Why the “Captain America: Civil War” director says the movie is really a love story

Prepare for some sweet, sweet bromance in a theater near you. While the upcoming Captain America: Civil War looks to have some serious punching, it’s got brotherly love at heart, according to co-director Joe Russo.

The third movie for the First Avenger will finally get to the heart of a conflict that’s been brewing since the original Captain America, highlighting the complicated relationship between Cap and his best-friend-since-childhood-turned-into-psychotic-deathwish-sorta-bad-guy Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier.

If it’s been a while since you’ve seen the first film, remember that Bucky, played by Sebastian Stan, was the cooler, more confident older brother figure to Chris Evans’ initially scrawny Steve Rogers. Despite staying true to Steve after his transformation into a muscled motivational fighter, Bucky tragically “died,” partially due to Captain America not having studied hard enough in icy-train-rescue class.

Now that both are revived in the modern era, it looks like there’s some guilt, forgiveness, and maybe redemption to play out. “These are two guys who grew up together, and so they have that same emotional connection to each other as brothers would, and even more so because Bucky was all Steve had growing up,” Russo said, adding “What’s fascinating about the Cap-Bucky story as well is it’s a love story.”

Not only do these two have a long history together, it’s complicated by the fact that Bucky is maybe a little bit evil at the moment. But is that a result of circumstances or is the Winter Soldier enjoying his power? “Steve has to answer that question for himself, and there are other characters in the movie who hold the opposite point of view. It becomes very explosive. It incites a lot of conflict,” Russo hinted.

Interestingly, from the trailer, it seems that while the ethics of superheroing and whatnot come into the major split between supers, it’s also Cap’s newfound, but uneasy friendship with Iron Man Tony Stark that seems to drive some of the drama. “He’s my friend,” Steve rationalizes about Bucky in the trailers. “So was I,” Tony responds, his sadness unable to be contained by his giant metal suit.

Hey, they are expressing their emotions, and that’s a good step forward. Oh, then there’s more punching and running. Excellent.

We cannot wait to see this love story and all its epic physical manifestations unfold on screen. Are you team #CaptainWinter or team #IronAmerica??

Check out the trailer here.