What Danny Ramirez Brings to the Role of Joaquin Torres in the MCU

Quick Answer

Danny Ramirez brings a grounded, physically demanding presence to Joaquin Torres in the MCU, transitioning the character from a supporting airman in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to the new Falcon in Captain America: Brave New World (2025). His casting builds on established comic-book legacy while injecting fresh energy, and he will reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday (2026), signaling a long-term investment in the character.

Ramirez's background in high-intensity projects like Top Gun: Maverick and The Last of Us equips him to handle both the action sequences and the emotional weight required for a legacy superhero mantle.

Key Facts

• Danny Ramirez first appeared as Joaquin Torres in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021), playing a U.S. Air Force lieutenant who assists Sam Wilson.
• He officially took on the Falcon mantle in Captain America: Brave New World (2025), succeeding Sam Wilson after Wilson became Captain America.
• Ramirez will return as Falcon in Avengers: Doomsday, set for release in 2026, indicating Marvel's commitment to the character as part of the next Avengers lineup.
• Beyond the MCU, Ramirez is known for starring in Top Gun: Maverick (2022) as Lt. Mickey "Fanboy" Garcia and appearing in HBO's The Last of Us (2023).
• In 2025, he received an honorary doctorate from Miami University, reflecting recognition for his career achievements and community impact.

From Airman to Avenger The Unfolding of Joaquin Torres

When Danny Ramirez first appeared as Joaquin Torres in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the character existed firmly in Sam Wilson's orbit. Torres was a capable, loyal airman stationed in Tunisia who provided intelligence and logistical support.

For audiences unfamiliar with the comics, this introduction served as a low-key foundation. But for those who knew the source material, the seeds were clearly planted for a larger role.

In Marvel Comics, Joaquin Torres is not merely a sidekick. He is a mutant whose DNA was fused with that of a falcon by the villainous Karl Malus, granting him wings, talons, and enhanced senses.

He later took on the Falcon mantle when Sam Wilson became Captain America. The MCU adaptation streamlined this origin, removing the overt mutant and animal-hybrid elements in favor of a more grounded, technological suit.

This decision reflects the MCU's broader trend of simplifying comic-book origins for broader accessibility, but it also places more narrative weight on Ramirez's performance to sell the character's legitimacy. Ramirez's portrayal in Captain America: Brave New World had to accomplish a difficult task: make audiences accept a new Falcon without the decades of investment that Sam Wilson had earned.

The film reportedly leaned into Torres's military background, emphasizing his competence and loyalty rather than any superhuman transformation. This aligns with the MCU's post-Endgame phase, which has favored street-level heroes and practical stakes over cosmic threats.

By grounding Torres in his air force training and his relationship with Wilson, the film gave Ramirez a clear emotional anchor. The actor's own trajectory mirrors this growth.

From his early roles in independent films and television, Ramirez built a reputation for physicality and discipline. His work in Top Gun: Maverick required real flight training and the ability to hold his own alongside established stars like Tom Cruise.

That experience translated directly to the MCU, where performance capture and wirework for Falcon's flight sequences demand the same kind of commitment. Audiences who saw Top Gun: Maverick recognized a performer comfortable with high-stakes, real-world action—a quality that makes his Falcon feel less like a CGI construct and more like a tangible presence.

What Top Gun and The Last of Us Taught Him About Superhero Acting

One of the most telling aspects of Danny Ramirez's career is the range of physical and emotional demands across his major roles. Top Gun: Maverick required him to endure G-forces in actual fighter jet cockpits, performing dialogue and reactions under extreme physical stress.

That training is not merely a bullet point on a resume; it fundamentally changes how an actor approaches action sequences. In a superhero film, where many actors perform against green screens with minimal tangible feedback, Ramirez brought a visceral understanding of kinetic movement and spatial awareness.

The Last of Us, conversely, demanded a different kind of stamina. In the episode "Kin," Ramirez played a character navigating trauma and loss in a post-apocalyptic world.

The performance was quiet, internal, and emotionally raw. This contrast is instructive for his work as Joaquin Torres.

The Falcon role requires both the outward confidence of a trained operative and the inner vulnerability of someone stepping into a legacy. Ramirez's ability to toggle between these registers suggests he can handle the dual nature of the character: the public-facing hero and the private individual wrestling with expectation.

There is also a practical consideration. The MCU's current phase has been criticized for over-relying on spectacle at the expense of character development.

