Bucky Barnes actor, Sebastian Stan, recently commented on the return of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday, and I’m now inclined to agree with his statements. 2024 was stacked with huge developments for the MCU despite it housing just one movie and a handful of Disney+ shows. The pivot from Kang as the Multiverse Saga’s arch-villain to Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom is huge and intensified by the recent confirmation that Chris Evans would also be returning in an as-yet-undisclosed role, though the prevailing theory is that he’ll portray a Steve Rogers variant.

While having variants of erstwhile MCU stars was always expected in the context of the Multiverse Saga, this hasn’t stopped the return of the MCU’s biggest stars from being pretty controversial. I’ll happily admit that my excitement about seeing more of RDJ and Chris Evans was slightly tempered by the realization that this could diminish the impact of their respective departures. Nevertheless, this trepidation has been steadily ᴀssuaged as those involved with the MCU, like Sebastian Stan, offer their two cents on the development – and now I’m more excited than ever.

I Was Skeptical About Robert Downey Jr And Chris Evans Returning To The MCU

The Decision Can Easily Be Read As An Act Of Desperation

There’s no denying that Robert Downey Jr.’s face reveal at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con was a thrilling moment. Very few expected that the de facto protagonist of the MCU’s Infinity Saga would make a return as the Multiverse Saga’s arch-villain. Still, the revelation packed a sting in its tail as fans like me started to wonder whether Marvel Studios had run out of ideas. After all, RDJ’s star power is inarguable, and a cynical reading of the situation would suggest that this was Marvel attempting to recoup recent losses by deploying its most dependable star, death be damned.

The same can be said for Chris Evans, whose tenure as the MCU’s Captain America ostensibly came to a satisfying conclusion at the end of Avengers: Endgame. After successfully returning the Infinity Stones to their rightful places in time, Steve Rogers finally looked out for himself and decided to remain in the past and live a long and seemingly happy life with Peggy Carter. It was a poignant end for the character defined by his selflessness, and the confirmation of his return threatens to shake its poignancy.

Sebastian Stan Offered A New Perspective On RDJ And Evans’ MCU Returns

Sebastian Stan Suggests That Marvel Is Being Open-Minded

Sebastian Stan recently spoke to Entertainment Tonight and offered a different take on Marvel Studios’ decision. Rather than consider the move as motivated by desperation, Stan suggests that it is indicative of what he loves about the studio, stating that this is instead a bold move. Stan ᴀsserts that Marvel refuses to pen itself in by kowtowing to expectations and that the decision to have RDJ and Evans return is an example of open-mindedness and exploring possibilities. Stan’s full quote is as follows:

“I think what I appreciate is that there’s always an open way of thinking. [Marvel Studios] don’t shut themselves down or put themselves in any pocket. They just want to keep exploring, and that’s what I think leads to great, better movies.”

Stan’s comments were in response to the question “What do you make of the Marvel Universe saying “we can just do whatever the heck we want”?“. It’s a question many may have thought when learning that Marvel Studios is bringing two characters whose arcs have ostensibly come to an end. At the same time, I think it’s worth noting that within the Multiverse Saga, and the implications of the multiverse and the variants it houses, the studio really is at liberty to do what it wants – and Stan’s response has me convinced that this is for the best.

Sebastian Stan Is Right, Marvel Is Doing Something No One Has Ever Done Before

Bringing Back Veteran Actors In New Roles Is A Bold Move

Sebastian Stan’s comments flip the arguments of detractors on their head. Announcing the return of these actors was always going to be met with a certain measure of backlash, and I don’t think this notion has escaped Marvel Studios. Instead, I think the studio is wielding the tools at its disposal to venture into yet more uncharted waters by flying in the face of convention and expectations.

There is no denying that it has sparked a healthy discussion over the minutia of RDJ and Evans’ respective returns. Stan seems to have faith that Marvel Studios has the best possible narrative justification in mind. Short of further details about the nature of RDJ’s Doom and whether Chris Evans will be portraying a Captain America variant, it’s difficult to suggest that the decision is purely cynical or unimaginative. For all we know, this could become the latest example of controversial MCU decisions that age fantastically.

I’m not suggesting that resurrecting ᴅᴇᴀᴅ characters is particularly pioneering – in fact, this is straight out of the Marvel Comics playbook. It can’t be denied, however, that the cinematic sphere is an entirely different beast, and the narrative throughline of the MCU is far more defined than Marvel Comics’. Nevertheless, by virtue of it being a cinematic faux pas, the move to bring RDJ back is unconventional thinking and indicative of how Marvel Studios isn’t scared of thinking outside the box.

I Think Avengers: Doomsday And Secret Wars Could Be Great Movies

Obvious Resemblances Could Give Rise To A Brand New Dynamic

The second half of Stan’s response, “They just want to keep exploring, and that’s what I think leads to great, better movies,” sticks with me. It might seem counter-intuitive to describe RDJ’s return as particularly exploratory given his centrality to the MCU, but I’d argue that this could actually be what makes Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars so compelling and distinct from Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Specifically, the MCU will be capitalizing on the multiverse to introduce an entirely new dynamic to the MCU.

The MCU’s rules on variants are pretty nebulous at this point. Loki established that variants can look identical or wildly different, with Alligator Loki establishing that variants can even be entirely different species. ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, meanwhile, established the existence of multiversal doppelgängers who aren’t variants, as is seemingly the case with Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm, who is not considered to be a variant of Earth-616’s Steve Rogers despite their physical resemblance.

Whichever is the case for Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, I don’t think for a minute that his obvious physical resemblance will be swept under the rug. Instead, I confidently believe that Marvel will use this fact to deliver a compelling story beat. It will likely see the likes of Peter Parker and Rhodey wrestle with the mind-bending fact that a person who looks just like Tony Stark is an unabashed villain. This could lead to a heartrending interaction that simply wouldn’t have been possible with another actor portraying Doctor Doom.

Again, it’s impossible to know if this is what Marvel intends without learning further details about Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. After all, there is the issue of having Doctor Doom reveal his face and flout one of his most defining characteristics to contend with if the scene above is to be achieved. Nevertheless, I think that the return of Chris Evans in the same movie helps to cement the possibility that Marvel is about to fully explore the implications of the multiverse, and I’m here for it.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Captain America: Brave New World

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  February 14, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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Source: Entertainment Tonight/YouTube