Falcon (Marvel Cinematic Universe)/Synopsis

The story of Falcon from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
==Early Life==
Samuel Thomas "Sam" Wilson was born on September 23rd, 1978 in Harlem, New York to Paul and Darlene Wilson, and was the brother to Sarah Wilson. Despite being born in New York, Sam and his sister were raised in Louisiana, and worked for their parents' establishment, Wilson Family Seafood. While he was young, Paul would take his son on fishing trips to Grand Isle, and Sam remained close to his aunt, whom he referred to as "TT". When his aunt passed away, Sam noted that he attended the funeral, and the whole neighborhood celebrated for days.
Sam and Sarah's parents would die to unknown causes, alongside Sam's brother-in-law, who would have Sarah's children, AJ and Cass. After the deaths of their parents, Sam and Sarah would be the co-owners of the seafood establishment, which would be run by Sarah during the course of several years. Though Sam was on good terms with his sister, he believed that the more he fought to change the world for the better, he believed Sarah was running away from their family. 
==Military Career==
Sam Wilson joined the United States Air Force, serving two tours and eventually becoming a pararescueman, assigned to the 58th Rescue Squadron. He was a test pilot for the EXO-7 Falcon along with his wingman, Riley. During a mission, Riley was killed after he was hit by an RPG and Wilson could do nothing to save him. After losing his friend, Wilson found that he had a hard time trying to find a reason to continue serving and soon left the military and focused his efforts on helping soldiers suffering with PTSD.
==Captain America: The Winter Soldier==
===Meeting Captain America===
After returning home, he joined the Department of Veterans Affairs with the intention of helping people suffering from Posttraumatic stress disorder. While out on a morning jog across Washington, D.C., Wilson met Steve Rogers, who managed to casually run past Wilson several times, teasing him as he went much to Wilson's annoyance. Once Wilson stopped to catch his breath, the two talked about their status as veterans and their time serving in the Armed Forces. Wilson asked Rogers about the differences between living in the 1940's and now before recommending some music for him to hear, Marvin Gaye's Trouble Man soundtrack from 1972. Their conversation was cut short when Rogers was called away on a mission, but Wilson told him to visit him at the VA one day.
Steve Rogers then kept his word and after a meeting with sufferers of PTSD in which he helped a woman who was suffering from visions of IEDs in the roads, Wilson met with Rogers who complimented him on his speech. Wilson told Rogers about his time at war and how he had lost his friend Riley during a battle but had found a new purpose with helping veterans adapt to being back home. Rogers told Wilson that he was struggling with the idea of what to do with himself if he was not a soldier, but Wilson, jokingly suggesting Ultimate Fighting, assured him that he could do whatever he wanted to do.
===Helping the Fugitives===
While on the run from undercover members of HYDRA within S.H.I.E.L.D., Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff sought refuge with Wilson, which he offered them without a second thought. While at his home, Wilson made the pair breakfast and allowed them to use his shower. When Wilson learned of the details of Rogers' and Romanoff's predicament, including realizing that Alexander Pierce was HYDRA's leader within SHIELD, he offered his assistance, revealing to them that he was part of a military project that tested a new form of winged jetpacks.
After retrieving his wings from Fort Meade, Wilson traveled with Rogers and Romanoff to interrogate HYDRA sleeper agent Jasper Sitwell. Wilson called Sitwell on the phone after his meeting with another HYDRA agent Senator Stern, and threatened to have him shot if he did not do exactly as instructed; he ordered him to go to the roof of a nearby building where he would be questioned by Rogers and Romanoff.
Sitwell denied any knowledge of HYDRA's takeover of S.H.I.E.L.D.; in order to get the answers they needed from him, Romanoff resorted to kicking Sitwell off the building. Wilson flew in, caught him, and brought him back to the top of the building. This fall scared Sitwell so much he revealed HYDRA's plan to Rogers, Romanoff and Wilson, explaining to them that Alexander Pierce planned to use Project Insight to assassinate anyone who was a threat to HYDRA the moment the Insight Helicarriers were launched.
