Avengers: Doomsday may do more harm than good for Sam Wilson's Captain America. Steve Rogers remains one of the most important and influential characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). As the first avenger, Steve was a pivotal part of putting the team together, and when the world needed them, Steve stepped up to become the leader, coordinating his team, and ensuring they did their best to protect civilians while taking down the threats.
However, Steve Rogers story came to an end in Avengers: Endgame. After taking down Thanos, restoring half the population of the universe to life, and witnessing the death of his dear friend and ally Tony Stark, Steve decided it was time to step back. On his mission to return the Infinity Stones to their respective points in time, Steve decides to return to Peggy Carter and live the life he could have had if he was never frozen. On top of this, Steve hand-picked his successor in Sam Wilson, and gifted him his shield in order to have his friend carry the legacy of Captain America forward.
Brave New World Once Again Uses Steve Rogers To Challenge Sam Wilson's Captain America
Sam Wilson Has Proven Himself Repeatedly In The MCU
But despite the endorsement of Captain America himself, the world has struggled to connect with Sam Wilson as the new Captain America. This storyline became an important element of Captain America: Brave New World, as seen with characters like Thaddeus Ross saying "you're not Steve Rogers." This declaration that Sam is not worthy, or that the shoes are too big to be filled, was also the core storyline featured in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. And clearly, for fans of the MCU who haven't followed the shows, reasserting this detail makes sense to move Sam's story forward.
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However, the MCU should avoid overplaying this point. Sam Wilson is the new Captain America, and he has proven himself to be more than capable. While he is evidently not Steve Rogers, due to his lack of a super soldier serum, both characters hail from different times, and his unique lived experience, his role as Captain America is sure to be inspiring, uplifting, and heroic. Sam is a soldier, and he has been fighting side by side with superheroes for years. He has the heart it takes to be the world's new Captain America, and he is set to lead a new team of Avengers to become Earth's Mightiest Heroes, despite their rivalry with The New Avengers.
Chris Evans' Captain America Return Risks Undermining Sam Wilson
Having Competing Captain America's Is A Recipe For Disaster
The thing is, with Sam Wilson fighting to earn the right to be called Captain America, and now again to lead a team called The Avengers while another group lays their claim on the name, he does not need to be undermined even further. And as exciting as it would be to see Chris Evans return to the role of Steve Rogers in the MCU, it doesn't make sense for Sam's developing story. Even if Rogers appears and reaffirms his decision endorsing Sam, putting the pair side by side would likely make Sam look like a sidekick once again.
Sam Wilson is Captain America, and his position as the new leader of the Avengers needs to be protected and preserved in the MCU. Steve Rogers appearing would not benefit that goal, and while it would earn the movie some nostalgia points, it's not worth the trade-off and the lack of quality or sense for such a cameo to exist. Both inside the MCU and with audiences, Chris Evans appearing in Avengers: Doomsday would do more damage to Sam Wilson's position as a leader and the new Captain America, and it simply isn't worth bringing the character back in a way that will reverse the progress that has already been made to move Sam forward.
Chris Evans' MCU Return Still Seems Likely In Some Way
Chris Evans Could Appear Again Before The Multiverse Saga Ends
Despite all of that, it does feel very possible that Marvel Studios will bring Chris Evans back for Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars in some capacity. After all, the end of the Multiverse Saga is one of the last moments that they can capitalize on these kinds of cameos in a way that makes some sense in the story. And Evans has already returned in Deadpool & Wolverine to play Johnny Storm, a role he originally appeared in back in the 2005's Fantastic Four. And Evans is a huge part of the MCU's legacy from the last 18 years, so including him at this moment as the MCU undergoes a huge transformation would be a way to say goodbye.
Will Marvel delay announcing the rest of Doomsday's cast now that the movie's delayed?
While a good chunk of the cast for Avengers: Doomsday was announced in a video, it's widely expected that Marvel will announce even more at some point in the future. However, I do wonder if said future announcement has been delayed along with the movie's delay from May 2026 to December.
On top of that, seeing Robert Downey Jr. return to the MCU as Doctor Doom, despite previously playing Tony Stark, and his incredible and emotional sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame makes a lot of other things possible. It's unclear how this character will be approached, and since the comics typically have Doom never remove his mask, there is the potential to keep RDJ's face covered throughout. However, putting RDJ and Evans back together on screen one last time may prove too tempting for the Russo Brothers, who are directing, or executives who feel this nostalgia hit is worth the complications.
How Chris Evans Can Return Without Hurting Sam Wilson's Captain America
There Is Another Version Of Captain America Who Could Appear
If this is the path that the MCU chooses to take in Doomsday or Secret Wars, there are a few ways that they could potentially include Evans in the story without ruining Sam Wilson's reputation as Captain America, and it's largely down to who Evans would be playing. Yes, playing Johnny Storm would be a less disruptive cameo for him, especially since his version of Johnny is so different to Steve Rogers, with looser morals, and a much more laid-back attitude. However, there is also a way that Evans could play Steve and still make it work.
HYDRA Cap could be used as a way to further cement Sam as the new Captain America, literally defeating Steve Rogers and taking the top spot.
The answer comes from a relatively recent comic book run that saw Steve Rogers undergo an unusual departure from his all-American, golden boy persona. When Steve Rogers is actually a HYDRA sleeper agent who reveals himself to be a villain, other heroes are devastated to see their old friend become a radicalized monster. HYDRA Cap could be used as a way to further cement Sam as the new Captain America, literally defeating Steve Rogers and taking the top spot. However, if this is a storyline that is included in Avengers: Doomsday, it needs to be mindful of Steve's legacy as well.
Avengers: Doomsday
Cast
Thor
Vanessa KirbySue Storm / Invisible Woman
Johnny Storm / Human Torch
Ebon Moss-BachrachBen Grimm / The Thing
Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face off against Victor von Doom - played by the returning Robert Downey Jr.. Avengers 5 will also mark the beginning of phase 6 of the MCU.
