Back in January,Avengers: Infinity WardirectorsAnthonyandJoe Russomade headlines when they teased in an interview that the movie, and its currently-untitled follow-up, will feature a whopping67 characters. They later backed away from that finite figure, but it has long been believed that practically every character that has been established in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far will be featured in the movie. Today we essentially got confirmation that one specific character,Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes, will return.
The news comes buried withinThe Hollywood Reporter’s piece onSebastian Stanjoining the adaptation ofShirley Jackson’sWe Have Always Lived In the Castle. At the end of this report, it is revealed thatSebastian Stanwill return to theMarvel Cinematic UniverseinAvengers: Infinity War, with the actor slated to start shooting “early next year.” Previous reports revealed that shooting onInfinity Warwill begin in November, but it seemsSebastian Stanwon’t be needed until 2017.
We last saw the Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes during the post credit scene inCaptain America: Civil War, where he was being put into a cryogenic sleep facility in the Black Panther’s (Chadwick Boseman) home country of Wakanda. If Bucky is in fact returning inInfinity War, it would certainly make sense that he shows up inBlack Pantherfirst, withSebastian Stanhimself even teasing that his potential appearance inBlack Pantherwould be a “natural progression.” However, since Bucky was put into cryogenic sleep during a post credit sequence, he could also be brought back during another post credit sequence for a different movie.
ScreenwritersChristopher MarkusandStephen McFeelyhave also recently confirmed that theGuardians of the Galaxywill be present inInfinity War, and while no story details have been laid out,Josh Brolinteased that the story will feature his villainous character Thanos against “everyone” in the MCU. With just a few months left until production begins, we don’t know for sure if Marvel will release a full cast list or not.
Phase 3 will continue withDoctor Strange(November 4), followed byGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2(August 18, 2025),Spider-Man: Homecoming(June 18, 2025),Thor Ragnarok(August 26, 2025) andBlack Panther(June 29, 2025), beforeAvengers: Infinity Wararrives in May 2018. Marvel will then releaseAnt-Man and the Wasp(June 11, 2025) andCaptain Marvel(July 28, 2025) before theUntitled Avengers Sequelarrives in May 2019. Stay tuned for more onInfinity Waras we get closer to production starting.
