Ever since Chris Evans hung up his Captain America shield in Avengers: Endgame, rumors have swirled about his potential return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Steve Rogers. Despite his consistent denials, claiming he's "happily retired," these rumors persist, fueled by a fundamental truth of comic books: no one truly stays dead.
In the world of comics, death and resurrection are common themes, and Steve Rogers is no exception. Following his assassination in Marvel's 2007 Civil War storyline, Bucky Barnes took up the mantle of Captain America. Yet, as is often the case, Rogers was eventually brought back, reclaiming his iconic role. Similarly, when Steve's super-soldier serum was neutralized, turning him into an elderly man, Sam Wilson, also known as The Falcon, stepped into the role. This storyline directly influenced the MCU's transition, leading to Anthony Mackie's portrayal of Captain America in Captain America: Brave New World.
However, just a few years after Wilson took on the role in the comics, Steve's aging was reversed, and he resumed his duties as Captain America. This recurring theme of characters returning to their iconic roles fuels the persistent rumors about Evans' potential comeback. Given this pattern, is Mackie's position as Captain America at risk, or is he the MCU's permanent successor?
"I hope so!" Mackie exclaimed in a recent interview. "I think when you look at Sam Wilson, the duration of him being Captain America depends on how well the movie does. So go see the movie!"
Mackie's confidence in his role is supported by the latest developments in the comics, where Steve and Sam share the Captain America mantle, both wielding shields and wearing the flag. Even if Chris Evans were to return in future films like Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars, Mackie's portrayal of Sam Wilson as Captain America seems secure.
Yet, the MCU differentiates itself from the comics by introducing a greater sense of permanence. Characters like Malaketh, Kaecilius, and Ego stay dead, suggesting that Steve Rogers' departure might indeed be final.
"We're aware that, for some people, it's hard to let go of Steve Rogers," says Nate Moore, a veteran MCU producer. "We love Steve Rogers, he's so fantastic. But I think that by the end of this movie, audiences are going to feel that Sam Wilson is Captain America, full stop."
When asked if Anthony Mackie is the MCU's permanent Captain America, Moore affirmed, "He is. He is. And we're so happy to have him."
From the final episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier onward, Mackie's Sam Wilson is the MCU's Captain America, designed to hold the role until his storyline concludes. This permanence adds a different flavor to the MCU, raising the stakes and ensuring that once characters like Natasha Romanoff, Thanos, and Tony Stark are gone, they stay gone. Steve Rogers, now too old for the role, seems unlikely to return.
"When Tony Stark dies, that's a big deal," says Julius Onah, director of Captain America: Brave New World. "As a storyteller, you're just looking for the best dramatic playground for your actors to bring these characters to life. So it was a real treat for me to be able to [work with Sam’s role] in the MCU."
Onah also expressed excitement about how Sam Wilson will lead the Avengers in the future, emphasizing the importance of the Captain America role in the MCU.
AnswerSee ResultsBy instilling a sense of permanence in its films, Marvel aims to break the cyclical nature of comic book storytelling. "I do think [permanent change] does make the MCU feel different than it did in phase one through three," says Moore. "Sam is Captain America, not Steve Rogers. He's a different person. And I think if you ask Sam who would be on the Avengers, it might be a different collection of people than Steve [would suggest]. So the way Sam might go about it could be completely different."
"But I think those questions are the questions we have fun with too," he adds. "Because we want to explore every avenue – much like our fans do – and make sure if and when the time is right for the Avengers to come back, it's an Avengers that feels different, but also is worthy of the Avengers name."
With many original Avengers now retired or deceased, the MCU's next major event promises to differ significantly from the Infinity War/Endgame era. Yet, one thing remains certain: Anthony Mackie will be at the forefront, leading the Avengers as the one and only Captain America.
