Chris Evans may not be done as Captain America. Here are some possible options to explain his disappearance and return.
It was a sad day for Marvel fans when Chris Evans announced that he was done playing Captain America after the release of the untitled Avengers 4. After 11 years and seven movies (ten if you count his cameos in Ant-Man, Thor: Dark World, and Spider-Man: Homecoming), Evans said he’d be putting away his shield for good. However, director Joe Russo gave the Associated Press a very cryptic quote:
"“I think it was more emotional for him than us, only because, you know, he’s not done yet. And I won’t explain what that means, but the audience will soon understand what I’m talking about,”"
Everyone assumes that Steve Rogers and Tony Stark are going to die at the end of Avengers 4. With this news, Chris Evans may not be done as of yet. This may seem impossible if he “dies”, but there are more than a few possibilities even if he does fall in the next Avengers movie.
Image Source: Marvel Digital Comics
Secret Invasion
The Captain Marvel trailer unveiled the Skrulls via their reveal in Entertainment Weekly and in the film’s first trailer. Comic book fans have speculated that the old woman Carol Danvers was seen punching in the trailer was actually one of the shape-shifting aliens. There’s also the theory that this is the beginning of Marvel’s Secret Invasion. This could explain Captain America’s disappearance after Avengers 4.
In the comics, the Skrulls captured Black Bolt, Professor Xavier, Namor, Dr. Strange, and Tony Stark. While all were in captivity, the Skrulls experimented on them, and even after the heroes escaped, the Skrulls had everything they needed — a list of their powers and secrets that would help them replicate the power set and skills of other beings. This made it easy for the Skrulls to infiltrate earth. This is what could happen to Cap.
Captain America could be captured and used by the Skrulls to jumpstart their plans. There may not be anyone in the world who knows the heroes better than him. The only other person could be Tony Stark, and he may not be done, as well. This would give Evans time off from the movies, since Cap will be experimented on. This could also make his possible return even more exciting.
Image Source: Marvel Digital Comics
Captain America Reborn
After Marvel’s comic book Civil War, Steve Rogers was shot and killed by Sharon Carter. It was the death of Captain America. But during Captain America: Reborn, we find out what really happened. The bullet Sharon Carter shot Steve Rogers with trapped him in time and space. Rogers was reliving moments of his life and some moments that never happened. The plan was for the Red Skull to take over Rogers’ body and use it to come back and rule the world. Red Skull thought he had broken Rogers’ spirit, but Skull was defeated in Rogers’ mind when he refused to give up. Thus, bringing Cap back to life.
A time bullet may be too cheesy for a movie. Thankfully, there is already something in place that could keep Captain America away. The soul stone can be used to trap people inside of it. Even if it looked like Cap was destroyed in a giant blast of energy, he could very well be trapped in soul stone, reliving the same memories as in the comics. Also, this could be a way to getting Red Skull and Captain America to fight in a place where time may not exist.
Image Source: Marvel Digital Comics
Secret Avengers
After the Avengers defeated Norman Osborn and his team of Dark Avengers, H.A.M.M.E.R., and the Hood’s crew, Steve Rogers met with the president. He wanted Rogers to return to his post as a hero, but Rogers first had to make sure the Superhero Registration Act was abolished. Rogers also stopped being a public Avenger. If he was going to run S.H.I.E.L.D., he’d have to give up the mantle of Captain America. Thankfully, Bucky was already wielding the shield with honor. Rogers may not have been a public Avenger, but he was still an Avenger nonetheless.
Rogers drafted Eric O’Grady (Ant-Man), Beast, Valkyrie, Black Widow, War Machine, Nova, and Moon Knight to be part of his Secret Avengers. They’d tackle things that the public Avengers team couldn’t. They were essentially the superhero version of a S.H.I.E.L.D. team. Rogers could leave the spotlight, after being assumed dead, and stealthily save the world. Doing things covertly may have been something he preferred doing while being an enemy of the state, following Captain America: Civil War. This story could also lead to characters like Valkyrie and Black Widow being featured in films on a more consistent basis.
Image Source: Marvel Digital Comics
Time off for saving the world
If anyone needs a vacation, it’s Steve Rogers. Let’s take a look at his life. He was experimented on to help save his country (and the world). He saves the world only to be frozen in a block of ice for decades. After getting thawed out, he has to keep fighting, only to find out Hydra may have been manipulating the world, and to top it all off, the government then turns on him. This doesn’t include watching some of his friends turn to dust, after failing to defeat Thanos. During the period that some believe him to be dead, Rogers may actually use the time to relax.
This may not be as far-fetched as you think. Rogers hasn’t had a day to himself since he became a super soldier. So far, the closest thing he’s had to personal jogging around Washington, DC in the early hours of the morning. To him, that may be relaxing, but he’s still only human. He may need some time to reflect on everything that’s happened in his life and determine what he wants to do next. Don’t be shocked if you see an end-credits scene and it just shows Steve Rogers sitting on a beach.