'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' Delayed

When the Disney+ platform published the release schedule for August, a much anticipated MCU title was conspicuously left off of the updated list. The show The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was going to see Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) step into leading roles with these characters. The two would continue the chemistry established between them in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. This show was slated to become one of the first by Marvel Studios on the streaming platform.

Timelines

Disney and Marvel had previously announced a slate of shows for release on the Disney+ platform. They were going to help propel the MCU into its next phase. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier was the first of these shows, and would feature Sam and Bucky dealing with the aftermath of the events of Avengers: Endgame, which ended with Steve Rogers retiring from the Captain America mantle and giving Sam his shield. According to the official description, "Sam and Bucky would embark on a global adventure that tests their abilities – and their patience." The cast thus far also includes Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell, Desmond Chiam, Miki Ishikawa, Noah Mills, Carl Lumbly, and Daniel Brühl.

The third quarter of 2020 was supposed to be the transition into the new era of the MCU. Kevin Feige had also previously stated that these shows would be used as vehicles to introduce new characters into the universe. One of the first new characters to be announced was US Agent (Wyatt Russell). However, the coronavirus shut down all production on the show. The omission from the August calendar was Disney’s subtle acknowledgment that the show would not be released as originally planned.

Plagued Production

Disney revealed its August release plans for all of its platforms very recently. Even with CEO Bob Iger’s statements about the MCU in 2020, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier may not be released this year at all. Given the impact of the pandemic, this change is hardly surprising. US COVID-19 cases continue to rise.

This production was not without issues before the pandemic. The early days of filming were delayed a full two weeks due to a magnitude 6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico. As the epidemic started to hit US shores, production moved from Atlanta to the Czech Republic. By then, it was March, and all production was halted globally.

While filming has been impacted by the virus into the summer months, the EU travel ban may not stop Marvel Studios from completing production overseas. According to some insiders, only nine days of filming remain for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. This does not include any reshoots that may need to be done. With approximately 10 days of filming left, Sam and Bucky’s adventures are tantalizingly close to coming to our screens.

Hindsight is not 2020

The pandemic has wreaked its havoc on the science fiction and comic book convention circuit as well. Those events were where properties of Disney and Marvel would normally showcase their latest trailers, looks, and merchandise. San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), the largest and oldest continuously run comic book convention, has been canceled for the first time in 50 years. As there are no other large scale cons, there will be no other previews of the show available in the immediate future.

The SDCC team has created a virtual version of the convention. However, Disney and Marvel have opted out of sharing their show at the virtual con. Disney/Marvel may find it advantageous to create their own mini-convention to showcase Marvel in the interim. Rivals in the DC universe already have their own virtual convention, DC FanDome. Optimistically, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier show will most likely be ready for release in 2021.

Source: Culture Slate