Chris Evans’ Captain America return was set up by the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s biggest movie so far, as a new Avengers: Doomsday theory explains how Steve Rogers’ latest appearance could tie into the upcoming MCU film. Evans was last seen as Captain America in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, which was the perfect finale for his version of the character in many ways.

Captain America finally wielded Mjolnir, said “Avengers ᴀssemble,” and led the MCU heroes to victory against Thanos. I believe he deserved the ending he got, with Steve Rogers going back in time to stay in the past with Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter, pᴀssing on the shield to Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson. That said, Avengers: Doomsday‘s story could bring him back.

Sure, Evans was not one of the actors announced for the Avengers: Doomsday cast in Marvel’s surprising live-stream. However, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has since revealed that not all actors from the next Avengers movie were announced. Evans’ return seems like the case where the studio might want to keep it a secret for trailers or the film itself.

Chris Evans Is Reportedly In Avengers: Doomsday Despite His Negative Comments

Another Key MCU Star Is Also Said To Return Alongside The Captain America Actor

Months before the cast of Avengers: Doomsday was announced, a major report about Evans’ future in the franchise sent shockwaves throughout the internet. In December 2024, Chris Evans was reported to have been cast in Avengers: Doomsday. While rumors about the role he could be playing ranged from Captain America to Captain HYDRA and beyond, the role was undisclosed.

Not long after, another MCU report claimed that Peggy Carter actress Hayley Atwell had also joined the Avengers: Doomsday cast. Given how Evans and Atwell’s characters were last seen together in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, more fuel was added to the fire of Evans’ MCU return. However, Marvel Studios has yet to comment on the actors’ possible return, though Evans has.

Speaking with ScreenRant‘s own Liam Crowley for Materialists, where he co-starred with MCU Reed Richards actor Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans claimed that he was not in Avengers: Doomsday. According to Evans, while he talks to the Russo Brothers and Robert Downey Jr. all the time, he is not “back with the band.” Evans did say it was “sad to be away.”

Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Opens The Door To Captain America’s Return In Different Ways

Chris Evans Could Play Different Versions Of Steve Rogers

Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Chris Evans’ Captain America were the two faces of the MCU. With Downey now back in the franchise to play Doctor Doom in the next two Avengers movies, the door is wide open for Evans to also return. After the actor reprised his Johnny Storm role in 2024’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, that seems likely.

Evans could just be lying to preserve the surprise of his return in Avengers: Doomsday. With Downey playing Doctor Doom, the Avengers face their biggest challenge yet. Recruiting Evans’ Captain America, the team’s original leader, to stop the villain makes a lot of sense. Add in the fact Doom looks like Tony Stark, and Steve Rogers’ return is even more likely.

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Chris Evans might also not be coming back as Captain America. While that seems like the ideal way for his return, Downey’s casting as Doctor Doom offers an alternative. Evans could be playing the evil Captain HYDRA version of Steve Rogers from Marvel Comics, siding with Doom. That could also lead to the whole original Avengers cast returning in evil roles.

Avengers: Doomsday Theory – We Already Saw Chris Evans’ Captain America After The Upcoming Avengers Movies

Captain America Returning The Infinity Stones Could Finally Lead To Something

While I think Captain HYDRA would be an interesting way to bring back Evans, I’m not convinced that is how the MCU will go about it. A new Avengers: Doomsday theory seems like an exciting path for the actor to continue playing Captain America and tie it to his last appearance. In Avengers: Endgame, Steve decided to stay in the past.

However, we only saw him already dancing with Peggy in the past, and before that, as an old man in the present, after he lived a whole life with her and then came back to his original timeline. Marvel never actually showed Steve returning the Infinity Stones or arriving in the past and meeting Peggy.

Based on that, the new Avengers: Doomsday theory suggests that when Steve is dancing with Peggy, he has already been part of the events of the next two Avengers movies. Chris Evans’ Captain America could have been roped into helping the MCU’s heroes by being plucked from time when he was returning the Infinity Stones. After helping, he stays with Peggy.

How Chris Evans’ Return Can Lead To The Future Of The Captain America Franchise

Marvel Studios’ First Captain America Movie Without Him Underperformed

If Evans were to return as Captain America in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, then it could be just what the hero’s franchise needs. Recently, Anthony Mackie’s Captain America: Brave New World underperformed at the box office. At a roundtable with members of the press, Marvel’s Kevin Feige addressed it. Feige believes Evans’ absence was behind the Captain America movie’s failure.

Evans’ return as Captain America would give fans more adventures with a key member of the original Avengers. Seeing Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers team-up as Captain America at the same time could also be the kind of push audiences need to show up for Sam’s subsequent solo films. Avengers: Doomsday can boost multiple MCU franchises.