The MCU risks making a big mistake with the return of Chris Evans’ Captain America in Avengers: Doomsday. It’s been six years since Steve Rogers went off to return the Infinity Stones and decided to stay in the past. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has changed a lot since then, both in-universe with the full introduction of the multiverse, and in our own real world, as perception and reception of the franchise have shifted more negatively. Both of those things lead us to Doomsday, a multiversal event that will bring back multiple characters and actors from Marvel’s past.
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That includes Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, but does not (yet) involve Evans’ Cap, though the actor has already returned to the MCU as Johnny Storm in Deadpool & Wolverine. Still, I’ve always felt it’s only a matter of when and how, not if, regarding seeing Steve Rogers again. Even before Downey Jr. was cast as Doom, it seemed likely Marvel would want both actors to be involved in Avengers 5 and/or 6, due to the multiversal nature of the events, the scale of them, and the increased reliance on nostalgia.
That feeling has only grown in the past year or so. With the Iron Man actor being convinced to return, off the back of an Oscar win no less, there’s a feeling of inevitability about Evans joining him in some capacity, because they’re still the two actors who define the MCU. There’s no stronger card to play (in terms of box office hype) than having them together again. Theories and rumors abound about Steve’s role in Doomsday, ranging from him and Peggy being targeted by Doom, to him being a villain alongside RDJ, with a take on the Hydra Captain America from the comics. All of this is TBC, but it seems increasingly likely he will be back – but he shouldn’t be.
Chris Evans’ Captain America Shouldn’t Return In Avengers: Doomsday
It should go without saying, but just in case: Evans is fantastic as Captain America. He perfectly embodied the character, and his development from earnest all-American hero to someone who lost his trust in institutions, but never wavered in his belief in doing what was right, was brilliantly done. Not wanting him to return isn’t a shade on his performance, but rather because it was so good. The character had a full arc that stands as one of the MCU’s very best, right down to the happy ending he deserved.
Is it really worth undoing that? I mean, in terms of how it’d impact the box office, the answer is probably yes. But in terms of story, character, and legacy? I can’t see how it would be. Avengers: Endgame was full of fan service for Cap, from wielding Mjolnir to saying “Avengers assemble,” to getting to dance with the girl. But it was fan service that was entirely earned, or, in other words, payoff. It was the exact right destination for his journey, and if it’s reached that already, why bother taking him anywhere else and reversing that happy, emotional ending just to service your new villain and have more nostalgic thrills?
Of course, it could do something different, like having a Steve Rogers variant, perhaps even Hydra Cap. But the problem with that is it still risks diminishing returns. Downey Jr. as Doom is clear stunt casting, but there’s potential to it. But if his team is going to be full of evil Avenger variants, played by familiar MCU actors, then it risks being a cheaper trick, rather than doing something stronger and more unique with Doom.
The MCU Needs To Move On From Its Original Heroes
There’s also the issue with the MCU’s new heroes, and how it can move on if it keeps bringing people back. This already hurt Sam Wilson’s Captain America, with even Kevin Feige attributing some of the blame for Brave New World‘s box office to the fact that it was “the first without Chris Evans.” [via Deadline] Well, establishing a new Captain America becomes even harder when the old one is still kicking around, even if you bring Evans back just, what, to kill his character off?
The MCU has to move away from nostalgia and relying on the past. That’s something Doomsday and Secret Wars can achieve, if things are eventually reset and there’s a cleaner slate going forward, but the more people who come back, the more work that will take. Still, it seems inevitable that one day we’re going to be seeing a chair with Evans’ name on it. Until then, I’ll cling to hope that, if asked to return, his response is simply: “No, I don’t think I will.”
Avengers: Doomsday will be released on December 18th, 2026. Avengers: Secret Wars follows on December 17th, 2027. Before all of that, Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be the next MCU movie to hit theaters when it releases on July 31st, 2026.
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