fighting for what’s right, and proving time and again that he didn’t need super-soldier serum to be a hero. His ascension to Captain America isn’t just about Steve handing him the shield—it’s about the fact that, at every step, Sam has earned it.
There has been discourse about whether Sam Wilson is deserving of the shield. But if you go back and watch the films and shows where he plays a role, the answer is undeniable. And now, over a decade after his introduction in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sam’s journey is reaching its own major moment.
This isn’t just another solo film. For those who have followed the MCU, this is the reward for over a decade of character development. It may not have multiversal stakes, but it’s just as important for the MCU’s longevity as a franchise. And that deserves to be recognized—especially during Black History Month when we acknowledge the significance of seeing a Black man, Anthony Mackie, leading as Captain America on the big screen.
Sam Wilson has been in the MCU for over a decade, and now he finally gets to lead his own movie. That moment matters, and it’s a perfect time to revisit the films and shows that made it possible.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – Understanding the Legacy
Even though Sam Wilson isn’t in this movie, it’s essential for understanding what it means to be Captain America. Steve Rogers wasn’t chosen because he was the strongest or most powerful—he was chosen because of his heart. He was willing to fight for others no matter what, and that same reasoning is why Steve later chooses Sam.
The shield was never about strength or super-soldier serum. It was about responsibility. It was about standing up for those who couldn’t. This movie lays the groundwork for why Captain America matters and why, when the time came to pass the shield, it wasn’t about picking someone who could throw it the hardest, but someone who understood what it meant to carry it.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) – The Introduction of Sam Wilson
Sam Wilson makes his first appearance in The Winter Soldier, not as a superhero but as a veteran running a VA support group. Before he ever straps on his Falcon wings, he’s already committed to helping others, working to reintegrate soldiers into society after war. That alone tells speaks to who Sam Wilson is at his core.
His bond with Steve Rogers is immediate. Both men understand what it means to be a soldier out of time—Steve literally, Sam figuratively. When Steve and Natasha go on the run from Hydra, Sam doesn’t hesitate to join them. He isn’t enhanced, he doesn’t have armor or magic—just a sense of duty and a willingness to fight. That’s all he needs. His aerial combat skills and sharp instincts prove invaluable in the fight against Hydra, showing that Sam isn’t just a sidekick; he’s a soldier ready to stand alongside Captain America.
Looking back, it’s clear this is where Sam’s journey to becoming Captain America truly begins. The shield may not have been in his hands yet, but the heart, the courage, and the determination were already there.
Captain America: Civil War (2016) – Choosing Integrity Over Orders
By the time Civil War begins, Sam is a fully integrated Avenger, fighting alongside Steve and Natasha in covert missions. His skills have evolved, his confidence has grown, and his commitment to Steve Rogers is stronger than ever. But when the Sokovia Accords threaten to divide the Avengers, Sam once again proves where his loyalties lie—not with politics, not with governments, but with doing what’s right.
He sides with Steve, not because it’s easy, but because he knows that allowing governments to dictate who the Avengers can and can’t help is a step in the wrong direction. Sam stands firm in his beliefs, even when it makes him a fugitive. His bond with Steve deepens, but so does his sense of responsibility—a theme that will come full circle when the mantle of Captain America is placed in his hands.
This is also the first time Sam fights alongside Bucky Barnes, a relationship that starts as a rivalry but later grows into something much deeper. While they don’t see eye to eye in Civil War, it’s clear that Sam has the patience and maturity to challenge Bucky, even when tensions are high. That dynamic will become critical in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, when the weight of Steve’s legacy rests on both of them.
Ant-Man (2015) – Supporting Others, Even After Losing
Though Ant-Man is often overlooked in Sam Wilson’s larger journey, his brief appearance actually highlights something crucial about his leadership style. When Scott Lang breaks into the Avengers compound, Sam goes head-to-head with him in a short but memorable fight. He loses, but what stands out is what happens next.
Instead of holding a grudge, instead of dismissing Scott, Sam later seeks him out to recruit him for the Avengers. He recognizes Scott’s abilities, even after their awkward first meeting. This moment matters because it shows how Sam leads—not through ego, not through brute force, but by recognizing potential in others and bringing them into the fold.
This ability to see the best in people will come back later when he deals with Isaiah Bradley’s bitterness, John Walker’s failures, and even Bucky’s self-doubt. Sam doesn’t just fight alongside heroes—he lifts them up. That’s what a true Captain America does.
Avengers: Endgame (2019) – The Moment Sam Wilson Was Chosen
The moment Sam receives the shield is one of the most emotionally significant moments in the MCU. When Steve Rogers hands it to him, Sam doesn’t immediately accept it. He hesitates.
That hesitation isn’t doubt in himself—it’s an understanding of the weight of the symbol. He knows what it means to be Captain America, especially as a Black man in America. He knows the world won’t see him the same way it saw Steve. But Steve saw something in him—something that made him the only choice.
His first words when holding the shield are simple but powerful: “It feels like it belongs to someone else.” Steve’s response? “It doesn’t.” Sam may have accepted the shield in Endgame, but his journey to truly becoming Captain America was far from over.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) – Earning the Shield
If Endgame is where Sam is chosen, this is where he earns it. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier explores the complexity of what it means to be Captain America, particularly for a Black man in America. Through Isaiah Bradley’s tragic story, Sam learns the hard truth about the Super Soldier program and how Black soldiers have been erased from history.
Through John Walker, he sees what happens when someone tries to take the mantle without the right values. And through Bucky, he understands that even his closest allies are struggling with what Steve left behind. Sam initially rejects the shield, but after witnessing Walker’s failures and confronting his own doubts, he makes the choice for himself. He chooses to be Captain America, not because Steve picked him, but because he knows he can redefine what Captain America means.
The finale cements Sam as a different kind of Captain America. He doesn’t have super strength. He doesn’t have government backing. But he has something far more powerful: his own voice. His speech to the world in the final episode is one of the most defining moments in the MCU. Unlike Steve, Sam doesn’t just act—he makes the world listen. He forces politicians, soldiers, and citizens alike to confront what Captain America should represent in a modern world.
Honorable Mentions: The Incredible Hulk and Eternals
While not central to Sam Wilson’s journey, The Incredible Hulk and Eternals are worth revisiting to fully understand the broader MCU context leading into Brave New World.
With Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross now the President of the United States, his history with the Super Soldier Program in The Incredible Hulk is more relevant than ever. Ross has always sought to control enhanced individuals, and given Brave New World’s rumored focus on super-soldiers, his past experiments—including Abomination’s creation—could provide insight into his next moves.
The emergence of Tiamut, a giant Celestial now frozen in the ocean, remains one of the MCU’s biggest unresolved events. With no Avengers officially leading Earth’s defense, it raises the question: who steps up in times of crisis? Both films set the stage for the world Sam Wilson is stepping into as Captain America—one where governments are tightening their grip on power, and Earth faces threats bigger than ever before.
For over a decade, Sam Wilson and Anthony Mackie have been an essential part of the MCU. He has fought alongside legends, stood by his friends, and lifted up those around him. He has been in the background of major battles, always on someone’s left, always supporting. Now, he’s leading from the front.
MCU fans sometimes forget that Endgame wasn’t built overnight. It took years of storytelling, years of investment in characters, to make that moment land. Brave New World follows the same path. It may not have multiversal stakes, but it doesn’t need them. This is the payoff for over 10 years of storytelling.
For those who have followed Sam’s journey since Winter Soldier, this is his Endgame moment. And that is worth celebrating.
Captain America: Brave New World is playing now in theaters everywhere.
