Captain America is one of Marvel’s most enduring symbols of heroism, with numerous characters taking on the тιтle in movies and TV shows. While Steve Rogers is the iconic original, modern adaptations have introduced new versions who reflect the evolving nature of what the star-spangled hero represents. From 1940s series to the MCU timeline, each version adds depth to the character’s evolving legacy.

Captain America has been a pop culture since his comic book debut in 1941. His first live-action depiction happened soon after, and since then has appeared in swathes of movies and television series. While Steve Rogers has dominated these initial appearances, miniversal variants, spiritual successors, and hidden figures from the Super Soldier Program have since emerged, expanding the scope of what (and whom) Captain America represents. With Sam Wilson officially the MCU’s new Captain America, it’s worth noting the other established in movies and television.

9

Steve Rogers

Captain America (1979), Captain America II: Death Too Soon (1979), Captain America (1990) & The MCU

Steve Rogers has been portrayed by several actors, but it’s Chris Evans’ MCU version that redefined the character for a generation. Before that, Steve first appeared in two made-for-TV movies in 1979, portrayed by Reb Brown. These films modernized the character for that era, giving him a motorcycle and a transparent shield, but lacked comic book fidelity. In 1990, Matt Salinger played Rogers in a low-budget theatrical film that struggled with direction and was ultimately shelved in many regions.

The true renaissance came with the MCU’s Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), where Evans’ performance as a morally steadfast soldier transformed Rogers into a global icon. Appearing in multiple MCU films, Rogers’ arc concluded in Avengers: Endgame when he pᴀssed the shield to Sam Wilson. Evans’ Cap was not just a super-soldier, but the heart of the Marvel Universe.

8

Sam Wilson

The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) began as the Falcon, a loyal friend and skilled Air Force veteran who brought grounded humanity to the Avengers. Initially serving as Steve Rogers’ right-hand man, Sam was known for his tactical aerial combat skills and unwavering moral compᴀss. His reluctant acceptance of the Captain America mantle in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) marked a major shift in the character’s journey.

The series explored what it means for a Black man to carry the shield, diving into systemic injustice and personal responsibility. Sam’s transformation from sidekick to symbol continued in Captain America: Brave New World (2025), where he served as the MCU’s new Cap. Sam redefines the role not by replicating Steve Rogers, but by bringing his own voice and values to the iconic idenтιтy.

7

John Walker

The Falcon And The Winter Soldier & Thunderbolts*

John Walker (Wyatt Russell) debuted in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as the U.S. government’s chosen successor to Steve Rogers. A decorated soldier with an impressive résumé, Walker struggled with the immense pressure of living up to the Captain America name. Unlike Steve, his decisions were often impulsive and morally gray, culminating in a shocking act of public violence that stained the shield’s legacy. Though stripped of the тιтle, Walker’s story didn’t end there.

Walker was later recruited by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and ᴀssumed the mantle of U.S. Agent – a darker counterpart to Captain America. Walker’s character highlights the conflict between governmental authority and moral leadership. His subsequent return in Thunderbolts (2025), explored redemption, loyalty, or deeper disillusionment. Walker remains one of the most controversial and layered iterations of Captain America, standing in stark contrast to his predecessors.

6

Isaiah Bradley

The Falcon And The Winter Soldier & Captain America: Brave New World

Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) made his powerful live-action debut in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, revealing a hidden chapter of the super-soldier program. A Black soldier experimented on without consent, Isaiah became a forgotten Captain America – imprisoned and erased from history after his service. His story brought a sobering, emotional depth to the MCU, highlighting the racial injustices that came with the shield’s legacy.

While he initially discouraged Sam Wilson from taking on the mantle, Isaiah’s perspective ultimately helped shape Sam’s understanding of what kind of Captain America the world needed. Bradley’s return in Captain America: Brave New World, continued exploring his story and the historical weight of discrimination. His character adds a critical layer to the Captain America mythos, serving as both a tragic cautionary tale and a source of strength for the future of the mantle.

