Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War opens this weekend, and The Gould Standard brings you a little refresher of the MCU for those who maybe haven’t kept up since Ant-Man came out last July.

There will be very minor plot spoilers in the preview, but nothing that isn’t available in any of the trailers.

There are predictions down at the bottom, and big “POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT” tag there, so you can steer clear.

By the way, here’s Marvel’s official synopsis: 

“Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.”

THE STATE OF THE MCU’s RETURNING CHARACTERS

Getting the Band Back Together:

At the end of Age of Ultron, we see Cap and Widow leading a new team of Avengers. The roster includes War Machine, Falcon, Scarlett Witch, and Vision. Fury is back as the leader of SHIELD, at least at the Avengers compound.

 

 

Hawkeye has taken a leave of absence to be with his wife and two three kids, and probably to re-floor the dining room.

Hulk took off in a Quinjet while cloaked, escaping the searches of SHIELD.

Thor took off back to Asgard (with no regard to lawn maintenance) to investigate his vision of Hel and the deaths of his people.

And if you’ll remember at the end of Ant-Man, Michael Pena’s character (Luis) goes through the convoluted story of his buddy saying this fly-ass dope chick who’s into guerrilla journalism talked to Falcon, who’s looking for Ant-Man.

(By the way, I know this is going to sound a little bit racist – and I’m cool with that – but can Luis get a shrinking suit in Ant-Man and the Wasp and his superhero name be “Jumping Bean?”)

Hydra:

At the end of Ant-Man, we see a Hydra rep scurry off with some of Darren Cross’s shrinking particles after the sale of the Yellowjacket suit goes south.

Crossbones (aka Rumlow from Winter Soldier) is seen in the montage of WS burned to a crisp, but in a hospital getting medical attention.

In Agents of Shield, this past week’s episode anti-climactically “cut off the head” of Hydra in a worldwide coordinated attack with the US military.

But Hydra will never truly be wiped out. They’re like COBRA or SPECTRE. Or herpes.

The Unknowns:

In a stinger scene for Winter Soldier, we see Bucky at the Smithsonian, looking at the exhibit about himself in a reflective way. And then in a stinger scene from Ant-Man, we see him captured by Cap and Falcon, with his arm stuck in a vice.

And someone we haven’t seen since 2008 – General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross returns to the MCU, played brilliantly by William Hurt, reprises his role, but now as Secretary of State. He’s the one who brings the “Sokovia Accords” to the Avengers, causing the titular split in this film.

The Newcomers

Daniel Brühl enters the MCU as Helmut Zemo, who is curiously absent from the trailers. He’s the main antagonist of the movie, but it’s unclear if he has powers, who he works for, what his motivation is, what his goals are, or who he’s controlling. I’m excited to see those questions answered.

Chadwick Boseman joins the heroes’ side as Black Panther – real name T’Challa – which apparently has nothing to do with Jewish egg bread. The MCU leading up to this point was ostensibly monochromatic.

And then there’s Tom Holland as Spider-man. This is a moment Marvel fans have hungered for since Tony Stark showed up at the end of The Incredible Hulk, and fans realized that these movies were intertwined and part of a greater universe.

The Predictions – POSSIBLE SPOILERS!

Disclaimer – no, I have not read any reviews with spoilers.

• There will be bad blood.

• We find out that Bucky is responsible for the deaths of both T’Challa’s father and Tony Stark’s parents.
  
  
• We will see Ant-Man turn into Giant Man.
  

• Zemo is controlling/constructing something that ends up being some form of MODOK, which is why the Civil War will end and the two sides come back together. Or maybe Ross is Red Hulk. But that’s less likely.

• Peggy Carter dies. She was last seen in Winter Soldier, aged, bedridden, and seemingly suffering from Alzheimer’s. Cap needs an emotional gut punch.

• Steve Rogers dies.  Notice I didn’t say Captain America dies. Bucky picks up the shield, protects Iron Man from something (thus gaining his trust – finally) and fights the rest of the movie as Cap. But Steve Rogers will be back for Infinity War: Part 1.

• Despite what the trailer apparently shows, I don’t think Rhodey/War-Machine dies.

• Spider-man is perfect. Kevin Feige (the creative head honcho for the MCU) wouldn’t make the negotiation to get him into the MCU without making sure he doesn’t disappoint Sony, Spider-man fans and the MCU fans.

• Ant-man and Spider-man get into a one-liner battle.

• Two stinger scenes – one for Dr. Strange for sure, and the 2nd will either Thanos doing something again, or the whereabouts of Hulk after his Quinjet crashed down, leading to Thor: Ragnarok.

What are you most looking forward to? What predictions do you have?

Sound off in the comments!