7 years later, theMCUhas a prime opportunity to pay off one ofAvengers: Endgame’sbest comics references. As a major surprise, it was recently reported that Chris Evans is set to return to the MCU in the nextAvengersmovie. As such, the upcoming MCU crossover could pull off an amazing connection to bothEndgameand the original comics.
As was first reported byTheWrap,Chris Evans will make his MCU return in 2026’sAvengers: Doomsday. However, it’s currently unknown whether he’ll be returning as his original MCU character Captain America, reprising his older Marvel role as Johnny Storm’s Human Torch as he did inDeadpool & Wolverine, or as a completely new character like Robert Downey Jr. who’s set to return as the major Marvel villain Doctor Doom.To that end, the MCU has a great chance with Evans' return to pay off a great comic reference that was first made inAvengers: Endgame.
ReferencingCaptain America: The Winter Soldierand 2017’sSecret EmpireComics Event
InAvengers: Endgame, Steve Rogers' Captain America finds himself in an elevator filled with Hydra agents during the Time Heist and mission to New York in 2012, mirroring the scene from 2014’sCaptain America: The Winter Soldier. However, rather than having to fight them as he did in the sequel,Rogers whispers"Hail Hydra"in Agent Sitwell’s ear, making him think that he’s also a member of their secret terrorist organization embedded within SHIELD.
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An unshakable moral hero like Captain America saying “Hail Hydra” was also a clear reference to Marvel Comics’Secret Empirecrossover. In the comics' crossover event,Captain America was revealed to be a secret Hydra sleeper agent, the result of the Red Skull having manipulated reality. Becoming known as “Hydra Supreme”, Rogers took over the entire country and subdued many of his fellow heroes before he was eventually defeated and the original Captain America restored. To that end, this is a great comic reference the MCU can now take even further with the upcomingAvengers: Doomsday.
Avengers: Doomsday’s Chris Evans Casting Could Pay Off Endgame’s Reference
Becoming “Hydra Supreme” For Real This Time
Considering the current Multiverse Saga which is set to culminate withDoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars,Chris Evans returning as a legitimate “Hydra Supreme” variant of Captain America is well within the realm of possibility. After all,Robert Downey Jr. is returning as a major villain with Doctor Doom, so why not Evans? That said, there are plenty of other characters Evans could return to play, if not the original Steve Rogers he once played. However, it’s hard to deny that playing the dark opposite of the First Avenger would be very exciting, while also serving as some excellent payoff forAvengers: Endgame’sreference.
Avengers: Doomsday
Cast
Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face off against Victor von Doom - played by the returning Robert Downey Jr.. Avengers 5 will also mark the beginning of phase 6 of the MCU.
