James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes: Casting and Discussion

[JamesBuchananWS]

Should he be in the movie?

Should he die off?

[Silvermoth]

Absolutely! Not as the goofy sidekick but as a witness to Steve's greatness and an eventual antagonist.

In b4 Joseph Gordon-Levitt gets suggested for the role. He is perfect for it.

[NEXUS 6]

Yes! He should be a very prominent character in the film, almost like Cap's adoptive little brother. He should appear to die off, like in the comics, but come back in a Captain America sequel set in modern times as Winter Soldier.

[Webhead2006]

well i do want bucky barnes in the film. I doubt they would do winter solider so early. I would just have bucky be a solider in steve's unit that is his friend and ally. Then maybe in sequels/avengers present day could get into winter solider stuff.

[Triad]

I hate to come across as an Ultimates cheerleader, but I really liked how they portrayed Bucky in that. A childhood friend of Steve Rogers that used to look out for him as a kid. (protecting him from bullies, etc.) He tags along with Cap's platoon in a journalistic capacity as a promise to Steve's ailing mother. I think that would work well and also help along Roger's pre-SSS back-story. I hope that they spend a fair amount of time setting it up, show where Cap's patriotic morals come from, his great strategic mind and his drive to do his duty despite his frail physique. In my minds eye I can see a scene where Steve is being beat up by bigger kids in an alley and Bucky jumps in to help. Steve fights back too and uses a lid from a garbage can as a shield...maybe even throws it? Ya know, Bucky could even be the popular captain of their high school football team. They could be called the Patriots and have wings emblazoned on the sides of their helmets. Hmmmm....

[Webhead2006]

could work.

[SuperFerret]

Yes to Bucky, no to Winter Soldier.

[Aesop Rocks]

Originally Posted by SuperFerret

Yes to Bucky, no to Winter Soldier.

But....but...

No Captain America.

[Rage]

Never ever read a Winter Soldier story... so my bias is to have Bucky die while Cap watches... Bucky's ultimate sacrifice is to save Steve's life while setting off the bomb before it gets to the USA.

or if you need him as a plot device, you can use him like they did in the Ultimates (although that doesn't need to be "Bucky" it could be any soldier that Steve knew during WWII)

And I suggested MANY moons ago that Joseph Gordon Levitt be cast as Bucky Also, Emile Hirsch is a great choice for Bucky too.

And the scene that I would really like to see is Steve, Bucky and Gail at the movies watching the news reels about the war and steve being so moved that speaks out during the news reel and some people get upset and others get moved by his "speech" Things get a bit hectic and people start pushing and shoving and we see Steve stand up to some giant pin-head who would rather the USA stayed out of it and anyone who wants to stick their nose into that war wasn't an American... it comes to blows and we see Bucky take the big guy down (only after Steve is assaulted because he won't back down)

After they leave the movie theatre, we see Steve, Bucky and Gail shooting pool in a local establishment and talking about the war and how Steve attempted to sign up... but was rejected because of his health. (the whole pool game can show just how incredible Steve's geometry is while he runs the table... that helps make the whole shield chucking more believable)

The group is overheard by a certain General (plain clothes) sitting close by (who was also in the movie theatre at the time) He sees the raw talents that Steve has... and knows of the SSS experiments and thinks that Steve would be perfect. The general approaches Steve... the rest is history.

[Triad]

That is absolutely awesome Rage! I could totally see that. Let's hope that the route they take is just as good.

[BoredGuy]

There definitely needs to be bucky in the movie

I can see them going the Ultimate "they were friends before" route. But I don't think it's a great idea to have Bucky be his big strong friend who looks out for him.

I think it would create some resentment in Bucky to be the big star athlete, lookin out for your little friend, and then have that friend get powers, fame, and a higher rank in the military...

(It also goes without saying that Bucky HAS to be a soldier)

[Rage]

Originally Posted by Triad

That is absolutely awesome Rage! I could totally see that. Let's hope that the route they take is just as good.

