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When Disney Plus launched in November 2019, it brought with it the enticing promise of new TV series set in the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and Star Wars galaxies. Among the initial offerings were Marvel’s “WandaVision” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” However, the latter series encountered significant disruptions due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting both where and what could be filmed.
By the time “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” concluded in April 2021, some MCU enthusiasts speculated that the hurried pace of the storylines and character development might have been a consequence of the pandemic’s impact on the production. There was even a rumor circulating that an element involving a biological weapon had originally been woven into the plot, but it had to be excised due to its uncomfortably close resemblance to real-world events at the time.
Nonetheless, the show’s writers refuted any connection between the pandemic and the narrative, and attention shifted to the next Marvel series in the pipeline. However, a recently released book titled “MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios” appears to have substantiated that a subplot revolving around a “fast-spreading disease” was indeed removed from “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”
According to the book, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” had already faced setbacks with location work, having to cancel shoots in Puerto Rico following a devastating earthquake in January 2020. The pandemic compounded these challenges, forcing the show to halt production in Prague and necessitating the removal of a side story centered around the heroes racing to quell a rapidly spreading disease – a concept that uncomfortably mirrored the global health crisis. (Showrunner Malcolm Spellman acknowledged the removal of this subplot, though he clarified it was not due to the coronavirus.)
It’s important to note that the issues faced by “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” – such as perceived lack of stakes, convoluted timelines, and its integration into the broader MCU – are reflective of concerns that some fans had begun to notice in Phase 4 of the MCU. These challenges persist into Phase 5, indicating that not every issue can be attributed to the pandemic.
In the case of “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” Marvel found itself in a challenging position and didn’t have the luxury of time for a complete rewrite and reshoot. Given these circumstances, perhaps it’s worth extending a bit of understanding to the show.
Fans remain optimistic that upcoming Marvel movies will have the opportunity to steer the course as we approach the next two Avengers installments in Phase 6. The reception of “Loki” suggests there are valid reasons for hope regarding the future of the MCU.