Avengers: Endgamehas brought the curtains down on the action-packed life ofChris Evans' Captain Americain theMCU. The concluding film in The Infinity Saga saw Steve Rogers returning to the past with the help of thesix Infinity Stonesto spend his remaining life with his true love Peggy Carter. As a result, Steve, in the present, is an old man who officially passes on his Vibranium trademark shield to Falcon, signaling the end of one era and the birth of a new one.
Indeed, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson is officially the MCU’s new Captain America, as evidenced by his journey through the Disney+ seriesThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Even further, perThe Direct, Evans is adamant about not returning to the Captain America franchise even in some minute capacity, despite rumors and wishes that he could possibly do soinAvengers: Secret Wars.
As we await Mackie’s film debut as Captain America inCaptain America: New World Order, now is a great time to look back on the famed shield’s time in the MCU. Neither Steve nor Sam are the only characters in the MCU to hold Captain America’s shield in some capacity. Here is the list of every character who has.
7Clint Barton — Avengers: Age of Ultron
Avengers: Age of Ultronsaw Hawkeye wielding the classic Captain America shield for the briefest of moments. At the beginning of the film, in an after-party sequence, while the team is preoccupied with team banter, Ultron crashes the party. Steve, who has been knocked far away from his shield, is fending off Ultron when Hawkeye jumps to his rescue. Clint quickly gets hold of the Captain’s shield, though for a few seconds, and tosses it towards Steve.
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6Natasha Romanoff — Avengers: Age of Ultron
Natasha Romanoff, too, gets two opportunities to wield Captain America’s shield inAvengers: Age of Ultron. First: during Steve and Ultron’s fight atop a truck in Korea, Captain America accidentally drops his shield on the road. Natasha, following on a motorcycle, retrieves it and tosses it towards him as she joins the battle. Later: during the battle in Sokovia, Black Widow uses Cap’s shield while fighting Ultron bots.
5Tony Stark — Captain America: Civil War
Tony Stark has actually had multiple opportunities to hold Captain America’s shield, with the earliest instance beingCaptain America: Civil War. After the three-way fight between Steve, Tony, and Bucky, Tony shouts at the Steve, saying the shield doesn’t belong to him. As such, Steve leaves it behind. We can presume Tony later picks it up because, inEndgame, he is the one who returns it to Steve prior to their time travel mission.
4Peter Parker — Captain America: Civil War
One of the most memorable characters to hold Captain’s shield is Peter Parker aka Spider-Man inCivil War. Tom Holland’s hero gets introduced to the Avengers, and the audience, in this film. While the friction between Iron Man and Captain America causes the Avengers to split, Tony recruits Peter to against Steve’s team. In the epicairport fight sequence, Peter webs Steve and snatches his shield. More than just wielding the iconic shield, Spider-Man simultaneously delivers his classic web-slinger pose.
3John Walker — The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
John Walker (played by Wyatt Russell) is chosen to succeed Steve Rogers as Captain America in the Disney+ miniseries,The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. As the publicly chosen successor, naturally, Walker has wielded the iconic shield in his own right. But due to his bad conduct, he is revealed as essentially unworthy of the mantle. Obviously, he lost not just his shield, but also the coveted title of Captain America to Sam Wilson. That said, he is given a new title: U.S. Agent.
2Bucky Barnes — Captain America: The First Avenger
Bucky Barnes is indispensable in Captain America’s world, who had luck on several occasions to don the legendary shield of his friend. Barnes first held the shield inCaptain America: The First Avengerduring the train scene, during which he is flung outside the train and presumed dead. He also had the opportunity to hold the shield as the Winter Soldier during an introductory rendezvous between him and Captain America in the second installment,Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Next,Captain America: Civil Waralso saw Bucky wielding the shield in his fight against Iron Man.
1Sam Wilson — The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Sam Wilson is (so far) one among the two characters who held Captain America’s shield in an official capacity (the first being John Walker. After Steve returns from time travel at the end ofEndgame, old Captain America hands over the restored shield to Sam, asking him, “How’s it feel?” To which Sam answers, “Like it’s someone else’s.” The conversation between the duo indeed marks an emotional arc for both the characters, but doesn’t fully see Falcon embracing the new title of Captain America. Nonetheless,The Falcon and the Winter Soldierfurthers the character arc for both Bucky and Sam. And this time, Sam doesn’t shy away from taking the mantle of Captain America and his shield.