===Encounter with the Winter Soldier===
Wilson, Steve Rogers, and Natasha Romanoff took Jasper Sitwell in their car and drove towards the Triskelion, where they planned to use Sitwell's clearance to gain access and shut down Project Insight. However they were ambushed by the Winter Soldier. Sitwell was killed but the others managed to escape the car and a fight erupted in the streets. Wilson gave Rogers and Romanoff cover with a machine gun and fought off the HYDRA assassins. 
Eventually Wilson managed to defeat the unit of HYDRA soldiers and went in search of Rogers and Romanoff, taking his EXO-7 Falcon Suit with him. Wilson discovered Captain America battling the Winter Soldier and flew in to help, kicking the Winter Soldier out of the way before he could shoot Rogers. Romanoff then fired a granade launcher at him which caused him to flee. Before they could get away, Rogers, Romanoff and Wilson were taken by some of HYDRA's infiltrators within S.H.I.E.L.D., led by Brock Rumlow and were put in the back of a van to be executed.
===Meeting Nick Fury===
They were rescued by a disguised Maria Hill, who brought them to a secret facility where S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury was recuperating from an assassination attempt. Together they worked out a plan to get aboard the Project Insight Helicarriers and reprogramme them to target each other. Wilson later talked with Rogers about what they should do if they encounter the Winter Soldier again, aware that he is Rogers' childhood friend and war comrade, Bucky Barnes, Wilson telling him he was the kind of guy you have to stop rather than save, but Rogers remains confident and determined.
==Battle at the Triskelion==
Wilson, Rogers and Hill broke into the Triskelion and took over the control room. Once there Rogers informed every S.H.I.E.L.D. agent of HYDRA's infiltration of their organisation and Pierce's true plans for Project Insight; Rogers urged them to stand against the enemy, when he was finished. Wilson jokingly asked if he had practised the speech or simply made it up as he went along.
With the Project Insight Helicarriers being launched, Wilson helped Rogers install three special chips that would take away HYDRA's control over the Project Insight Helicarriers. Wilson used his flight suit to battle a Quinjet controlled by HYDRA. When a hole was blown into the side of a Helicarrier, Wilson was able to get aboard and install one of the microchips. Later, Wilson saved Captain America from a deadly fall and carried him to the third Helicarrier; however they were immediately attacked by the Winter Soldier who damaged Wilson's flight suit before kicking him off the Helicarrier and forcing him to skydive down to the Triskelion, pulling his parachute just in time.
===Showdown with Brock Rumlow===
Wilson encountered and fought Brock Rumlow inside the Triskelion, informed by Hill that Rumlow was making his way to attack Black Widow and Nick Fury. The two soldiers engaged in hand to hand combat. Rumlow managed to gain the upper hand during the fight, using slightly improved combat techniques to get the advantage before throwing Wilson across the room and taunting him.
Their battle was cut short when Wilson spotted the final Insight Helicarrier heading straight for the Triskelion. Using his headstart to his advantage, Wilson ran for his life while Brock Rumlow was buried by debris. Wilson was forced to jump from the northwest corner of the building's 41st floor where he was caught by a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicopter piloted by Nick Fury and Natasha Romanoff. Although Wilson berated the pair for almost killing him with the helicopter's blades, they soon turned their attention to escaping the explosions and finding Captain America.
Rogers was found unconscious near the ruins of the Triskelion and hospitalized after his fight with the Winter Soldier had left him almost beaten to death and with a gunshot wound in the stomach. Wilson stayed beside his bed until he recovered and played the music he had previously recommended to him. When Rogers awakened, the first words he said to Wilson were "On your left" causing Wilson to smile with amusement.
==Search for Bucky Barnes==
At the fake gravesite for Nick Fury, Wilson was asked by Fury to join him on his mission to exterminate HYDRA. Wilson refused, stating that he was a soldier, not a spy. They said their goodbyes and Natasha Romanoff gave Rogers the Winter Soldier's file. Wilson agreed to help Rogers in his search for Barnes. During their search, Rogers was called to rejoin the Avengers and battle HYDRA, leaving Wilson to hunt for Barnes on his own.
