Summary
The news that Chris Evans will be returning to theMarvel Cinematic Universeas part of theAvengers: Doomsdaycast surprised most people. Audiences presumed he was done with Marvel movies, yet he’s now expected to be involved in one of the biggest MCU movies of all time in 2026.
While full details about what Evans will be doing inAvengers: Doomsdayremain unclear, it instantly got people talking about what it means for Anthony Mackie. He picked up the mantel of being Captain America post-Avengers: Endgame; therefore, seeing Evans return has led to a lot of questions.
How Marvel Could Undermine The New Captain America
Bringing Evans back to the MCU in a significant way has caused plenty of talking points among fans of the franchise and genuine concern about how it could negatively impact things. Whilehis cameo inDeadpool & Wolverinewas well received, that moment didn’t impact the overall MCU storyline, as his portrayal of Johnny Storm was more of a wink to old-school fans than anything else. However, seeing him return more significantly can undermine what Marvel is trying to do with Mackie as Captain America.He was handed the shield and the responsibility of the character post-Avengers: Endgame, and his first feature movie in that role is releasing next year.
However,Captain America: Brave New Worldhashad its fair share of issueswith reshoots, and if the movie doesn’t perform well, then bringing Evans back so soon could feel like Mackie is being undermined. The MCU creatives need to throw their full confidence behind Mackie in this role so that people buy into it and take him seriously as Captain America so the character can continue to live on without Evans. However, Evans coming back and potentially having a bigger role than Mackie inAvengers: Doomsdaywould just push the idea that he’s still seen as a bigger deal and a more important actor in the franchise, which will be problematic.
Why They Must Have A Scene Together
Avengers: Doomsdaywill involve many charactersand powerful actors, making it challenging to give ample time to everything that fans want to see. However, Marvel must ensure that a scene between these two actors happens because audiences will demand it. The moment that Evans arrives in the film will lead to people questioning if they’re going to interact, and not delivering that could lead to frustration.
Rather than letting people wonder or question what would happen if they did interact, it would be better for Marvel to make it happen, even if it’s only one scene in the entire film. It’s going to be crucial for thecurrent version of Captain Americato have that moment, regardless of which way the interaction goes. Marvel shouldn’t overlook the importance of making Mackie’s version of the character feel important in this film after so many years of Captain America just being naturally seen as a lead role while Mackie has been in the background.
How It Could Go Down Between Them
How a scene between Evans and Mackie goes down will depend on what type of role Evans has in the movie. There are rumors he’s playing the character of Nomad, but whether he’s going to be a variant brought in from the multiverse or the Steve Rogers that has been part of the entire timeline coming backusing the Infinity Stonesremains unclear. This means that it’s up in the air whether he will be a hero or a villain inAvengers: Doomsday.
The idea of Marvel bringing back familiar faces to fight the current heroes is interesting, and that’s at least been hinted at with Robert Downey Jr.taking on the part of Doctor Doom. If Evans portrays a villain, then the obvious scene for the film would be for him to fight the current version of Captain America. Similar styles create an intense moment, and seeing Captain America as the one to vanquish him is the moment when he feels like the true hero and the real version of the character. However, if Evans' character ends up being a hero, then having him talk to Mackie and pass the torch, in a sense, could create a powerful scene that would be important moving forward.
Whether they fight against each other or have a heart-to-heart moment about the responsibility of being this character remains to be seen. Still, either way, the importance of their interaction is clear. There is an elephant in the room when these two men are back in the same movie, and Marvel must ensure they handle it properly. This is the time to stamp a seal of approval on Mackie and his version of Captain America, and with huge audiences guaranteed,Avengers: Doomsdayis the right film to do it.
