Seems like we have seen a lot of pictures released of Chris Evans as Captain America/Steve Rogers lately, but have seen next to nothing of Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes. Well, aside from a super low-quality picture leaked today, the LA Times has fixed that and included a little insight to the character from the Director, Joe Johnston:
“We took some liberties with the relationship between the two guys,” Johnston said. “In our story, Bucky is already in the service, he’s already joined up and is being sent overseas while Steve is still struggling to get in the army. That’s different than what you may have read in the comics. It adds a nuance to the relationship that pays off later. They’re closer in age, too — they’re virtually the same age. That’s not the case at all if you go back to the old comics.”
In the film, both Rogers and Barnes are orphans and grow up almost as brothers. Rogers is too sickly to enlist in the service and instead he volunteers for a dangerous and secret experiment that might make him the first of an army of super-soldiers. That fact changes the physics of his friendship with Bucky, and the movie jettisons the hero’s almost paternal treatment of Bucky. This version of Bucky Barnes is less wise-cracking and more of a crack shot with his service rifle.
Johnston didn’t mention specifically if we would see Bucky turn into the Winter Soldier, but I could see Rogers’ paternal treatment of Bucky, as Johnston mentions, inciting some feelings of resentment from him and we could possibly see him start down that path – but that is just all speculation at this point. You can read a little more about what Johnston had to say about the character and his relationship with Cap via the link above!
Captain America: The First Avenger hit theaters on July 22, but you can get your first look at the film during the Super Bowl this Sunday!