Will Zemo Escape Again? MCU Villain Future Explored

Baron Helmut Zemo’s past finally caught up with him in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but there’s always a chance he will escape to embrace his villainous future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. First introduced in Captain America: Civil War, Zemo has caused a lot of chaos. Now that he’s in the custody of Wakanda’s Dora Milaje and headed to the Raft, Zemo could break out again in the near future. 

To get ahead and learn more about what the Flag Smashers were up to, Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson broke Zemo out of prison. The Sokovian used his family wealth and privilege to head to aid Sam and Bucky on their mission, much to the chagrin of the Dora Milaje — namely, Ayo, who was upset about Bucky harboring a fugitive who was responsible for the death of Wakanda’s late King T’Chaka. By the end of “Truth,” The Falcon and Winter Soldier’s episode five, Bucky led the Dora Milaje to Zemo, who was taken into custody with the promise he would remain in jail for the rest of his days. 

However, while the Wakandans will surely ensure Zemo stays behind bars, it’s unlikely the villain will be there for long. Ayo specifically told Bucky that Zemo would be imprisoned on the Raft, a S.H.I.E.L.D. prison built on an island off the coast of New York. Prior to his actions in Captain America: Civil War, Zemo commanded the EKO Scorpion, a secret paramilitary death squad in Sokovia. He wasn’t simply a man driven by grief to destroy the Avengers; he’s a resourceful, intelligent, and tactical leader and assassin whose skills will come in handy when he finally decides to break out of the Raft. Zemo knows how to destroy and plan. Just like he strategically pitted the Avengers against each other in Civil War, the villain could use these same tactics to escape the Raft. 

After all, the prison isn’t impenetrable and Zemo is more than capable of creating a situation that leads to a prison break. Fans have seen his resourcefulness first-hand on several occasions, most recently with obtaining information about the Flag Smashers and getting into Madripoor unnoticed. It’s possible that Zemo got back into contact with his old EKO Scorpion squad while working alongside Bucky and Sam. It’s doubtful the villain did exactly as told while with them and, with his wealth and connections, surely took precautions after realizing the Dora Milaje were after him. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, he was broken out of jail by Sam and Bucky and, though it’s not bound to happen again, Zemo has money, connections, and his own skill set from his time with the death squad to be able get out. 

Of course, if Zemo manages to escape the Raft on his own, it will bring up the question as to why he didn’t bother breaking free from imprisonment in Germany, especially considering it was probably easier to do so. However, Zemo didn’t intend to get captured in Captain America:Civil War, plotting to die by suicide just before Black Panther stopped him. It’s likely why he didn’t have a plan to escape his first prison. He had no such plan in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which changes the trajectory of his future. The villain got a second chance at adventure and freedom in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, so it’s doubtful Zemo’s about to let that go again by staying imprisoned. 

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Mae Abdulbaki
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Mae Abdulbaki is a movie reviews editor with Screen Rant. She previously wrote about a variety of movies and TV shows for Inverse, CinemaBlend, Pajiba, and The Young Folks, where she wrote reviews, features, news pieces. Her other work can be found at The Mary Sue, Film School Rejects, UPROXX, Heroic Hollywood, Looper, The List, and Bam Smack Pow, among others. Mae has also appeared on television segments, podcasts, and panels to discuss all things entertainment.

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