It stands to reason that Captain America: Brave New World will also heavily reference Rogers throughout the movie, although the trailer already sees President Ross invoke his name at least once. Many of these references are thanks to Rogers: The Musical being part of the furniture in New York, but it’s hard to overlook the prevalence of the show. Looking at it another way, if Marvel Studios wanted to spotlight its newer characters even more, then it might have been prudent for the franchise to avoid this many nods to retired characters.

The Many Steve Rogers References In MCU Phases 4 & 5 Set Up Chris Evans’ Return

Marvel Seems To Be Working To Keep Steve Rogers Relevant

Instead, it almost feels as though the MCU has been keeping Cap in the zeitgeist on purpose. Captain America: Brave New World will be released almost six years after Avengers: Endgame but will explore Cap’s legacy similarly to how Spider-Man: Far From Home did with Iron Man. After all, Marvel Studios has a longstanding tradition of teasing upcoming plots – with the most obvious being via post-credits scenes. I’m now wondering if that’s what the studio intended with these references, utilized to herald Cap’s return down the line.

It’s one thing having Chris Evans return to portray a completely different character, but another entirely to precede such a return with repeated references to his most famous role.

While there is no confirmation on whether Chris Evans’ Avengers: Doomsday role will be a Steve Rogers variant, I think these references lend further credence to that ᴀssumption. It’s one thing having Chris Evans return to portray a completely different character, but another entirely to precede such a return with repeated references to his most famous role. Johnny Storm’s arrival in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, for instance, was part of an expertly crafted joke that will likely remain in that irreverent, meta territory and not be brought up again.

On the other hand, if Chris Evans is portraying another character entirely, then I think Marvel can still capitalize on years’ worth of references. The MCU is about to highlight the vast implications of the multiverse in the Multiverse Saga’s final phase, and if Evans returns to face Sam and Bucky again as another character, then it needs to address his resemblance to Earth-616’s Steve Rogers in a fittingly emotional way. Still, I’m convinced that there is one route that the MCU must take with Evans’ return – and that is making him a variant.

Chris Evans’ MCU Return Must Be As A Marvel Villain To Make The Most Of The MCU’s References

A Villainous Captain America Would Carry A Lot Of Weight

The many references to Steve Rogers in the Multiverse Saga all share a particular standout feature in highlighting his virtues. Even the humorous reference to Steve Rogers’ Sєx life in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is borne out of Jen’s disbelief that the incorruptible Steve Rogers might have a carnal side. It is what defines him and separates him from the likes of Tony Stark, whose heroism is still marred by certain foibles that make it easier to see his variant taking the wrong path and becoming Doctor Doom.

It’s far harder to see Steve Rogers take that path, which would increase the emotional impact of seeing a villainous Rogers on-screen. Watching this variant capitalize on Steve Rogers’ righteous legacy in order to manipulate and overcome his opponents would be tragic, but it would uplift Earth-616’s Steve Rogers by comparison. It isn’t even as if Avengers: Doomsday would have to work particularly hard to deliver a character as unique as Doom, as an evil Captain America is so beyond the pale that it works on its own.

The prevailing theory surrounding Evans’ return is that he will portray Hydra Supreme, a Steve Rogers variant who, as the moniker suggests, fights for Hydra’s interests and poses as Captain America to further his nefarious goals.

Thankfully, there is a comic book precedent for exactly that. The prevailing theory surrounding Evans’ return is that he will portray Hydra Supreme, a Steve Rogers variant who, as the moniker suggests, fights for Hydra’s interests and poses as Captain America to further his nefarious goals. Given Marvel Studios has already introduced Evans in another role that isn’t Cap with Johnny Storm, I feel as though it would be almost nonsensical for the MCU to not take advantage of this opportunity before it potentially sidelines multiversal narratives altogether.