Kevin Feige Talks Captain America Movies Without Steve Rogers

Marvel Comics fans know that, these days, Captain America is more of a mantel than a specific character. Steve Rogers has been the only character to carry the shield; his old friend and partner Bucky Barnes left his Winter Soldier persona behind to become Captain America II in the 2000s, after Steve Rogers was supposedly assassinated.

More recently, Sam Wilson/Falcon took up the shield, when Rogers was aged into an elderly man. Now that both Bucky/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) and Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) are big parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (the Captain America franchise in particular), there's been a lot of fan question about whether one character, both or neither are able to stand in for Chris Evans' Steve Rogers, who is now the leading face of the franchise, thanks to films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War becoming big box office and critical hits.

Speaking with Collider, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige talked about the possibility of having a Captain America movie franchise without Steve Rogers. When asked if the franchise has to have Rogers, Feige said that, "if we look back at the comic books as our inspiration and as the well from which this all springs, then the answer is "no.""

Before fans take that as a sign that Captain America II or Cap-Falcon is just around the corner, Feige was quick to add that, "I'm not saying we'll do it in the movie but I've read Captain America comics that don't have Steve Rogers in them."

So far, the prevailing fan theory/wish is that Chris Evans' Captain America will return from his fugitive status in time to help save the universe during the Infinity War, but that it will also be a battle that sends him out with a heroic death. In fact, by Phase 4 of the MCU, most fans wouldn't be surprised if the original Avengers moved on, letting new blood (like Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange) take their place.

Collider asked Feige about the inevitable changing of the guard form a business standpoint, with Feige responding that "we don't usually think about it until necessary....so we have a long way before we have to worry about that."

MORE DOCTOR STRANGE: Doctor Strange is Officially Joining The Avengers / Possible Sequel Story / Doctor Strange Early Reactions / New Doctor Strange Clips / Marvel Cosmic Connection Revealed? / Newest TV Spots / IMAX footage Description

Doctor Strange opens November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – May 5, 2017; Spider-Man: Homecoming– July 7, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017; Black Panther – February 16, 2018; Avengers: Infinity War – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018; and Captain Marvel on March 8, 2019.