2025 marks a whole new era for Captain America. Chris Evans stepped back from the role in 2019 following Avengers: Endgame, where his character Steve Rogers retired from being a superhero, handing the shield over to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). Soon, Mackie will make his big screen debut as our all-new Cap in Brave New World, which comes out in just over a week!
Since retiring from the role of Captain America, Chris Evans has already returned to the MCU once, appearing briefly in Deadpool & Wolverine last year. However, he appeared not as Captain America but rather Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, a character he played way back in Fantastic Four (2005).
Clearly, Evans hasn't completely given up on the idea of appearing in the MCU. It's obvious that Marvel Studios would love to see him come back. I mean, the team have already brought back franchise legend Robert Downey Jr. to play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, which is due out in 2026. As for Chris Evans, well, he's recently vocally announced that he's "happily retired" from superhero duties.
This is despite The Hollywood Reporter — which is about as reputable a source as you can get — revealing in December that Evans would be coming back for the movie. But when asked recently about potentially returning for Doomsday, Evans squashed all talk. “That’s not true, though," he told Esquire. "This always happens. I mean, it happens every couple years — ever since Endgame. I’ve just stopped responding to it. Yeah, no — happily retired!”
Do we believe him? Well, we have a hard time believing anything these Marvel actors say. I mean, only recently, Benedict Cumberbatch denied any involvement in Doomsday, only to do a quick U-Turn a day later and admit that he is involved. Did we believe Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield when they said they weren't in Spider-Man: No Way Home? Nope. These actors have brought it upon themselves.
Anthony Mackie is currently under the impression that Evans isn't reprising his role (or any other) in the MCU. “I talked to Chris a few weeks ago and it wasn’t on the table then," Mackie said. "At least, he didn’t tell me it was on the table, because I asked him. I was like, ‘You know, they said they’re bringing everyone back for the movie. Are you coming back?’ He goes, ‘Oh, you know, I’m happily retired.’”
Will Chris Evans appear in Avengers: Doomsday? I wouldn't rule it out. Mackie will make his big screen debut as the all-new Captain America in Brave New World, premiering in theaters on February 14.
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