10. THE DEATH OF RED GUARDIAN
Not only would this continue to establish the larger universe set up by Marvel Studios, but an opening such as this one would also cement Alexander Lukin's status as a convincing threat to Captain America. Red Guardian isn't exactly a superhero that anyone is campaigning to get his own film, allowing the filmmakers to kill off a character (in a suitable dramatic fashion) without any major ramifications for their future movies.
9. CROSSBONES AND SIN
In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the Russo Brothers need to be careful not to make the same mistake that Iron Man 2 did by introducing far too many characters in one film. However, something like this moment from the comic books would work very well as an after-credits scene or sub-plot in order to give both Crossbones AND Sin the screen time they deserve in the inevitable third instalment.
8. WWII FLASHBACKS
There has already been talk of WWII flashbacks being featured in the Captain America: The First Avenger follow-up, but it is essential that they do indeed use them here to flesh out Steve and Bucky's relationship. While the friendship between the two was convincing enough in the last film, seeing more of their adventures as they battled side-by-side during WWII, would make the latter's return all the more effective.
7. THE DOMINO MASK
We all coped with Sebastian Stan not wearing one in The First Avenger, and we could more than likely deal with it in The Winter Soldier too. However, it didn't really make sense for him to have one in that film; here it does. It would protect his identity as he travels the globe as a Soviet assassin, while also making the first confrontation between him and Steve play out something like what is pictured above.
6. "SHOOT ME"
Bucky shooting Steve (even though it doesn't actually end up hitting him in the comic book) would show that he is truly lost and no longer the man Steve Rogers once called his best friend. This would also make the restoration of his memories - see below for more - all the more powerful and dramatic at a later point in the film and Bucky pulling the trigger would come as a huge shock for anyone who hasn't read the original story.
5. THE TESSERACT RETURNS...
In the comic books, there have been many versions of the Cosmic Cube, and while it would be silly to bring back the one seen in Thor and Marvel's The Avengers, who's to say that this couldn't be a weaker version created someone from a fragment or energies of the original? In the Captain America universe, there's one reason in particular why it should be included in The Winter Solider, and that...
4. ...AND SO DOES THE RED SKULL
...is the return of the Red Skull! Alexander Lukin's use of the Cube eventually results in the Skull sharing the same body as him. This would of course mean that we lose Hugo Weaving, but if Marvel find a great actor to play Lukin, we still get to see the villain in the present without a convoluted and silly explanation of how he also survived after WWII (it also provides an answer to his fate at the end of The First Avenger).
3. TONY STARK CAMEO
Unlikely perhaps, but it would be great to see it happen (even if it were a phone call instead of an actual appearance). Captain America will be teaming up with S.H.I.E.L.D and The Falcon in The Winter Solider, but Marvel really fleshed out a relationship between Tony and Steve in The Avengers, so it would be fantastic to see that at least touched upon somehow. Is it essential? Nope, but we'd still like to see it happen!
2. "REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE"
It would be incredibly unsatisfying if Marvel were to bring back Bucky and we never get a proper reunion between him and Steve (even if it's as brief as in the comic books). Somehow restoring The Winter Soldier's memories (the use of a Cosmic Cube seems like the most obvious solution) means that the door is left open for his return, although the next point best explains why that is vital.
1. BUCKY LIVES
Marvel, do NOT kill off Bucky! His death in The First Avenger wasn't exactly that satisfying (and probably only accepted by most fans because they knew it would be possible we'd see him again as The Winter Soldier) and to bring him back again, only to kill him, would be a huge mistake. Chris Evans has signed up only for six movies with the studio - and seemed reluctant to do that many - so Sebastian Stan might just be the future of Captain America if he ends up donning the suit in future. And c'mon, who wouldn't want to see a Winter Solider spin-off?!
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
-Sharon Carter
-Jack Monroe
-Train Battle
STARRING:
Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America
Sebastian Stan as Bucky/The Winter Soldier
Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/The Falcon
RELEASE DATE: April 4th, 2014.