When most people think about holiday specials, they imagine warm cocoa, twinkling lights, and maybe a superhero in a Santa hat. But writer Amy Piero has something different in mind. Her screenplay, The Winter Soldier: Silent Night, blends espionage, trauma, and Christmas nostalgia into a darker, more grounded Marvel Special Presentation. In this interview, Amy breaks down what makes her story stand out, why Bucky Barnes is the perfect lead, and what it’s been like trying to get Marvel’s attention.
It All Started With a Walk and a Thought
Like many writers, Amy’s best ideas come when she’s out walking. During one of those moments, she found herself reflecting on how commercialized Christmas has become. That train of thought somehow led her to Bucky Barnes. “I thought he’d definitely agree with me,” she explains. From there, she imagined the Winter Soldier quietly taking in Christmas lights, and a story began to form.
The Premise: A Gritty Holiday with Glimpses of Hope
Set in December 1989, Silent Night drops the Winter Soldier into Romania during the revolution. His mission? Assassinate key political figures. But he arrives to find a country experiencing its first openly celebrated Christmas in four decades. The mission unravels as flashbacks disrupt his focus, pulling him between past and present.
“This isn’t your typical holiday special,” Amy says. “We all know Hydra reclaims Bucky eventually, so don’t expect him baking cookies with his handler.” Still, she notes that the script includes touching glimpses of who Bucky once was, and who he could still become.
Making It Marvel-Ready
Amy is serious about this being a Marvel Special Presentation. She’s taken the grassroots route, leaning into social media and building connections. “It’s been a journey for sure,” she admits. “A lot of networking, a lot of learning.” Her online presence, especially on YouTube, has helped her get the concept in front of eager fans who resonate with the darker, emotionally grounded take.
Balancing Canon with Creativity
Writing Bucky Barnes meant more than rewatching MCU films. Amy dove into the comics, wanting to respect the full scope of his story. “Once I did my research,” she says, “I just told the story I wanted to watch.” That honesty shines through in Silent Night, which blends familiar Marvel touchstones with fresh narrative beats.
The Style: A Winter Soldier Noir
So what does Silent Night feel like? Amy describes it as “if Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Werewolf by Night had a love child born on Christmas Eve.” She throws in references to The Manchurian Candidate and Memento to complete the picture. Music also plays a vital role, which is why she dreams of working with Michael Giacchino as director. “He’d direct the heck out of this,” she says. And if she could pick a producer? “Jac Schaeffer would be pretty cool.”
Pitching to the Void and Holding Out Hope
Despite the support she’s received, Amy acknowledges the uphill climb. “I don’t personally know Kevin Feige or Brad Winderbaum,” she says. “It can feel like yelling into a void some days.” Still, she keeps pushing forward, trusting the story to gain momentum.
Looking Ahead
Amy has more Marvel stories she’d love to tell. Her dream list includes Peter Parker, Gwen Poole, Kamala Khan, Doreen Green, and Gwen Stacy. But for now, she’s focused on giving Silent Night its moment.
She ends with a call to action: “If you like the idea, post with #TWSsilentnight. You never know who might see it and think, ‘Why isn’t this already on Disney Plus?’” And for those who support the project: “Thank you. It means more than you know.”
Want to see The Winter Soldier under the Christmas lights? Join the movement with #TWSsilentnight.
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