Set photos indicate that Disney+’s MCU show Falcon and the Winter Soldier could be hiding a secret Marvel Comics superhero. It’s possible that Battlestar, another character from the comic story that the show is using, may make his live-action debut in the upcoming Disney+ series.

Scheduled for the fall, Falcon and the Winter Soldier is the first MCU show to be released on Disney’s new streaming service. Though Steve Rogers’ story in the MCU ended with Avengers: Endgame, Falcon and the Winter Soldier will continue the stories of several characters from the Captain America trilogy, particularly the two titular heroes, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). Also featured in the show are Emily Van Camp’s Sharon Carter and Daniel Bruhl’s Baron Zemo, who will don his iconic purple mask from the comic books.

Additionally, the show will include the MCU debut of at least one prominent Captain America character who never had a chance to meet the Star-Spangled Avenger on the big screen: U.S. Agent. The MCU’s U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell) is set to take Steve’s place as Captain America, just as his comic book counterpart did in the late 1980s. The first black Captain America from the comics, Isaiah Bradley, is also rumored to be included in some capacity. And based on set photos, one of Marvel’s earliest black superheroes, Battlestar, may be on his way to the MCU as well.

Who Is Battlestar in Marvel Comics?

Introduced together in Captain America #323 in 1986, Lemar Hoskins and John Walker were former soldiers in the Army who were granted super powers through strength-augmenting technology that they purchased on the black market. They originally used their abilities to become wrestlers, but were eventually involved in the government’s search for a new Captain America. Walker was chosen to take the highly-coveted position, and Hoskins was selected to be the “Bucky” to Walker’s “Captain America”.

Since Lemar Hoskins was black, it was later decided by Marvel Comics that the name “Bucky” brought with it negative racial connotations, and so he was given a brand new costume and codename that would be unique to him: “Battlestar”. As Battlestar, Hoskins carries a triangular adamantium shield modeled after Captain America’s first shield from his comic book debut in 1941.

Both Battlestar and Walker learned how to use shields from training with Taskmaster. Operating as Captain America and Battlestar respectively, Walker and Hoskins became a crime-fighting duo who battled terrorists and other threats until Walker’s days as Captain America came to an abrupt end following a clash with his predecessor. Walker abandoned the “Captain America” mantle, but Hoskins held on to the “Battlestar” moniker.

For a few years, Battlestar guest-starred in issues of Captain America as a recurring ally of Cap and U.S. Agent, and for a while served as a member of Silver Sable’s team of mercenaries, the Wild Pack. He was also involved in the Civil War, where he fought on Captain America’s side against Iron Man’s forces. In short, Battlestar hasn’t had a rich presence in Marvel Comics, but does still appear in select titles from time to time.

Falcon and Winter Soldier Set Photos Tease Battlestar

When the Marvel Disney+ show was filming in Atlanta back in November, leaked photos from the Falcon and the Winter Soldier set showed a flower shop and a van. The name on the shop and van was “Hoskins Family Flowers”. As previously noted, “Hoskins” is the surname of Battlestar, whose full name is Lemar Hoskins. If these photos were from any of the other Marvel projects currently in development, this would likely be chalked up to coincidence, but Battlestar is directly connected to the story Falcon and the Winter Soldier is adapting. Falcon and the Winter Soldier is telling the story of what happens when another character - specifically, John Walker - becomes the next Captain America. This is exactly what happened in the pages of Captain America in the late 1980s, and Lemar Hoskins aka Battlestar had an integral role in John Walker’s Captain America arc. The scenes involving the Hoskins Family Flowers shop could be how this character is introduced to the MCU. Before joining forces with U.S. Agent, Lemar Hoskins could have held a job at a local flower shop run by a member of his family.

How Battlestar Could Fit Into Marvel Phase 4

Lemar Hoskins could very well be in Falcon and the Winter Soldier, whether he suits up as Battlestar or not. His inclusion makes sense, especially when taking into consideration the process that the government will likely go through to find a new Captain America before landing on John Walker. It could be that Hoskins will be a candidate for the position who loses out to Walker. Once that happens, the government may determine that its new Sentinel of Liberty could use a partner to help him on his adventures – and that could be where Battlestar comes in. Having Battlestar on his side could even the odds a bit if and when he comes to blows with Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Also, Battlestar’s presence would give Walker someone to interact with as he goes on missions for the government.

Who could play Battlestar in the Disney+ series? Looking at actors with undisclosed roles in Falcon and the Winter Soldier, none of them fit the bill for Battlestar, who would presumably be played by a relatively young black actor. This question could be answered as more casting details are revealed in the near future.

There’s a chance that the importance of Battlestar’s inclusion in the MCU may extend beyond the U.S. Agent story in Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Like the comic book character, Battlestar could have a role in other stories as a member of the next generation of MCU superheroes. Marvel reportedly has other Disney+ shows planned, and at some point could launch a team-up series (like West Coast Avengers, for example) or even a Secret Invasion show. If either of these scenarios were to occur, Battlestar could be one of a number of Disney+ Marvel superheroes who could unite on the small screen.

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