Marvel Studios' Avengers: Doomsday is on the horizon and there will be a changing of the guard when the film arrives in movie theaters. The upcoming film will be the 39th feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and it will see the titular team of heroes unite to take on Doctor Doom (played by returning MCU star Robert Downey Jr.). It's safe to say that viewers are in for an unforgettable adventure.
This one will be all about bringing a close to the Multiverse Saga, which has been all about change in and of itself. The MCU has been attempting to showcase the next generation of heroes, with a lot of torch-passing going on throughout the multiple movies and TV shows. And now, ahead of Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel has made it very clear that one of the most significant has officially taken place.
Sam Wilson officially replaces Steve Rogers as Captain America in Avengers: Doomsday
Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers may both be appearing in Avengers: Doomsday, but make no mistake about it: There is only one Captain America in the movie. While Marvel Studios have been heavily relying on Chris Evans' return to the role of the OG Cap, they have been increasingly clear in reminding us that he won't be taking up the shield or donning his iconic suit of armor: For those now belong to Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson.
This won't come as a surprise to long-term Marvel fans who have been keeping up with the MCU since the Infinity Saga's conclusion with 2019's Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Steve officially retired the mantle in the former movie, handing the shield over to Sam and living a long happy life with Peggy Carter/ Sam would then evolve his Falcon persona in Disney Plus series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, becoming the new Captain America in that show's series finale - setting the stage for his own standalone adventure in 2025's Captain America: Brave New World.
Sam was then tasked by President Ross with restarting the Avengers in case the world needs protection from greater threats. That leads directly into Avengers: Doomsday, when he will have seemingly reassembled the original remnants of the team with new heroes like Shang-Chi and Shuri's Black Panther (while also uniting with the New Avengers, a.k.a. the Thunderbolts). And yet, the return of Chris Evans' Steve Rogers has thrown his role into question... even if it shouldn't.
While Sam did get the chance to headline his own movie, he never really got to lead the MCU franchise in the way that the original Captain America did - that is more down to the sheer size of the Multiverse Saga, which expanded far beyond the reaches of the Infinity Saga with more movies, TV shows, and Special Presentations. When he will be finally able to do that as the Avengers' leader in Doomsday, Steve is now back too. However, he won't be picking back up the mantle.
Steve is not Captain America in Avengers: Doomsday
Chris Evans' return as Steve Rogers has been rumored for years but Marvel Studios officially confirmed that it would happen in the first Avengers: Doomsday character teaser released at the end of 2025, showcasing Steve holding his and Peggy Carter's son. Although he looks at the Captain America suit, he doesn't put it on in the clip - which really sets the stage for his arc in the upcoming movie.
Steve has featured in both main teaser trailers for the movie and, both times, he looks extremely different to his Captain America persona. There is no suit, no shield, no clean-shaven Steve Rogers look; just a super soldier with long hair, a beard, and a black T-shirt. It's a different look and it has divided people, with many questioning why the MCU's greatest fighter would go into the franchise's biggest battle without his suit of armor. It's an excellent question and, logistically, there isn't really an answer for it (other than the fact that he now wields Thor's hammer Mjolnir) but, symbolically, there is a very good answer for it: It's Marvel's way of confirming that Steve hasn't come back as Captain America. He's just Steve Rogers.
There have been rumors about what kind of role Steve will be playing. Some reports have claimed that he will portray the Nomad persona - the alternate identity Steve takes on after abandoning the Captain America mantle in the Marvel Comics - while some have claimed that he's actually playing Captain Hydra - the evil variation of the character who will turn on the Avengers. Considering that Mjolnir still considers him worthy, we can probably rule the latter out.
The truth is that Steve has simply just left his days as Cap in the past, fully aware of the decision that he plans on making as an older man (giving Sam the Captain America mantle and shield). Therefore, out of respect to Sam, it ensures that his authority as the new Captain America isn't challenged. And, from a real-world perspective, it won't look like Marvel Studios is going back on itself and taking the mantle away from Sam. Not only would that be disrespectful, it would completely undermine the story of succession that the Multivers Saga was telling over the past few years.
With that in mind, Steve Rogers will be back in Avengers: Doomsday; he will cross paths with Sam Wilson, the man that he chose to be his successor as the Star-Spangled Man. He will also cross paths with the man that the US government briefly decided should be his successor, John Walker (who is now one of the New Avengers as US Agent). But he won't be back with his shield, his mask, or his star-spangled uniform, as Marvel has made it very clear that those now belong to Sam Wilson.
Steve Rogers is there to battle for the life that he chose in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame and to save the multiverse as one of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. That's who Steve Rogers always was (and still is), and he doesn't need to be Captain America to bring out the best of the Avengers. Steve is the best of the Avengers - and that's more than enough.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026.
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