I always thought that Cap would have to be some kind of "Will Hunting" to be able to throw his sheild like he does. The fact that they could explain that ability before he gets his shield always made sense to me.

thanks!

[Rage]

Originally Posted by BoredGuy

There definitely needs to be bucky in the movie

I can see them going the Ultimate "they were friends before" route. But I don't think it's a great idea to have Bucky be his big strong friend who looks out for him.

I think it would create some resentment in Bucky to be the big star athlete, lookin out for your little friend, and then have that friend get powers, fame, and a higher rank in the military...

(It also goes without saying that Bucky HAS to be a soldier)

I don't see Bucky (the friend and protector from bullies) as a jock by any stretch of the imagination... more like River Pheonix's character in Stand by me... a tough kid who stands up for his weakling friend.

[marcvader]

Good ideas Rage.

[Webhead2006]

well if i recall kevin feige did say bucky was to be in the film. I agree he should be a friend/solider and not a full blown sidekick deal it probably wouldnt work out that great. As to what they should do with him i am not to sure. they could have him "die" but show up in the future as winter solider, or he could survive thing cap died in the 40s and in the present day is a very very old guy.

[Triad]

Originally Posted by Webhead2006

...or he could survive thing cap died in the 40s and in the present day is a very very old guy.

Yeah that's what they did in The Ultimates but they also had him marry Cap's fiance Gail. Can you say "awkward!"?
I liked that twist.

[Webhead2006]

yea its interesting. I dont know what i would want to do. I would like to leave things open so you could do either.

[Nightwing]

Definitely Bucky should be in the film. The Winter Soldier aspect however, no..

Also, nice ideas Rage.

[Timstuff]

IMO Bucky should be a green soldier who's about 17 years old, and he shouldn't be particularly impressive in stature.

[Brian2887]

Originally Posted by Rage

I don't see Bucky (the friend and protector from bullies) as a jock by any stretch of the imagination... more like River Pheonix's character in Stand by me... a tough kid who stands up for his weakling friend.

I like that. And, like the Ultimates, I really want Steve visiting with old-man Bucky in the present. Those were such powerful scenes.

[Triad]

Originally Posted by Rage

I always thought that Cap would have to be some kind of "Will Hunting" to be able to throw his sheild like he does. The fact that they could explain that ability before he gets his shield always made sense to me.

The more that I think about that, the more I want them to do it in the film! All of your other ideas were cool as well. Rage should have been in the Captain America "Think-Tank" at Marvel Productions!

[Rage]

I've wanted to see this movie for 25 years! I hooted and roared when I saw a teaser for the 1990s movie in the theatres (at Tremors) I've dedicated a lot of time to researching WWII because of my love for this character. It's not that he's American (since I'm a Canadian) it's the entire time period and then the man out of time that really got me hooked on Captain America. I love that at one time, one nation almost took over the world and a bunch of other countries banded together to prevent it... its just like every team comic you ever read... except real! I love that someone who has all the heart in the world, actually gets the brawn to make a difference. I love that this character is at odds with his loyalty to his country and his own politics. I love that this character has emotional baggage/survivor's guilt about his young buddy dying and him surviving.... this character is an amazing property that needs to be handled as such... and not some popcorn puff piece of american propoganda.

What I want to see is a believable Captain America (much like BB and TDK) I want to suspend dis-belief as little as possible with this movie. I don't want it cheesy and I don't want to come out of the theatre and have my buddy ask me why he was able to throw around that shield and hit everything and have it come back on THE FIRST TRY!!

And apparently, its not just me who feels this way. And that is why I stay up nights and work out the details/scenes that I would NEED to see in a movie to make it work.

[Triad]

Well said. I mirror your sentiments exactly. I'm sure a large majority on these boards do as well!

[Dog Brother #1]

I would love to see the Bucky/Winter Soldier aspect played out over the course of 2-3 movies. Great use of conflict, having Steve fight his best friend that he thought was long dead. What an awesome post credit sequence would that be to have Bucky's body laid out on a slab on a russian sub, then Boom! he opens his eyes.

[Dog Brother #1]

and BTW, Hirsch all the way for Buck.