With so many returning characters in Avengers: Doomsday, another Marvel Cinematic Universe star has thrown his hat in the ring for a possible comeback. Ross Marquand has played several roles in the franchise, most notably taking over the role of Red Skull/Johann Schmidt from Hugo Weaving for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Speaking with Screen Rant’s Joe Deckelmeier during a panel at AwesomeCon, Marquand addressed whether he would be willing to reprise Red Skull:
Screen Rant: “Speaking of Avengers: Doomsday, have you thought about returning as the Red Skull?”
Ross Marquand: “Yeah, I have! You don’t have to twist my arm. I keep pushing [a Disney+ series for Captain America]. I’ve been pitching a series for seven years. I think it would be amazing if it was a six or seven-part miniseries. Seven would be great, because the first episode is Cap, Tony Stark, and Bruce sitting down and saying, ‘Here’s what you could come up against. We don’t know who this person is, but here are the variables. Here’s what we know, here’s what we don’t know, here’s how you can return the stones. And by the way, how do we unkill Natasha?’ That’s always been a thing where I’ve been like, ‘I don’t quite understand that.’ That’s always been a question that I have with the stones and everything.”
Continuing, Marquand continued that Captain America returning the Infinity Stones is “just a really cool thing to explore.” Per the actor, whether the series gets made is up to Chris Evans. However, he also suggested that the series could be animated, like What If…?, adding that he thinks “it’d be a lot of fun.“
What Ross Marquand’s Red Skull Comments Mean
A Captain America Series Could Reunite Red Skull With Steve Rogers
In Infinity War, it was revealed that Red Skull had become a Stonekeeper, protecting the Soul Stone on Vormir. He appeared again in Endgame, once again in his place as a guard. Though this was his first appearance in the MCU since 2011’s Captain America, he did not meet his former nemesis Steve Rogers onscreen. However, it was hinted that the two would encounter each other during Steve’s trip through time to return the stones. Marquand has previously teased making a miniseries chronicling Captain America’s “final” mission before retiring to be with Peggy Carter.
While Marquand’s pitch is solid and would fit in the MCU timeline, it is likely that Doomsday could see a return for Red Skull. Recently, Marvel Studios had a five-and-a-half livestream that revealed 27 returning cast members, including the surprise reveal that many former X-Men stars would reprise their roles. Notably, Evans was not on the list, despite speculation that he would appear. However, Marvel boss Kevin Feige has hinted there are more names to come, meaning that Evans and Marquand could still join that roster.
Our Take On Ross Marquand’s Red Skull Comments
With Many Returning Heroes And Villains, Red Skull Could Return In The Multiverse Saga
Given the multiversal scope of Doomsday, just about any major Marvel character could appear. This means that a return from Marquand’s Red Skull is certainly on the table, and it could give audiences the long-awaited reunion between him and Steve. Alternatively, a Red Skull variant who did not become a Stonekeeper could appear.
Regardless, Marquand’s pitch for a Captain America-centric series is intriguing, with the potential to bring back Steve for another adventure. However, with Evans’ insistence he is retired, it’s unlikely—albeit not impossible—he would return for a television project. Either way, Marquand’s return as Red Skull in some capacity, be it in animation or live-action with Avengers: Doomsday, will inevitably occur, given the character’s importance.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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Spider-Man: Brand New Day
- Release Date
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July 31, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027