As WandaVision is gradually nearing its much-anticipated season finale in a few weeks, Marvel Studios is all geared up for the next in line show, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, the series will explore the adventures of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes in the wake of Steve Rogers’ retirement in Avengers: Endgame. A far cry from WandaVision‘s convoluted sitcom styled show, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is expected to restore some semble of normalcy (if there’s any in the superhero biz) with its relatively straight-forward and grounded approach of a buddy-cop styled uneasy alliance between Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes as they once again fight Baron Zemo and the mysterious group called the Flag-Smashers.
After a month of its first trailer release, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier recently released its second trailer during the Super Bowl. Still managing to keep its plot tightly under the wraps, the latest trailer was filled with slick action sequences and humorous banter between Wilson and Barnes. But for eagle-eyed viewers, the trailer also revealed an unchartered territory which the MCU is yet to explore: Madripoor. Here’s the second trailer of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier:
WHAT IS MADRIPOOR?
In the comics, Madripoor, or officially known as the Principality of Madripoor, is a fictional island in South-East Asia in the southern portion of the Strait of Malacca between Singapore and Sumatra. The capital of this island is the city of Madripoor, known for its distinct divide between the rich and the poor. The posh part of the town is named Hightown, while the poverty-stricken area is known as Lowtown. Created by Chris Claremont and Steve Leialoha, Madripoor is widely known for its various criminal enterprises and semi-lawlessness. As a result, the city often becomes the hub for notorious villains and their clandestine meetings, which usually end with bloodshed. But most importantly, the city of Madripoor is a major X-Men location, especially a favorite vacation spot for the unkillable mutant, Wolverine.
Related: WandaVision Episode 5: The Surprise Cameo Might Hint At How X-Men Enter The MCU
WHY IS IT SIGNIFICANT FOR THE SHOW?
Though The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has been quite successful at keeping everything under the wraps, Madripoor’s reveal might be a perfect opportunity for another major cameo. Considering Disney’s new-found craze for surprising revelations, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier might be on its way to introduce…yes, more mutants.
Related: Other X-Men Characters Who Could Return After Quicksilver
In the comics, Madripoor has been ruled by various notable characters at times. From Madame Hydra to Daken, the city has had its fair share of bloodshed and brutal brawls over the years. However, the city also holds a special significance in Captain America’s context. In the comics, Madripoor was the first place where Steve Rogers met Wolverine for the first time during the Second World War. So, visiting Madripoor is not just another gateway to potentially introduce Wolverine and the rest of the mutants, but might lend a sneak-peek into Captain America’s heroics during the Second World War.
Co-incidentally, Madripoor’s Hightown once also served as a base for the X-Mansion in All-New X-Men when the X-Men were time-displaced and had Magneto working alongside them. Even during the Hunt for Wolverine storyline, notable X-Men members Kitty Pryde, Domino, Jubilee, Storm, Psylocke, and Rogue visited Madripoor to confront Magneto for Wolverine’s disappearance, only to get ambushed by the notorious Femme Fatale group. Interestingly, Wolverine’s fascination with the place led him to open up a bar named ‘The Princess’. The mutant also likes to roam under the disguise of Patch, since he covers up his eye using an eye-patch.
In Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye run, Clint Barton and his protege Kate Bishop also found themselves on the dangerous island as Barton’s footage of an illegal assassination was held for auction. With Kate Bishop saving the day by defeating Madame Masque, it won’t be a big surprise if the upcoming Hawkeye show revisits the town. As the series is based on Matt Fraction’s critically acclaimed run, Madame Masque has also been cast as the show’s antagonist which makes a visit to Madripoor seem inevitable.
Though it has not been confirmed if The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will introduce Wolverine, or any other mutant from the X-Men storyline, WandaVision‘s surprising reveal with Evan Peters returning as Quicksilver from Fox’s X-Men movies has kindled some hope. While it would be a long-shot to actually see Wolverine in the flesh in the series, considering the character’s massive popularity and Hugh Jackman’s global stardom, a few easter eggs about a feral brawler slashing through the bad guys in the dark corners of the city might just equal Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker reveal in The Mandalorian. And paired with Captain America’s history with the city, what better way to finally have a showdown between Adamantium claws and the Vibranium shield?
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will premiere on March 19, exclusively on Disney+.