==Avengers: Age of Ultron==
===Avengers Party===
Wilson was invited to a party at Avengers Tower to celebrate the Avengers' successful battle against HYDRA which led to the seeming defeat of HYDRA, the capture of their main leader Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, and the Scepter they had been hunting for months ending up in the hands of the Avengers. During the party Wilson was introduced to Tony Stark and later played a game of pool with Steve Rogers while drinking.
Wilson and Steve Rogers late spoke about the battle; Wilson jokingly wanted to know why he had not been invited to assist in the fight as he had been helping Rogers in the search for Bucky Barnes for the last few months, but when Rogers attempted to apologise he still assured Rogers that he was not massively interested in joining the Avengers at that point. They went on to discuss Rogers finding an apartment in his home town of Brooklyn.
===New Avengers===
Wilson was recruited into the new Avengers' roster along with Vision, James Rhodes and Wanda Maximoff. Wilson arrived at the Avengers Compound with his new uniform complete with upgraded mechanical wings. The new Avengers began their training under the leadership of Captain America and Black Widow.
==Ant-Man==
===Duel at the Avengers Compound===
While training at the Avengers Compound, Wilson detected an intruder in the base and decided to investigate. Flying onto the roof, Wilson spotting a man wearing a suit that seemed to make him the size of an ant. Once it was made clear that Wilson could see this man despite his tiny size, the man grew to normal height and introduced himself as Scott with the code-name Ant-Man, noting that he was a big fan of Falcon and the Avengers.
Wilson demanded to know why Ant-Man was at the facility; the man claimed to simply be needing to borrow a device from them. Believing that Ant-Man was a sort of spy, Falcon attempted to arrest him, only for him to shrink and punch Wilson, resulting in the pair beginning to fight. During their battle, Falcon followed Ant-Man inside the Avengers Compound until Ant-Man managed to shrink down and disable Falcon's suit from the inside, causing the suit to malfunction and drop Wilson from the sky.
Falcon hit the ground hard and by the time he managed to recover from the fall, his wing suit was seemingly damaged beyond repair for the time being, Ant-Man had already escaped with the device and Falcon was unable to track him with his goggles. Forced to accept defeat, Wilson then said through the comm link to the rest of the Avengers that it was incredibly important to him that Captain America must never know about this embarrassing failure in fighting a man the size of an ant.
===Searching for Ant-Man===
Wilson became fascinated by this new hero, having heard of him using his abilities to stop the sale of a new super-weapon called the Yellowjacket Suit. Believing that he could be of benefit to the Avengers, Wilson began to try to find and recruit Ant-Man for the Avengers, despite only knowing his first name to be Scott. Eventually Wilson came close to finding him through the friend of a friend of Ant-Man who agreed to help him.
===Finding Barnes===
Later, Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers eventually tracked Bucky Barnes down to a remote location where he was trapped with his cybernetic arm stuck in a vise. Rogers told Wilson that they would not inform Tony Stark of what had happened but didn't know who else to turn to for help. Wilson then said he 'knew a guy' who might be able to come to their aid.
==Captain America: Civil War==
Falcon was part of the team when they fought against Crossbones and his group in Lagos, but the Avengers would become to be seen as dangerous after the death of innocents during said mission. Sam and the Avengers held a conversation with Secretary Thaddeus Ross at the New Avengers Facility, who gave his point that the Avengers acted as vigilantes and needed supervision. Showing them the Sokovia Accords, the accords would act as a way for the United Nations to control the team. Wilson refused to sign the Sokovia Accords, which resulted in him being honorably discharged from the Air Force. 
Despite his discharge, Sam attended Peggy Carter's funeral with Steve to provide support, and heard Peggy's niece, Sharon, give the eulogy. During the funeral, Wilson overheard the bombing of the Vienna International Centre where the accords was being signed, and warned Steve and Sharon about the situation. Sam then assisted Steve in finding Bucky, and during their search, were arrested by Everett Ross alongside Prince T'Challa. When Bucky's brainwashing returned due to Helmut Zemo, Sam was attacked by Barnes alongside Steve, Sharon, Natasha, Tony and T'Challa. Sam and Steve managed to capture Bucky and go on the run, and learned from Barnes about other Winter Soldiers. Seeing that they needed a team to fight against Stark if they encountered him, Sam advised they recruit Scott Lang, whom he previously encountered.
Falcon participated in the Clash of the Avengers, where he battled against Spider-Man and War Machine before arrested and sentenced to the Raft. While imprisoned, Stark admitted that he has manipulated by Zemo, and Sam revealed where Steve and Bucky were going to give them support. Afterward, Sam was freed from the Raft by Rogers alongside Wanda, Clint and Scott, and the former decided to stay with Steve while Wanda reunited with Vision, and Clint and Scott returned home. Sam and Steve rejoined with Natasha, and assisted Nick Fury in stopping terrorist in Syria.
==Avengers: Infinity War==
After being informed by Banner that Thanos was coming to Earth collect the Infinity Stones, Falcon, Captain America, and Black Widow rescued Vision and Scarlet Witch from Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight. The group then met with War Machine and Banner, and the team decided to go to Wakanda to get the mind stone from Vision's head. Falcon participated during the Battle of Wakanda, and attempted to stop Thanos when the Mad Titan landed in Wakanda. He failed to stop Thanos, and was one of the many wiped from existence after the Mad Titan collected the Infinity Stones and snapped his fingers.
==Avengers: Endgame==
Falcon, along with everyone else affected by the Snap, returned after the surviving Avengers collected the Infinity Stones via time travel. Being resurrected by Hulk, Falcon returned to assist his allies during the Battle of Earth, fighting against a 2014 time-traveled Thanos and his army. The heroes were victorious in stopping the Mad Titan, but at the cost of Iron Man's life after he sacrificed himself by using the stones. After the battle, Sam attended Stark's funeral to honor his sacrifice, and later witnessed Rogers go back in time to return the Infinity Stones. Noticing that Rogers hadn't returned within five seconds, Bucky showed Sam an elderly Steve on a bench near by. An elderly Rogers spoke with Sam, giving him his shield to pass on the mantle of Captain America. Though hesitant at first, Sam picked up the shield, and told Rogers that he would live to his legacy with the support of Bucky.
==The Falcon and the Winter Soldier==
Due to his actions in saving the universe from Thanos with the Avengers, Sam was legally forgiven for breaking the accords back in 2016, and was able to return to the Air Force. Working as an independent contract, Sam assisted the air force on various missions, such was rescuing Captain Vassant from the LAF under the leadership of Steve's former foe, Georges Batroc. Following the mission, Sam met Joaquín Torres, a fellow Air Force member, who revealed that he was following on a new terrorist group called the Flag Smashers. Sam told Joaquín to keep him informed about the situation, and returned to Washington, D.C. to give the Smithsonian Institution the shield. Despite being passed the mantle and shield by Steve personally, Sam still felt that he wasn't the right man to wield the shield, nor that it truly belonged to him.
Returning to Louisiana, Sam reunited with his sister Sarah and his nephews, and decided to help her with her financial problems with the family boat and home. After failing to get a loan from the bank, Sam watched the news to see that the government had passed the mantle of Captain America to John Walker, much to Wilsons' dismay. Despite this, Sam continued to focus on trying to stop the Flag Smashers. Preparing to head to Germany, Sam was confronted by Bucky, who was angered that Sam gave the shield away and went with him on his trip. Falcon and Bucky battled the Flag Smashers, but the two were overpowered until John Walker and his partner, Battlestar arrived. After failing to capture the Flag Smashers, Sam and Bucky received a ride from John, who wanted their help so they could stop the terrorist group. Sam and Bucky refused, especially the former after John referred to him and Barnes as "Cap's wingmen".
Returning to the states, Bucky decided to take Sam to Isiah Bradley, who was experimented on with the Super Soldier serum and taken to jail. Shocked by this, Sam questioned Bucky why the world didn't know about a African-American super soldier, but the two were interrupted by Baltimore police. The police took Bucky to jail for missing his therapy session, and Sam traveled to the station where Walker helped Bucky be released. Meeting Bucky's therapist Christina Raynor, Sam attended a therapy session where he admitted that he was thought he was doing what was right by giving the Smithsonian the shield. Leaving the station, Sam and Bucky were greeted by Walker, who asked for their help, but the two refused once again.
When Bucky discussed getting information about the Flag Smashers from Helmut Zemo, Sam reluctantly agreed to come with him to the Berlin Correctional Facility. However, Bucky reveals his plan to free Zemo from custody, and had already done so despite Sam's protest. Sam then reluctantly agreed to receive Zemo's help, and the group traveled to Madripoor to get information. While disguised as "Smiling Tiger", Sam's position was blown when his sister called, and Selby was killed during his meeting with her. The group were saved by Sharon, who had lived in Madripoor after she was considered a criminal for helping Steve and Sam back in 2016. Needing her help, Sam made a deal with Sharon to have her pardoned if she assisted him in finding Wilfred Nagel. Sam and the group confronted Nagel at a shipyard, and he revealed that he made a new version of the serum before he was killed by Zemo. Sam and the group then battled a couple of mercenaries at the shipyard before leaving, and traveled to Latvia to confront the Flag Smashers.
In Latvia, Sam learned from Bucky that the Dora Miljae wanted to arrest Zemo, so they had little time to find the Flag Smashers before they arrived. In the country, Sam and Bucky were confronted by Walker and Battlestar, who agreed to assist them in their plan to negotiate with the Flag Smashers. Sam would meet the terrorist group's leader, Karli Morgenthau, at her adoptive mother's funeral where he attempted to have peaceful negotiations. During their conversation, Walker arrived to arrest Morgenthau, causing her to escape. Returning to their hideout, Sam was confronted by Walker before the Dora Milaje arrived, and Sam at first watched them fight John before taking part in the skirmish. During the skirmish, Zemo escaped before Walker was defeated and Bucky's vibranium arm was deactivated by Ayo.
While walking on the streets, Sam received a phone call from Sarah, who told him about Karli calling and threatening her. Sam and Bucky then confronted Karli before engaging in a fight with her and the Flag Smashers due to Walker's location being revealed. During the fight, Battlestar was killed by Morgenthau, causing Walker to become enraged and kill the Flag Smasher Nico in cold blood while civilians watched. Sam and Bucky witnessed Walker do this, and confronted him so they could take the shield from him since he was fit for the mantle. Walker refused and battle the two, and nearly defeated the heroes due to his physiology being enhanced by Dr. Nagel's super soldier serum. During the fight, Sam and Bucky worked together to defeat John, and Wilson claimed the shield, scrubbing the blood off of it. Returning home, Sam briefly spoke with Joaquín and left his EXO wings to him while returning to the states with the shield.
Sam decided to reunite with Isiah Bradley, who elaborated more about his past of being a African-American and recounting his tragic past in serving America. Isiah advised Sam not to take the mantle, considering that America wouldn't accept an African-American in the role of Captain America. Wilson then returned to Louisiana to help his sister repair their family, and was assisted by Bucky and the locals in the neighborhood. While fixing the boat, Bucky gave Sam a briefcase that was from Wakanda, which held a new suit and wings for Wilson. After the boat was fixed, Sam started to train with the shield, and spoke with Bucky on dealing with his personal issues of being handed the shield, and gave advice to Barnes on how to deal with his trauma. The two left on good time, considering themselves friends and co-workers as Sam continued to improve his mastery of the shield to the point that he could use acrobats before catching it.
Later on, Sam received a call from Joaquín, who told him of an alert that the Flag Smashers were preparing to attack the Global Repatriation Council in New York. Heading to New York with his new mantle as Captain America, Sam battled Batroc once again before fighting the Flag Smashers. During the battle, Wilson rescued some GRC hostages and comforted Karli, who was dying from blood loss after being shot by Carter. Afterward, Sam gave a public message on live-television, telling the GRC officials that Karli committed her actions for a reason, and that the whole worlds need to do better. After the events in New York, Sam managed to have the Smithsonian create a statue to honor Isiah, who showed gratitude to the former by giving him a hug. Wilson also returned to Louisiana to have a cook out with his family, Bucky, and the locals, having found peace with himself and taking on the mantle.
Category:Synopsis