Falcon & Winter Soldier Showrunner Teases MCU Future For Joaquín Torres

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier showrunner Malcolm Spellman teases the MCU future of Joaquín Torres, Sam Wilson’s comics replacement. Two weeks in, and Marvel’s second scripted Disney+ series has so far delivered a great deal of what fans have hoped to see. Whether it’s the excellent banter between titular characters Sam (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) or classic Marvel action, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has taken fans by storm. The series picks up with Sam and Bucky after Avengers: Endgame as they try to find their way forward in a changed world while new threats emerge all around them.

Much of the buzz surrounding The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has been about seeing beloved MCU characters once again, but the series has also introduced several new faces with ties to the comics. The first to emerge was Danny Ramirez’s Joaquín Torres, an eager soldier who has worked with Sam on a few missions. Comic book fans recognize Torres as the second person to take on the Falcon mantle after Sam, though his origin story there looks to be far different than it will be in MCU. Nevertheless, Torres’ presence on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier seems to indicate there’s more in store for him.

Related: Falcon & Winter Soldier Cast Guide: Every New & Returning Marvel Character

Showrunner Malcolm Spellman recently spoke to Entertainment Tonight about The Falcon and the Winter Soldier‘s MCU newcomers, including Ramirez. Unsurprisingly, Spellman couldn’t say just what will happen with Torres after the series comes to an end, but he did tease he’ll have a future in the franchise. Spellman said:

“He was great. I can’t tell you where it’s gonna go, but obviously, he’s not in there for no reason. He just lights up. If we had had 10 episodes, we had a giant storyline for him built out. But he does have plenty of real estate in these six.”

Director Kari Skogland echoed Spellman’s praise, calling Ramirez “a joy“:

“Besides talented, such a nice young man who has a huge career ahead of him for sure. We found him very early on … I think we’re gonna be on his coattails as he takes off like a rocket. It’s fun to see he and Anthony together, and the rapport that they have.”

Ramirez certainly appears to be on track for big things, since he’s also set to star in one of the year’s biggest movies, Top Gun: Maverick. Spellman’s comment makes it sound like his role on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is setting him up to continue on in the MCU, perhaps as the next Falcon once Sam becomes Captain America (assuming that is how the series pans out). Hopefully, Torres will be sticking around. He’s been a bright presence on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and it would be really nice to see him and Sam continue their mentor-mentee relationship.

Marvel has become skilled at introducing characters in smaller roles with an eye on developing them further down the line. This can be a bit frustrating when it comes to characters fans are particularly eager to see, but for someone like Torres, this makes sense. He isn’t quite a superhero yet, and by spending time with him in a smaller capacity, fans can later feel the full satisfaction of watching him grow into a proper hero. There are still four episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier left, and hopefully they’ll give an idea of where Torres will go next.

More: Every Marvel Comics Character Introduced In Falcon & Winter Soldier (So Far)

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 3 premieres Friday on Disney+.

Source: Entertainment Tonight

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