The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s most memorable episode 1 moment was improvised

Marvel series’ first episode ended with a game-changing twist

The most memorable moment from the opening episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was improvised, it has been revealed.

Spoilers follow for the first episode of Disney Plus’s new Marvel series....

At the end of episode one, it is revealed that the US government have selected a new Captain America, against the wishes of Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie).

Stepping up to a podium at the end of the episode is John Walker (Wyatt Russell), dressed in full Captain America garb, who then winks into the onlooking TV camera.

The moment sent some viewers into meltdown, with many taking issue with the smarmy wink.

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According to a new interview with the series’ director, the moment was improvised on the spot by Russell.

Speaking to The Empire Film Podcast, director Kari Skogland said: . “I wanted it to be kind of heroic and monumental, and so it was low angles and we put them in this portico, a very ‘big government’ vibe, so it had all of that weight behind it,” she says of Walker’s introduction.

“And also, you don’t really get to know him, right? You see his back and you see the shield. It’s all about, who is this? What is this? And then – boom – you know, that wink.”

The new Captain America is unveiled during episode one of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Disney Plus)

Addressing the nature of the wink, Skogland said that it was “completely a moment that Wyatt brought to the party”.

“And that was fantastic,” she added. “All the actors brought lots of moments like that to the story, because once they once they got inside their character, they were able to play. Out of that comes brilliance.”

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The Falcon and the Winter is available to stream on Disney Plus, and will run for six episodes until 23 April.