I"ve Changed My Mind, Chris Evans" MCU Return Has Actually Been Perfectly Set Up Since Marvel Hasn"t Let Steve Rogers Fully Die After Endgame*

I might have been initially apprehensive about Chris Evans" return, but after reflecting on how much the MCU kept the legacy of Steve Rogers alive since Avengers: Endgame​​​​​​, I"ve changed my mind. Captain America"s MCU story ostensibly came to an end in Avengers: Endgame after the Avengers leader lived a long and happy life with Peggy Carter, growing old, and bequeathing his iconic shield and mantle to Sam Wilson. His whereabouts since have been up for speculation, though this will likely be addressed in Captain America: Brave New World in February.
Whatever the case, it"s probably safe to say that Earth-616"s Steve Rogers has bowed out of the MCU. Yet it was recently reported that Chris Evans will return in Avengers: Doomsday alongside Robert Downey Jr."s Doctor Doom. His role is to be confirmed, but this has sparked a firestorm of speculation given that Robert Downey Jr. will not be portraying Tony Stark (though Doom could still be a Stark variant). Alongside this speculation is a healthy dose of skepticism, as a significant contingent of MCU fans express concerns over Marvel"s motives.
Chris Evans And RDJ's MCU Returns Have Been Criticized As Cheap Nostalgia Bait Some Believe That Marvel Has Run Out Of Ideas Custom Image by Kai Young While there"s no denying that Robert Downey Jr."s face-reveal at San Diego Comic-Con made for an electric atmosphere, it didn"t take long for a sense of trepidation to emerge. It"s hard to ignore the announcement"s proximity to the MCU"s suboptimal 2023, which has led more than a few to theorize that Marvel cast its most bankable actor as the arch-villain of the Multiverse Saga to help recuperate its losses. This may be a cynical reading, but it"s hard to ignore Tony Stark"s importance to the MCU. It isn"t as if Marvel is re-casting a relatively minor MCU actor.
Given Tony Stark and Doctor Doom share similar motivations - to protect the world by any means necessary - the prevailing theory is that Doom will be a Stark variant.
This reticence was intensified with the announcement that Chris Evans would also be returning. To many, it started to look like Marvel Studios was running out of ideas and bringing back the foremost heroes of the Infinity Saga as nostalgia bait to change the fortunes of the franchise. The fact that the MCU had seemingly moved away from Kang as the newest arch-villain was also notable, as it seemed as if the studio was switching out new ideas for old ones. With that being said, I"m starting to think that Evans" return was the plan all along.
The MCU Has Kept Steve Rogers' Memory Alive Since Avengers: Endgame Steve Rogers Has Been Mentioned Every Year Since Close Chris Evans" Steve Rogers may currently be out of sight, but he certainly isn"t out of mind. In fact, the MCU has referenced Steve Rogers at least once every year since his Avengers: Endgame departure, with the obvious exception of 2020, as Marvel released no movies or shows. While the frequency of these references may have diminished since 2021 when he was referenced in five separate MCU productions, Marvel Studios has wasted no time in nodding to Steve Rogers" legacy in 2025, with a reference featured in the recently released Daredevil: Born Again trailer.
References To Steve Rogers In The Multiverse Saga
Year
MCU Installment
References
2021
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

• References throughout.
  

2021
Loki

• Boastful Loki boasts about killing Captain America and claiming the Infinity Stones.
  

2021
Black Widow

• References to Steve being on the run.
• Red Guardian claims to have fought Captain America.
  

2021
Eternals

• The shields used in Kingo"s Bollywood sequence are inspired by Cap"s.
• Kingo has a replica of Cap"s original shield on his private jet.
  

2021
Hawkeye

• The first appearance of Rogers: the Musical.
  

2021
Spider-Man: No Way Home

• Another ad for Rogers: The Musical appears in New York City.
• The Statue of Liberty is being reconstructed to carry Cap"s iconic shield.
  

2022
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

• Rogers: The Musical appears again in New York City.
• Captain Carter utters Steve"s catchphrase "I can do this all day."
  

2022
Ms. Marvel

• A Captain America statue appears at Avengers Con.
  

2022
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law

• Jen grills Bruce about Captain America"s sex life.
  

2023
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

• Scott Lang"s role in Captain America: Civil War is referenced, with Scott insisting that it would be crazy to fight Cap.
  

2023
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

• Cosmo tells Rocket "On your left, Captain," a phrase associated with Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson.
  

2023
Secret Invasion

• Steve Rogers is among those whose DNA was acquired for the Harvest.
  

2024
Deadpool & Wolverine

• Deadpool salutes Steve Rogers as Paradox attempts to recruit him to the MCU.
• Deadpool mistakenly believes Johnny Storm is Steve Rogers.
  

2025
Captain America: Brave New World

• President Ross tells Sam Wilson "You"re not Steve Rogers."
  

2025
Daredevil: Born Again

• Rogers: The Musical appears once again in New York.
  

