‘Black Panther’ Movie: Will Winter Soldier Appear? Sebastian Stan Teases Bucky’s Future

“Captain America: Civil War” ended with the Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes going into cryostasis in Wakanda, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be in the “Black Panther” movie. At D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, actor Sebastian Stan revealed that the former assassin will not be in Marvel’s February flick.

“I am not in ‘Black Panther,’” Stan told Good Morning America over the weekend.

“I could look at you and tell that,” Anthony Mackie, who plays Falcon, joked.

“I did not have any relation with Black Panther,” the Romanian born actor quipped. “No, I’m not. I really am not. But you know, that gets resolved in this one [‘Avengers: Infinity War’].”

While fans of the Winter Soldier are sure to be disappointed, there will be plenty of other characters to keep audiences entertained. “Black Panther” will follow T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) as he takes over the throne and deliberates whether the advanced society of Wakanda should reach out and help others or if they should stay hidden. Michael B. Jordan stars as T’Challa’s adversary Eric Killmonger. Black Panther’s allies are the Dora Milaje, his female secret service. Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Florence Kasumba and more play the warriors. Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis, Angela Bassett and Sterling K. Brown also star.

READ: Everything We Learned About “Avengers: Infinity War” At D23

Bucky will stay frozen throughout “Black Panther,” but the Winter Soldier will be defrosted just a few months later. In a new trailer revealed at D23 (which has not been released online yet), Bucky is shown with a Wakandan army in “Avengers: Infinity War.” He’ll return just in time to fight Thanos (Josh Brolin), the greatest threat to the universe. The purple alien is collecting Infinity Stones to make himself powerful enough to destroy the universe, and the Avengers have to stop him.

It’s not just the Winter Soldier and the Wakandan army lending a helping hand. The Guardians of the Galaxy (including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and Karen Gillan’s characters), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and more will take on Thanos in “Infinity War.” Some heroes will look a little different this time around, though.

READ: Who Is T’Challa’s Love Interest In “Black Panther”?

Reports from D23 revealed that Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) will be sporting a beard and a new suit in the third “Avengers” movie. Part of this is because he is a war criminal after ignoring the Sokovia Accords in 2015’s “Captain America: Civil War,” but it’s also a clear indicator that he has dropped the Captain America identity.

As comic book fans know, Bucky eventually takes on the Cap persona and shield. Could that be where Bucky ends up in “Infinity War”? Fans will have to wait to see who survives first. As previously reported, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige noted that the third and fourth “Avengers” films will be the end for some of our favorite heroes.

“Black Panther,” directed by Ryan Coogler, will hit theaters on Feb. 16, 2018, while “Avengers: Infinity War” will be released on May 4, 2018.