The Thunderbolts* Director"s Recent Comments Have Me More Afraid Than Ever That Bucky Barnes Will Die

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Sebastian Stan"s Bucky Barnes could be biting the bullet in Thunderbolts*, as new comments from the director of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie connect to past reports, leading me to believe that Bucky is not safe. My favorite MCU character is Chris Evans" Captain America. As such, Bucky Barnes has always been important to me. Watching Stan choose to stay in the MCU for such a long time has been one of the most exciting parts of the franchise, with Bucky being present in some of the MCU"s best movies, with a possible new candidate to that list coming soon.
Sebastian Stan"s Bucky Barnes is the longest-running MCU character in the cast of Marvel"s Thunderbolts*, which also includes recent favorites, like Yelena Belova and John Walker, and more interesting characters, both old and new. While Marvel"s Thunderbolts* is not expected to be R-rated, unlike this year"s Deadpool & Wolverine, the movie is expected to present a darker story than most MCU projects. That makes sense due to the nature of the characters on the team, as many have a lot of red on their ledger. I fear that could lead to major deaths, with Bucky among them, after an update.
The Thunderbolts* Director’s Comments Tease Bucky’s Story In The MCU Movie Sebastian Stan Is Getting Another Major MCU Role Close I"m excited to see what Thunderbolts* has in store for Bucky Barnes. So far, the character has left one of the biggest impressions on Thunderbolts*"s trailers. Bucky appears in them as a Terminator-esque force, driving a motorcycle and making his way toward the team, disposing of anyone in his way with ease. Stan"s Marvel character also appears in other interesting situations, which include several moments as part of the Thunderbolts, interacting with characters like Red Guardian, and also appearing at a gala event and what appears to be a hearing in court. Bucky will be busy in Thunderbolts*.
Recently, Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier teased Bucky Barnes" story in the MCU movie. While the director noted the popularity of the joke in the Thunderbolts* trailer about Bucky putting his Vibranium arm in the dishwasher, there is a lot more depth to the character"s arc in the film beyond just comedic scenes like that. Schreier makes that clear in his new MCU comments, saying, "Come for the dishwasher jokes, stay for the deep emotional journey." It"s a relief to know that there will be some substance to Bucky"s story instead of him just being used for comedic or action-packed moments.
I’m More Afraid Bucky Will Die Now Because Of Multiple Factors Thunderbolts* Should Have Some Casualties

While Schreier"s comments are exciting on the one hand, teasing that Sebastian Stan"s Bucky Barnes will have an important role to play in the team-up movie, on the other hand, they make me more afraid that Bucky will end up dying. The biggest element that makes me think Bucky is not safe comes from a past Thunderbolts* story report. Back in February, The Hollywood Reporter claimed that previous drafts of the movie"s script, before The Bear showrunner Joanna Calo was brought in for rewrites, revolved around the characters going on a mission "that was supposed to end with their deaths."
Confirmed Thunderbolts Cast Member
Character The Actor Plays
Sebastian Stan
James "Bucky" Barnes, A.K.A. The Winter Soldier
Florence Pugh
Yelena Belova, A.K.A. Black Widow
Wyatt Russell
John Walker, A.K.A. US Agent
David Harbour
Alexei Shostakov, A.K.A. Red Guardian
Hannah John-Kamen
Ava Starr, A.K.A. Ghost
Olga Kurylenko
Antonia Dreykov, A.K.A. Taskmaster
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine
Harrison Ford
President Thaddeus Ross
Lewis Pullman
Bob (Sentry)
Geraldine Viswanathan
Unconfirmed
Since first learning about that past plot point, I have wondered just who could have died in early versions of Thunderbolts*. Well, director Jake Schreier"s comments make me believe that Bucky was among those who could die. Given how the Thunderbolts are similar in concept to DC"s Suicide Squad, I expect more than one death in the Marvel movie. Smaller characters like Ghost and Taskmaster are likely to die throughout the upcoming MCU film. However, a violent and dark MCU entry would not be complete without a major death, which makes me believe that Bucky will fill that role.
Sebastian Stan"s character has been on an arc that saw him go from a good guy to a weapon controlled by others to someone who wants to atone for his sins.
The "deep emotional journey" comment from Schreier when describing Bucky"s story in Thunderbolts* could very well be teasing his death. After all, Sebastian Stan"s character has been on an arc that saw him go from a good guy to a weapon controlled by others to someone who wants to atone for his sins. I loved how The Falcon and the Winter Soldier explored Bucky"s guilt and how he was trying to move on. That emotional journey should continue in Marvel"s Thunderbolts*, with Bucky becoming part of this team of misfits and possibly dying for them, ending his MCU arc.
Bucky’s Role Within The Thunderbolts Puts Him At Risk Kevin Feige Revealed How Important Bucky Will Be Close The main reason I believe that Bucky could end up dying for the rest of the Thunderbolts is due to his revealed role within the team. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed that Sebastian Stan"s Bucky Barnes will be the leader of the team. While the job of assembling the anti-heroes and villains who form the Thunderbolts was left up to Julia Louis-Dreyfus" Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who was revealed in Thunderbolts*"s trailers to have bought Avengers Tower from Tony Stark, it seems like Bucky will be the team"s field leader, in charge of the tough decisions during missions.
Based on how Bucky has left it all on the field to help his closest friends, Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson, I believe that he would give his all to save every member of his team as the Thunderbolts" leader. Bucky sacrificing himself to save the others would fit with the emotional journey promised for him by director Jake Schreier. Besides, the MCU has already done that before. Iron Man sacrificed himself twice to save everyone, while Star-Lord almost died in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. As such, another MCU leader could die or get close to it.
I Don’t Think Bucky Barnes Should Die In Thunderbolts* There Is More Story To Tell With Sebastian Stan In The MCU Close Instead of having Bucky die in Thunderbolts*, I think a better next chapter for his story in the movie would be to see how he can do good as the leader of a team. While the Thunderbolts are more violent than the Avengers, Bucky would be among other like-minded characters, wanting to do some good but having a dark past to atone for at the same time. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier explored Bucky trying to move on from his past as the Winter Soldier, and the character deserves to know what a new life free from that looks like.

Related The Answer To The Thunderbolts* Asterisk Could Make A Major Avengers 5 Theory Come True The new Thunderbolts* trailer has a moment that might have revealed the meaning behind the MCU movie"s asterisk, and it could connect to the Avengers.
Posts Without Steve Rogers and no longer burdened by his Winter Soldier conditioning, a new version of Bucky can be developed throughout the MCU"s next movies. I think it would make little sense to have Bucky die in Thunderbolts* when there are two Avengers movies just around the corner. Frankly, it would be a waste to kill off one of the franchise"s most beloved characters before a major crossover that could give Bucky one of his biggest roles in the MCU yet. That said, Jake Schreier"s new comments and the original story for Thunderbolts* make me afraid for Bucky Barnes.

Thunderbolts* Marvel's Thunderbolts* is a superhero movie based on the comic team of the same name. The movie acts as a part of the MCU's fifth phase of films. The film sees the likes of Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell, the Red Guardian, and more as an unlikely group of heroes and villains brought together to fight for good.
Director Jake Schreier Release Date May 2, 2025 Writers Lee Sung-jin , Eric Pearson , Joanna Calo Cast Florence Pugh , Sebastian Stan , David Harbour , Wyatt Russell , Olga Kurylenko , Hannah John-Kamen , Julia Louis-Dreyfus , Geraldine Viswanathan , Lewis Pullman , Joshua Mikel Franchise(s) Marvel Cinematic Universe All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies