The Falcon and the Winter Soldier brought a number of familiar Marvel faces back to our screens, from the title characters to fan favourite Baron Zemo and the rather changed Sharon Carter.
But we also met some new characters who are likely to play a major role in the MCU going forward, such as temporary Captain America John Walker and the mysterious Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, as well as grandfather and grandson pair, the Bradleys.
The elderly Isaiah Bradley was discovered by Sam Wilson / Falcon to be a super soldier who had been relentlessly experimented on and erased from the history books despite fighting for his country, with his grandson Eli often close by to help keep an eye on his grandad in his older age.
Related: Marvel spin-off bosses talk Sharon Carter's future
The first season of the Disney+ series ended with Sam taking Isaiah and Eli to the Captain America museum exhibit, where a tribute to Isaiah had been created to remember and respect his role in US history. With Eli left proudly admiring his grandfather's legacy, many fans may be wondering whether we will see him again in the MCU – particularly as his character has a significant role in the Marvel comics.
Actor Elijah Richardson, who plays Eli, has revealed to TheDirect.com that he put a lot of work into researching his character's background and that he played Eli with an eye on his comics history.
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"I did my research after I found out I got the role," he said. "I tried to figure out who Elijah Bradley was, and what relationships he might have with other people maybe in the Marvel Universe. I just took that into consideration when approaching the character."
Marvel fans may be aware that, in the comics, Eli has plenty of relationships with other characters as he becomes hero Patriot, a modified super soldier who ends up leading the Young Avengers.
With Marvel having already introduced Young Avengers characters Billy and Tommy Maximoff in WandaVision and Cassie Lang in Ant-Man, and with fellow Young Avengers Kate Bishop and America Chavez making their debuts in the near future, Patriot also being introduced certainly seems plausible.
Richardson revealed that he is very keen to explore Eli's future more on screen, saying that he is hopeful that he'll reprise his role.
"Honestly that's kind of all it is, is hopes and dreams," he said. "I mean, yeah obviously, who doesn't want to be a part of the MCU? Right? But I mean, we'll see. It's more of a we'll see."
In a recent Instagram post, Elijah also teased: "This may only be the beginning of Eli Bradley!"
With the Young Avengers slowly being introduced, we're hoping that it's only a matter of time until they assemble.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is streaming exclusively on Disney+.
![Marvel Studios: The Infinity Saga - Collector's Edition Complete Box Set UHD [Blu-ray] [2020] [Region Free]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1618220829-51-bQxD-vbL.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "Marvel Studios: The Infinity Saga - Collector's Edition Complete Box Set UHD [Blu-ray] [2020] [Region Free]")
Disney/Marvel Studios Marvel Studios: The Infinity Saga - Collector's Edition Complete Box Set UHD [Blu-ray] [2020] [Region Free]
![Captain America 3-Movie Collection [DVD]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1620219021-51MCgEQlY3L._SL500_.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "Captain America 3-Movie Collection [DVD]")
Disney Store/Marvel The Falcon and The Winter Soldier framed print
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Reporter & Sub-Editor, Digital Spy Susannah is a freelance writer and sub-editor, specialising in the entertainment industry. She graduated in 2014, with a BA in English and American Literature and Creative Writing, and an MA in Creative Producing. She’s been writing for Digital Spy ever since, after first getting involved through work experience, and has written hundreds of stories for the site on a range of topics, from The Sims to Doctor Who. Susannah has also written for Reveal Magazine. Her special interests are soaps (her Mastermind subject would be 2000s Coronation Street), Marvel and Star Wars. She can also quote far too many lines from Friends and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
