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Chris Evans’ Surprise ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Return Sparks Debate Over Captain America’s Legacy
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Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated "Avengers: Doomsday" has taken its promotion into cinemas with a new trailer that quietly but decisively confirms the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, years after the character’s apparent farewell in "Avengers: Endgame". The trailer, currently reported as playing ahead of theatrical screenings of "Avatar: Fire and Ash", had not yet been released online at the time of reporting, but detailed descriptions from attendees and entertainment outlets have quickly circulated worldwide.
According to these descriptions, the footage opens with an unidentified character riding a motorcycle home, then entering a house and retrieving an old superhero costume. As the camera moves in, the character is revealed to be Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans, now living a domestic life and shown holding a baby that he shares with Peggy Carter, portrayed in the MCU by Hayley Atwell. A title card then confirms the moment many fans had speculated about for years: “Steve Rogers will return in "Avengers: Doomsday".”
Entertainment outlets report that the trailer notably does not refer to Rogers as Captain America, suggesting that Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson remains the current Captain America in MCU continuity. This detail aligns with Marvel Studios’ earlier positioning of Wilson as the new Captain America in the Disney+ series "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" on Disney+ and the 2025 feature film "Captain America: Brave New World", where Mackie leads the story as the shield-bearing hero.
The film itself is being framed as one of Marvel’s largest ensemble projects to date. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who previously helmed "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame", are attached to "Avengers: Doomsday" and have described the project in earlier presentations as “bigger than anything we have ever done,” emphasizing the scale of the cast and the magnitude of the threat facing the heroes. Casting reports indicate that Robert Downey Jr. will return to the franchise as Victor Von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom, positioning the former Iron Man actor as the central antagonist. GameStar, a German gaming and film outlet, also notes that the film will feature characters from the "X-Men" and "Fantastic Four" franchises, made possible by The Walt Disney Company’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019, which brought those character rights under the Marvel Studios banner.
The trailer’s confirmation of Evans’ return has led to sharply divided reactions among Marvel fans and commentators. Many viewers on social media platforms such as X have expressed excitement, arguing that the franchise has struggled to recapture the cultural momentum of the pre-"Endgame" era and that bringing back foundational characters could restore enthusiasm for the MCU. Others, including fans and media writers, have criticized the move as a sign of creative and financial anxiety, interpreting the decision as an overreliance on legacy characters rather than a commitment to newer heroes and stories.
A particularly prominent line of criticism centers on what the decision could signal for Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, who became Captain America with Steve Rogers’ explicit endorsement at the end of "Avengers: Endgame" and whose arc has emphasized a Black hero stepping into a historically white mantle. Online reactions cited by The Independent describe anger and disappointment from viewers who feel that Sam Wilson has been “done … dirty” by Marvel, arguing that years of narrative investment in Wilson’s journey risk being overshadowed by the return of the original Captain America.
As for timing, "Avengers: Doomsday" is currently scheduled for release in late 2026, with The Independent reporting a date of 2026-12-18 in the United States and outlets such as GameStar citing 2026-12-16 for Germany. Until Marvel Studios publishes the trailer on its official channels, including YouTube and the Marvel.com website, discussion around Steve Rogers’ return—and what it means for Sam Wilson, newer heroes, and hopes for more expansive LGBTQ+ representation—will likely continue to be shaped by in-theater reactions and secondhand descriptions.