5

Captain Carter

What If…? & Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Captain Carter is a multiversal twist on the Captain America legend, introduced in What If…? (2021). In this alternate timeline, Peggy Carter receives the super-soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers, becoming Britain’s own shield-wielding hero. Voiced by Hayley Atwell – who also portrayed Peggy in The First Avenger, Agent Carter, and Avengers: Endgame – this version maintains Peggy’s core bravery while adding the physical power of a super-soldier.

Captain Carter later appeared in live-action in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) as part of the Illuminati, only to be quickly killed by the Scarlet Witch. Despite her short screen time, Carter’s take on the role has gained widespread support and was quickly introduced into the comics. As the MCU explores more timelines, Captain Carter remains a standout example of how legacy and idenтιтy are fluid across the multiverse.

4

Zombie Rogers

What If…? & Marvel Zombies

Zombie Captain America debuted in What If…? episode 5, “What If… Zombies?!” – one of the MCU’s darkest alternate realities. After a quantum virus infects the Avengers, Steve Rogers is among the first heroes to fall, becoming a grotesque version of his iconic self. While still wielding his shield and possessing super-soldier strength, this unᴅᴇᴀᴅ Cap loses all humanity. Despite his terrifying appearance, the story preserves Steve’s recognizable silhouette and fighting style, turning his heroic image into a nightmarish one.

The character made a brutal impression, slicing through former allies and posing a major threat to the surviving heroes. He’s expected to return in Marvel Zombies, an animated spin-off series that expands the horror-centric timeline. Zombie Cap offers a grim inversion of the character’s ideals – once a symbol of hope, now a monster – showing just how far the MCU’s multiverse can bend its heroes.

3

Rogers Hood

What If…? Season 2, Episode 3 “What If… The Avengers ᴀssembled in 1602?”

Rogers Hood appears in What If…? season 2, episode 3, which blends the Robin Hood mythos with Marvel characters in a medieval-inspired alternate universe. In this version, Steve Rogers is recast as “Rogers of the Hood,” a vigilante fighting against tyrannical forces in King Thor’s kingdom. Still with his Super Soldier powers, he similarly embodies Steve’s innate sense of justice, bravery, and rebellion.

His weapon of choice remains his famed shield, but it is beautifully redesigned in a Medieval style. Though more of a fun tribute than a central storyline, Rogers Hood showcases how the essence of Steve’s morality can exist outside traditional superhero tropes. The episode plays with archetypes in a fantasy setting, further emphasizing that Captain America is less about powers and more about standing for the oppressed – no matter the world or era.

2

HYDRA Stomper

3 Episodes Of What If…?

The HYDRA Stomper is What If…?’s alternate take on Steve Rogers when Peggy Carter becomes Captain Carter. In this timeline, Steve – still a skinny but determined young man – fights alongside Peggy in a mᴀssive suit of armor built by Howard Stark. Dubbed the HYDRA Stomper, the suit resembles a proto-Iron Man design and allows Steve to remain a hero despite lacking the serum.

Steve and Peggy form a battle-hardened duo, reversing their traditional MCU roles. Later episodes tease a tragic fate, showing the Stomper reawakened in the future under possible mind control. The idea of a powerless Steve fighting from inside a machine adds a compelling layer to his character, preserving his courage while reimagining his means. It’s a clever nod to both the Iron Man legacy and Steve’s core heroism, showing he doesn’t need powers to be a symbol of resistance.

1

Grant Gardner

1944 Captain America Serial

Long before the MCU, Captain America first appeared in a 15-part serial in 1944 – though not as Steve Rogers. Instead, he was Grant Gardner, a district attorney who donned the costume to fight crime in his city. Played by Dick Purcell, this version had no super-soldier serum, no vibranium shield, and little resemblance to his comic book counterpart. Gardner wielded a gun and tackled mobsters and mad scientists in a noir-style setting.

The serial was made during World War II, intended more as patriotic propaganda than comic book accuracy. Though now largely forgotten or viewed as a curiosity, this serial marked the first live-action appearance of Captain America on screen. While it strayed far from the source material, it paved the way for future adaptations, proving that even in its earliest form, the idea of Captain America could capture the public imagination.

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