It’s been a while since viewers have seen Sam Wilson make waves in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but news of Captain America 4 being in the works has fans excited about the next part of his journey. As of now, he’s pretty detached from the multiversal madness sweeping through the universe and causing problems for the other heroes. This means the film likely won’t hit theaters until 2024, after Phase 4 starts drawing to a close.
With that being said, a lot can happen before the new Cap is back. A slew of new characters are joining the franchise, while other familiar faces are still taking care of unfinished business. Below are 5 villains that would make great antagonists for Sam Wilson in Captain America 4.
Red Skull
Sam and Red Skull had their own issues in the Marvel Comics, when Steve was still holding the Captain America mantle. Red Skull took control of Sam’s mind and forced him to attack Steve. Afterwards, Steve freed Sam from the Skull’s mind control and the two teamed up together to fight Red Skull.
As fans know, Red Skull is currently residing on the planet Vormir, where he’s been presumably trapped since the events of Captain America: The First Avenger. Giving Sam the chance to beat Red Skull once and for all could help bring his story to the same multiversal level as other heroes, while allowing him to prove that he’s just as strong as Steve was.
Sam was hesitant to accept the shield at first, even going as far to donate it in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Picking up the mantle wasn’t an easy thing for Sam to do, but perhaps taking down one of the enemies Steve failed to in the past would help Sam realize he’s the right person for the job.
Sin
Red Skull has a daughter named Sin in the Marvel Comics, who fans have already been theorizing about. Red Skull was exiled in the comics when he conceived his child, similarly to how he’s been exiled to Vormir in the MCU. As a result, a lot of people are assuming that instead of her father, Sin will be the one to stir up trouble for Sam in Captain America 4.
Sharon Carter
After becoming a fugitive for helping Team Cap in Captain America: Civil War, Sharon Carter had to go underground to avoid being persecuted by the law. Her initial skepticism at helping Sam and Bucky in The Falcon in the Winter Soldier proved that she’s still holding a bit of a grudge against them for what happened in 2016.
Now known as the Power Broker, Sharon has gotten herself into a life of crime, in order to keep living a comfortable life now that she’s fleeing from the repercussions of violating the Sokovia Accords. Sharon worked hard to conceal her secret identity from Sam and Bucky, and she wound up killing to protect her secret.
Bringing her in as the villain for Captain America 4 would prove to be a unique challenge for Sam, because of the personal connections he has to her. Their fight would likely have levels of emotional depth that a traditional battle with Marvel’s run-of-the-mill villain wouldn’t. Plus, it would give fans the chance to learn more about how Sharon came to be the Power Broker, and shed more light on her journey over the last few years.
John Walker
John Walker tried to be the new Captain America and failed miserably, eventually losing his job, his respect and all of his military benefits. His failure is what inspired Sam to pick up the mantle, in turn giving Sam the respect of the people who lost faith in John, thanks to the incredible speech he gave to the public in the final Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode. Sam also has the title of Captain America, a family who loves him and the bravery to fight for what he believes in.
John is up to something with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, although it’s unclear what angle they’re working. With that being said, John was never really a fan of Sam in the first place, and he’s likely being influenced by Val to take drastic actions against the new Cap in order to seek his revenge. Val was able to convince Yelena Belova to go after Clint, telling her he was responsible for Natasha’s death, so she could easily manipulate John into doing her bidding, now that he’s in a vulnerable place.
The Global Repatriation Council
Perhaps Sam won’t be dealing with a single villain in Captain America 4, but trying to combat larger, more serious issues throughout the duration of the film. He very boldly called out the Global Repatriation Council after dawning his new Cap suit for the first time, saying they’re part of a larger problem that’s plaguing the world. So, maybe he’ll be fighting for the betterment of his world, rather than exchanging blows with a single criminal.