Marvel Already Proved Chris Evans’ MCU Return Won’t Take Away From Anthony Mackie as Captain America

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The movie Avengers: Endgame gave Steve Rogers a touching farewell. After putting the Infinity Stones back where they belonged, he chose to live out his life in the past with Peggy Carter, eventually returning as an old man. Content with his choices, he then passed the Captain America shield to his friend Sam Wilson, who officially took on the role in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Now, as the Multiverse Saga unfolds, Sam is firmly established as the new Captain America, even starring in his own film, Captain America: Brave New World, this year.

I’ve been so happy to watch Sam really step into his own as a hero, but it looks like Marvel isn’t quite finished with Steve Rogers! The first teaser for Avengers: Doomsday confirmed Chris Evans is coming back to play him again. It’s awesome news, but I’ve seen some fans worry that this might take away from Anthony Mackie and Sam’s journey as Captain America. Honestly, though, Marvel has a good track record, and I trust they’ll handle it in a way that works for everyone.

MCU Fans Have Shown They Will Accept Multiple Versions of the Same Hero

The current Multiverse Saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has opened the door for heroes to encounter alternate versions of themselves, making the idea of two Captain Americas appearing in a future Avengers: Doomsday movie perfectly plausible. Audiences have already shown they enjoy these kinds of stories, as demonstrated by the massive success of Spider-Man: No Way Home. That film’s popularity stemmed from bringing back actors who previously played Spider-Man, creating a nostalgic and exciting experience for fans.

It’s often hard to satisfy fans with cameos and nostalgic references, but Spider-Man: No Way Home does it exceptionally well. The different versions of Peter Parker and his villains aren’t just there for fun; they actively contribute to the story and help Tom Holland’s Peter Parker grow and understand what it truly means to be Spider-Man. Importantly, director Jon Watts kept the focus on Holland’s story. While Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield appear later in the film, they support Holland’s journey instead of taking over it. The filmmakers could have easily gotten lost in fan service, but they wisely kept the spotlight on Holland’s Peter, with the older Spider-Men acting as mentors to help him along the way.

The movie No Way Home was a huge success, earning praise from both audiences and critics. It demonstrated that the idea of a multiverse could be used to create a genuinely moving story about courage and selflessness. No Way Home showed a path forward for Doomsday – specifically how to handle the return of older actors. It proved that bringing back beloved characters doesn’t have to overshadow the current lead. Since audiences loved seeing multiple Spider-Men team up, there’s a good chance they’ll enjoy two Captain Americas working together. It will be exciting to see how Steve and Sam interact now that they’re equals – Sam used to be a supporting character, but now they’re on the same level. No Way Home featured some fantastic moments between the Spider-Men, and Doomsday aims to create similar memorable interactions between the Captain Americas.

Marvel addressed fan concerns about Steve Rogers’ return in the Doomsday trailer by confirming he will be back, but clarifying he’s no longer Captain America. While Chris Evans will likely reprise the role at some point, Marvel is emphasizing that Sam Wilson remains the primary Captain America. Steve’s return doesn’t diminish Sam’s position, similar to how the appearances of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield didn’t change the fact that Tom Holland is still Spider-Man. Marvel initially confirmed months ago that Sam would be taking the lead as Captain America.

Sam Wilson Leads an Avengers Team in Doomsday

A major focus of Sam Wilson’s story in Captain America: Brave New World is bringing the Avengers back together. By the film’s end, he decides it’s time to re-form Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and he enlists his friend Joaquin Torres to join. The post-credits scene hints at a legal battle over the Avengers name between Sam’s new team and another group calling themselves the New Avengers, confirming he’s successfully created a new roster. While the full team hasn’t been revealed, we know Sam is leading a group of Avengers.

Sam Wilson’s team of Avengers is only one of several superhero groups Doomsday will need to consider, alongside teams like the Fantastic Four and the X-Men. However, having his own team shows just how crucial Sam’s role will be. No matter who ends up on the team – Disney may have given some hints recently – they’ll be relying on Sam for leadership as the fight against Doctor Doom intensifies. This is a new challenge, but Sam has faced tough situations before and consistently proven his strength. He’s definitely capable of leading a team of heroes against what might be the MCU’s most powerful villain yet.

I’m really excited to hear that Mackie is confirmed for Avengers: Secret Wars! They’re starting filming this summer, and it’s set to come out in 2027. He’s said he wants to play Captain America for another decade, which tells me Marvel clearly values him and isn’t planning to push him aside anytime soon. Even with Steve Rogers returning, I fully expect Sam Wilson to be a major player, not just in finishing up the Multiverse Saga, but in everything Marvel does going forward. Secret Wars feels like a fresh start, and while Brave New World wasn’t perfect, Mackie has been consistently great as Sam. I’m hoping he’ll be a leading man in a much stronger movie next time, and it sounds like Marvel is setting things up for that to happen!

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2025-12-30 23:41