SPOILER SPECULATION: Rumors And Thoughts On CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

As with most Marvel films we don't know everything that is going to happen within Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Yet, I've put together some of the facts, rumors and my own thoughts on the sequel together.

Joe Johnston has been repalced by the Russo Brothers best known as the show-runners for NBC's Community. Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely are back as the sequel's writers. The current returning cast includes Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill. No word if the other Howling Commandos will be reprising their roles. However, it's very likely that Peggy Carter will be featured either in flashbacks or meeting up with Steve in the present. We know that Bucky (Stan) will become the ruthless assassin Winter Soldier who is kept in a cryogenic chamber between missions. There may or may not be connection to Black Widow's former Russian employers.

NEW ADDITIONS: So far Marvel and The Russo Brothers have hired two inspiring actors for new roles. Anthony Mackie known for emotional and hard-nosed characters in films like Hurt Locker, Million Dollar Baby and Half Nelson was cast in the role of Sam Wilson. The Falcon is a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent and the present day sidekick of Captain America he's also one of the first black superheroes ever created for comics. Frank Grillo best known for his role in The Grey (not to mention supporting roles in The Warrior and End of Watch) has been cast as Brock Rumlow (Crossbones). He's been a henchman for the Red Skull and shot Cap during the Civil War story. Hopefully he'll be given more development as a villain thanks in part to Grillo who will likely give a memorable performance.

UNNAMED FEMALE LEAD: The role itself hasn't been confirmed but it's very well likely be Sharon Carter. The eventual love-interest of Rogers and S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who has connections to Steve's WWII past. Being the niece of Peggy Carter, of which her stories of his WWII heroics inspired Sharon to join S.H.I.E.L.D. It's possible the role would lead to an appearance in Avengers 2 not to mention a supporting role in Cap sequels. A slew of actresses have been linked for the part which include Jessica Brown Findlay, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Anna Kendrick, Felicity Jones, Abbie Cornish, Emilia Clarke, Imogen Poots and Alice Eve. There had been rumors that Hayley Atwell who played Peggy might end up playing Sharon Carter, so why test other actresses?. If that is indeed the case this new female role might not even be Sharon.

One possibility the part could be Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman) who starts out as a trained assassin for HYDRA only to become rehabilitated as a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent and member of The Avengers. A similar transition that Winter Soldier (Bucky Barnes) goes through himself. I've been thinking this over, if Winter Soldier and Crossbones are working alongside each other it would be on a team, it makes sense that Spider-Woman would be involved if it's being backed by HYDRA. It doesn't hurt that Drew plays a major role in both the Skrull Invasion and Civil War which will likely be used in future Avengers sequels.

VILLAIN RUMORS: While Winter Soldier and Crossbones are excellent additions to the Marvel cinematic universe rouges gallery. They are not as iconic as the Red Skull or many of the other Cap villains. There have been rumors that Baron Zemo will be the main baddie but that has yet to confirmed. Nikolaj Coster-Waldu (possibly Viggo Mortensen too?) had been linked for a foreign villain role that was unnamed. It's possible since Zemo had been included in original drafts for the script of First Avenger. Zemo could span the WWII era up to the present day timeline.

There is speculation that we might see the return of Dr. Zola with his new robotic body. Tobey Jones has already played the reluctant sidekick to The Red Skull but might have his attitude adjusted when turned into a cyborg. A blue-print of this body was an Easter Egg in First Avenger and it's possible he could have finished his brainwashing of Bucky Barnes.

Another possible villain that has been teased in the Avengers cartoon and the video game tie-in Super Soldier, is Ophelia Sarkissian (Madame Hydra). Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones) had been rumored for the role but turned out to be false. Marvel has been doing a decent job of creating female supporting roles but haven't really given them a villainous-twist. My opinion is that Madame Hydra needs to show up in the franchise and if Jessica Drew is involved it would make sense to include Madame as well. She could end up in the vein of Dr. Elsa Schneider from The Last Crusade, playing both sides of the coin.

CIVIL WAR: Crossbones and Winter Soldier played decent enough roles in Civil War which is being looked at for Avengers 3, according to Kevin Feige. We've already seen that The World Council isn't happy with Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D. or the Avengers. It's possible they could task Maria Hill (Smulders) to give Fury the boot and take over. Leading to Hill having the Marvel heroes sign-on for service to S.H.I.E.L.D. or be locked-up in a super prison. Since the film is described as a "political thriller" I wouldn't shocked to see some World Council members getting assassinated by Winter Soldier.