In Marvel Studios’ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson (The Falcon) and Bucky Barnes (The Winter Soldier) team up on a global adventure that tests their abilities and their patience. According to executive producer Kevin Feige, who is president of Marvel Studios and chief creative officer of Marvel, the series gave filmmakers a chance to dive a little deeper into the two characters.
“Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan are spectacular actors and we felt like we hadn't explored their stories enough as Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes,” Feige explains. “We wanted to learn more about both of them after the interactions they had with each other in The Winter Soldier and Civil War. It was a very fun dynamic. We thought that if we ever had the opportunity, we’d watch a whole show with the two of them, and Disney+ finally gives us that opportunity.”
The six-episode series debuted on Disney+ on March 19th and has the cinematic feel of a feature film.
“It’s an epic, character-driven story,” says director Kari Skogland. “We get to go inside these characters and their world in a much more intimate way. If the movies were a snack, this six-hour series is the meal. And yet, it has all of the wonderful things that come with the MCU—action, comedy, the high-octane pace, familiar faces and new characters. It’s all incredibly relatable.
“They know each other and they share a common denominator, Steve Rogers, but they aren’t particularly good friends,” continues Skogland. “But the connection between them is really compelling.”
Head writer Malcolm Spellman adds that everything about their relationship is amplified in the series.
“Take away the mutual best friend and the truth of their relationship is laid bare,” he says. “They are like fire and ice. Sam reacts spontaneously from the gut, and Bucky is more cold and calculated. Everyone saw the 30-second clip in ‘Civil War’ when they bicker about the placement of Sam’s seat. We build on that chemistry.”
The series was shot by cinematographer P.J. Dillon and edited by a team that included Jeffrey Ford, Kelley Dixon, Todd Desrosiers and Rosanne Tan. Composer Henry Jackman created the show’s original score. Eric Leven served as VFX supervisor on the series, and Mike May acted as VFX producer.