It stands to reason that Captain America: Brave New World will also heavily reference Rogers throughout the movie, although the trailer already sees President Ross invoke his name at least once. Many of these references are thanks to Rogers: The Musical being part of the furniture in New York, but it"s hard to overlook the prevalence of the show. Looking at it another way, if Marvel Studios wanted to spotlight its newer characters even more, then it might have been prudent for the franchise to avoid this many nods to retired characters.
The Many Steve Rogers References In MCU Phases 4 & 5 Set Up Chris Evans' Return Marvel Seems To Be Working To Keep Steve Rogers Relevant Close Instead, it almost feels as though the MCU has been keeping Cap in the zeitgeist on purpose. Captain America: Brave New World will be released almost six years after Avengers: Endgame but will explore Cap"s legacy similarly to how Spider-Man: Far From Home did with Iron Man. After all, Marvel Studios has a longstanding tradition of teasing upcoming plots - with the most obvious being via post-credits scenes. I"m now wondering if that"s what the studio intended with these references, utilized to herald Cap"s return down the line.
It"s one thing having Chris Evans return to portray a completely different character, but another entirely to precede such a return with repeated references to his most famous role.
While there is no confirmation on whether Chris Evans" Avengers: Doomsday role will be a Steve Rogers variant, I think these references lend further credence to that assumption. It"s one thing having Chris Evans return to portray a completely different character, but another entirely to precede such a return with repeated references to his most famous role. Johnny Storm"s arrival in Deadpool & Wolverine, for instance, was part of an expertly crafted joke that will likely remain in that irreverent, meta territory and not be brought up again.
Related Captain America Movies In Order: How To Watch Steve Rogers' Films Chris Evans" eight-year-long career with Marvel Studios saw him portray Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, in several major MCU projects.
Posts On the other hand, if Chris Evans is portraying another character entirely, then I think Marvel can still capitalize on years" worth of references. The MCU is about to highlight the vast implications of the multiverse in the Multiverse Saga"s final phase, and if Evans returns to face Sam and Bucky again as another character, then it needs to address his resemblance to Earth-616"s Steve Rogers in a fittingly emotional way. Still, I"m convinced that there is one route that the MCU must take with Evans" return - and that is making him a variant.
Chris Evans' MCU Return Must Be As A Marvel Villain To Make The Most Of The MCU's References A Villainous Captain America Would Carry A Lot Of Weight Close The many references to Steve Rogers in the Multiverse Saga all share a particular standout feature in highlighting his virtues. Even the humorous reference to Steve Rogers" sex life in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is borne out of Jen"s disbelief that the incorruptible Steve Rogers might have a carnal side. It is what defines him and separates him from the likes of Tony Stark, whose heroism is still marred by certain foibles that make it easier to see his variant taking the wrong path and becoming Doctor Doom.
Related How Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom Can Still Be A Tony Stark Variant Explained In Shocking MCU Theory A shocking new MCU theory could explain how Robert Downey Jr."s Doctor Doom can be both Victor Von Doom and a Tony Stark variant in Phase 6.
Posts 2 It"s far harder to see Steve Rogers take that path, which would increase the emotional impact of seeing a villainous Rogers on-screen. Watching this variant capitalize on Steve Rogers" righteous legacy in order to manipulate and overcome his opponents would be tragic, but it would uplift Earth-616"s Steve Rogers by comparison. It isn"t even as if Avengers: Doomsday would have to work particularly hard to deliver a character as unique as Doom, as an evil Captain America is so beyond the pale that it works on its own.
The prevailing theory surrounding Evans" return is that he will portray Hydra Supreme, a Steve Rogers variant who, as the moniker suggests, fights for Hydra"s interests and poses as Captain America to further his nefarious goals.
Thankfully, there is a comic book precedent for exactly that. The prevailing theory surrounding Evans" return is that he will portray Hydra Supreme, a Steve Rogers variant who, as the moniker suggests, fights for Hydra"s interests and poses as Captain America to further his nefarious goals. Given Marvel Studios has already introduced Evans in another role that isn"t Cap with Johnny Storm, I feel as though it would be almost nonsensical for the MCU to not take advantage of this opportunity before it potentially sidelines multiversal narratives altogether.
Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount's Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
Created by Kevin Feige First Film Iron Man First TV Show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Cast Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Evans , Scarlett Johansson , Samuel L. Jackson , Jeremy Renner , Chris Hemsworth , Mark Ruffalo , Edward Norton , Paul Rudd , Tom Holland , Tom Hiddleston , Anthony Mackie , Cobie Smulders , Brie Larson , Chadwick Boseman , Sebastian Stan , Chris Pratt , Dave Bautista , Zoe Saldana , Bradley Cooper , Vin Diesel , Pom Klementieff , Josh Brolin , Karen Gillan , Clark Gregg , Paul Bettany , Don Cheadle , Benedict Cumberbatch , Evangeline Lilly , Simu Liu , Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Angelina Jolie , Kit Harington , Salma Hayek , Richard Madden , Barry Keoghan , Gemma Chan , Ma Dong-seok , Brian Tyree Henry , Kumail Nanjiani , Lauren Ridloff , Lia McHugh , Jonathan Majors Expand Upcoming MCU Movies Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date February 14, 2025 Thunderbolts*
Release Date May 2, 2025 The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Release Date July 25, 2025 Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
Spider-Man Homecoming 4
Release Date July 24, 2026 Avengers: Secret Wars
Release Date May 7, 2027

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