Actors like Ramirez, who have proven they can carry dramatic weight in smaller-scale projects, are precisely what the franchise needs to ground its larger-than-life narratives. His casting as Falcon was not just about physical suitability; it was a signal that Marvel values performers who can act in the quiet moments between explosions.

The honorary doctorate he received from Miami University in 2025, while not directly related to his acting, speaks to his standing as a figure of influence beyond the screen. This kind of recognition often follows a public figure who balances professional success with educational or community contributions.

In the context of the MCU, where actors frequently become role models for younger audiences, such honors lend additional credibility to the person behind the mask.

The Weight of the Falcon Mantle in a Post-Sam Wilson MCU

The transition of the Falcon mantle from Sam Wilson to Joaquin Torres is not just a costume change; it represents a thematic shift in the MCU's approach to legacy heroes. When Sam Wilson became Captain America at the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, he took on a symbol burdened by decades of political and cultural history.

Torres, by contrast, inherits a mantle that was defined by Sam's own journey—a less politically charged symbol, but one still tied to a specific heroic identity. Ramirez's task is to make the Falcon his own without erasing what Sam built.

This is a delicate balance. In the comics, Torres's Falcon is distinct from Wilson's—more impulsive, more eager, and possessing actual falcon abilities.

The MCU's version, stripped of those abilities, has to differentiate itself through character rather than powers. Early indications from Captain America: Brave New World suggest that Torres is portrayed as younger and more idealistic than Sam, allowing for natural conflict and growth.

Ramirez's natural energy, evident in interviews and social media posts where he documents travel and soccer training, fits this mold. He projects an approachable, contemporary enthusiasm that contrasts with Anthony Mackie's more weary, seasoned Sam Wilson.

The announcement that Ramirez will return in Avengers: Doomsday (2026) confirms that Marvel views Torres as a long-term piece of the puzzle. This is significant because the post-Endgame MCU has struggled with consistency in its new hero introductions.

Characters like Shang-Chi, Ms. Marvel, and Kate Bishop have been well-received, but others have faded into the background.

By locking Ramirez into an Avengers-level event, Marvel is signaling that Torres will be part of the core team, not a one-off supporting character. For viewers unfamiliar with the comics, the name "Doomsday" inevitably evokes DC Comics' iconic villain.

But in the MCU context, the film is expected to deal with the fallout from multiversal incursions and the Kang Dynasty storyline. Torres's presence in such a narrative suggests that the Falcon will be tested on a global—possibly multiversal—scale early in his tenure.

This is a rapid escalation from his debut as a relatively grounded airman, and it places Ramirez in the position of having to sell the character's growth from supporting player to Avenger in real time. There is also an unspoken pressure: the Falcon is a mantle that carries expectations from both comic readers and MCU fans who associate it with Sam Wilson.

Ramirez cannot simply replicate Anthony Mackie's performance. He must honor it while carving his own path.

The fact that Marvel entrusted him with this transition in a major film and then immediately booked him for an Avengers sequel suggests a high level of confidence in his ability to carry that weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Danny Ramirez's first appearance as Joaquin Torres in the MCU?

Danny Ramirez first appeared as Joaquin Torres in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which premiered in 2021. In the series, Torres was a U.S.

Air Force lieutenant stationed in Tunisia who assisted Sam Wilson.

Did Joaquin Torres have superpowers in the comics?

In Marvel Comics, Joaquin Torres is a mutant whose DNA was fused with a falcon, giving him wings, talons, and enhanced senses. The MCU adaptation removed these supernatural elements, portraying Torres as a skilled human who uses technology and a flight suit to operate as Falcon.

Will Danny Ramirez appear in future MCU projects after Captain America Brave New World?

Yes. Danny Ramirez is confirmed to reprise his role as Falcon in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release in 2026.

This indicates that Marvel plans to use the character as part of the next Avengers lineup.

What other major roles has Danny Ramirez played?

Beyond the MCU, Danny Ramirez is known for playing Lt. Mickey "Fanboy" Garcia in Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and appearing in HBO's The Last of Us (2023).

He also received an honorary doctorate from Miami University in 2025.

How does Danny Ramirez's role in Top Gun Maverick relate to his work in the MCU?

Both roles required significant physical training and realistic action sequences. In Top Gun: Maverick, Ramirez performed in actual fighter jets under G-force conditions, which developed his ability to handle physically demanding, high-stakes performance.

This experience translated directly to the wirework and performance capture needed for Falcon's flight scenes.

Reference Notes

Information in this article is based on publicly available sources. Some details may change over time.

Verify with official sources before acting.