The world is talking about Chris Evans. It's not the first time that the legendary actor has dominated the pop-culture conversation (and it certainly won't be the last!) but there is something special about this one. See, the Marvel Cinematic Universe star retired from the most famous franchise in the world six years ago, hanging up Captain America's shield in Avengers: Endgame back in 2019. And yet, fans have never stopped speculating that he might return to the MCU one day (or should we say "return again" as he did make a cameo appearance as his other Marvel character, Johnny Storm, in 2024's Deadpool and Wolverine).
The speculation is seemingly no longer needed after today, as the first teaser trailer for Avengers: Doomsday has leaked online, and it has left the internet wondering if the Star-Spangled Man will truly be returning for one more adventure. It sounds outlandish, for this is the same movie that will bring back Evans' Avengers costar Robert Downey Jr. (albeit in the new role of Doctor Doom), but could we really see the two MCU titans on-screen together again.
It might not be that outlandish after all.
Chris Evans is reportedly set to return in Avengers: Doomsday
While Chris Evans is just one of many Marvel stars rumored to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, his return has always seemed a little more, well, solid than the rest of them. Although Marvel Studios has never officially confirmed his involvement in the movie (remember that official cast announcement?!), there were reports that he was set to return.
The Wrap reported at the end of last year that the Captain America star would be reprising his role in the 2026 movie, while Deadline confirmed that Hayley Atwell - who played Steve Rogers' love and fellow hero Peggy Carter - would also be returning for the film. Neither of the names were officially referenced by Marvel in any kind of announcement, but it led fans to believe one thing - Avengers: Doomsday would take us back to Steve and Peggy's happy ending in Avengers: Endgame.
Although both stars have reappeared in Marvel projects since then, they haven't returned to those specific roles. Evans played the Johnny Storm variant in Deadpool and Wolverine while Atwell voiced a Peggy variant, Captain Carter, in animated series What If...? (and played an alternate, live-action version in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness). But a number of reports began to suggest that the MCU's versions of Steve and Peggy could return in the upcoming film, with insiders reporting that Doctor Doom himself will take issue with their happy ending.
Avengers: Endgame closed out with Steve returning to the past to retire in bliss with Peggy. Now, this apparent Avengers: Doomsday trailer leak takes us back to the house that they lived their lives in, actually showing us Evans' hero with a son - or so the reports say. The trailer also reportedly closes out with "Steve Rogers will return in Avengers: Doomsday" before featuring a countdown clock to the release of the official, full-length trailer.
Insider Daniel Richtman, who has a history of being extremely reliable, has since taken to social media to seemingly confirm that Steve will be a focus of the film, going so far as to say that Marvel made the decision to feature him in the first teaser trailer to "establish him as the lead character in Avengers Doomsday". That would be quite the game-changer if true, especially as Evans' name wasn't among the multitude of Marvel stars that the studio officially confirmed would appear in the film.
There are also reports that Evans will simply be returning as Steve Rogers and that the character won't don his iconic Captain America uniform as he gave up the shield to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) - who is now the MCU's Captain America.
So, in a way, this Avengers: Doomsday trailer has answered one question, but left us with a whole lot more.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026.