Why MCU Fans Can’t Let Steve Rogers Go

A lot of people want Chris Evans to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, leaving Marvel Studios with a sizable Steve Rogers' Captain America problem. Since his debut in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve Rogers has been one of the main characters in the world's biggest movie franchise. Chris Evans made eight appearances in as many years, and his characterization of the Star Spangled Man became one of the MCU's biggest successes. At a time when DC struggled with Superman's goodness, Captain America became the moral compass for the Avengers.

Steve Rogers' MCU story ended in Avengers: Endgame, as he traveled through time to return the Infinity Stones, grew old with the love of his life Peggy Carter, and then gave the Captain America shield and mantle to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). This has not stopped the rumor mill from churning about Chris Evans' possible return, creating an ongoing belief that Steve Rogers' Captain America is coming back. There have been reports that Chris Evans is returning for a secret Marvel project, which he continues to deny. Marvel Studios has yet to reveal what happened to Steve Rogers after Avengers: Endgame, with some MCU projects suggesting he died. But the possibilities of the multiverse have only further fueled the belief within the MCU fandom that the original Captain America is coming back.

On the one hand, it is easy to understand why audiences want to see more of Steve Rogers in the MCU. He is a fan-favorite character and one of the most recognizable heroes. However, what Marvel has already done with his story and the future of the Captain America mantle with Sam Wilson makes it very difficult to imagine a return being done successfully. For various reasons, another appearance by Steve Rogers would be a significant problem for Marvel Studios.

Steve Rogers' MCU Story Was The Best

Chris Evans as Steve Rogers in Captain America: Civil War

The MCU nailed Steve Rogers' story almost right out the gate, and Marvel Studios continued to hold a steady hand on his arc going forward. Despite the superhero transformation of his body, Steve Rogers retained the heart and fight of the skinny kid from Brooklyn who was never afraid to stand up for what he felt was right. That meant going against Nazis and Red Skull in World War II, taking down SHIELD once Hydra's infiltration was revealed, failing to fight Winter Soldier since Bucky used to be his best friend, fighting Iron Man and other Avengers when the Sokovia Accords were put into place, and working with the MCU's greatest heroes to protect Earth from cosmic threats. Throughout it all, Steve served as a bright light of what America is supposed to be all about and worked tirelessly to serve his country and humanity - even when they failed him.

Viewers also experienced his touching romance with Peggy Carter and the indication that she was always the woman he loved (despite other romantic encounters like losing his virginity). Avengers: Endgame even delivered the ultimate ending for Steve Rogers. In addition to finally proving that he is a man of such character that he was worthy of lifting Mjolnir, Steve got his perfect ending with Peggy and lived happily ever after with her. The MCU's Captain America story is not only heralded by viewers or the creatives involved in crafting it, as Chris Evans also agrees. He has repeatedly made it clear that his hesitancy to return is tied to Steve Rogers' perfect MCU ending. Any future appearance would have the potential to tarnish an excellent ending for one of Marvel's most iconic characters on screen.

Captain America's Best MCU Stories Were Too Short

Chris Evans as Steve Rogers in Avengers Infinity War

For as good as Steve Rogers' story was, the MCU did miss out on fully telling some of his best stories. Captain America: The First Avenger is set entirely during World War II, except for the opening and closing scenes. However, Captain America fighting the war is merely a montage. It would have been great to see more of Steve Rogers' actual wartime missions as he worked with the Howling Commandos and saved other soldiers. This was impossible based on the origin story setup and Captain America: The First Avenger featuring skinny Steve for much of the first act. He may have had the opportunity to lead teams of superheroes later on, but seeing Steve grow into that role through the war is a story worth telling that the MCU could not. It could have even helped build up the super soldier serum experiments Isaiah Bradley and other Black soldiers took part in that occurred later.

Some other parts of Captain America's MCU story that were largely skipped over include his time as Nomad between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. The two-year window where Steve is on the run with Falcon, Black Widow, and Scarlet Witch but still saving people when possible would have given Marvel a chance to show the cost of their decisions not to sign the Sokovia Accords or agree to plea deals. Avengers: Endgame teased another significant missing chapter of Captain America's life by skipping over how he returned the Infinity Stones to their rightful spots in the timeline. This would have meant encountering Red Skull again and some other fun twists. Meanwhile, there is now an entire life Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter had together that audiences do not know anything about. In every case, Marvel's production schedule and the need to rapidly move the MCU timeline forward meant that none of these stories could be explored. And while Marvel has done some movies set in the MCU's past, they are not common. Making another would be a surprising move to bring back Steve Rogers.

Why Sam Wilson's Captain America Is "Controversial"

Sam Wilson dressed in the Captain America suit in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

There has been a "controversy" surrounding Sam Wilson's Captain America ever since Marvel Comics made the mantle switch. The root of these so-called controversies is most often racism. Since Steve Rogers is a white-skinned, blonde-haired, blue-eyed man, many will not accept seeing a Black man take over the mantle and represent America. That is partially one of the reasons why many continue to call for Steve Rogers' MCU return, saying that Sam Wilson's Captain America is merely an example of Marvel being "woke" or forcing diversity. The arguments against Sam Wilson being Captain America are not always so clear with the racist undertones. Many have championed that Bucky Barnes was the better choice to be the MCU's new Captain America. While this is how the mantle progressed in the comics, the MCU leaned hard in the direction of Bucky being the Winter Soldier and his responsibility for countless assassinations. Making Bucky the new Captain America merely keeps the mantle with a white man, despite Sam Wilson being much more qualified and better suited to where the red, white, and blue colors.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier addressed this head-on, as the show directly made it clear how different Sam's life experiences are just because he is Black. Whether it was trying to get a loan or nearly getting arrested for getting in a public argument with Bucky, the series routinely showed viewers that some relatively simple parts of life were much more complicated because of the color of Sam's skin. He even experienced this with how the government handled the passing of the Captain America mantle. Sam willingly gave up the Captain America shield as a chance to honor Steve Rogers' legacy, only to immediately watch the government officially introduce John Walker - a white-skinned, blonde-haired, blue-eyed military man - as the new Captain America. While Sam Wilson's Captain America is mainly supported by viewers, the racist attacks and "controversies" against him taking over the mantle remain, especially as so-called "fans" claim that he is not their Captain America.

Why The Original Captain America Can Never Come Back

Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson both dressed as Captain America in a mash-up image

This makes it clear why Steve Rogers can never be Captain America again in the MCU. Anthony Mackie has not even had a chance to make Captain America: New World Order and show everyone what his Captain America is like. Seeing more of Steve Rogers will only undermine Sam Wilson's MCU future and development. Sam will already be relentlessly compared to Steve, no matter how different they might be. There is no room for Steve Rogers to play a role and retain the Captain America title. It would immediately create an awkward impasse for the MCU, where Marvel Studios would have to decide once and for all who Captain America is. And even if that decision still ended with Sam retaining the shield, the mess would have already been made.

There is also no doubt that the original Captain America's return would be seen as a victory to those who oppose the idea of Sam Wilson taking over the mantle. Another solo project for Chris Evans will create the idea that Marvel believes they need Steve Rogers around to succeed. It would also look like a way for the studio to push Sam Wilson to the background potentially. Even if Steve Rogers' MCU return happened in Captain America: New World Order and as a way to prop up Sam Wilson, a Chris Evans appearance will still vastly overshadow many of the film's other events and steal the spotlight away from Anthony Mackie. Marvel needs to avoid that at all costs to show their support and faith that Sam Wilson's Captain America is a character who will help lead the MCU going forward. More of Steve Rogers sends the opposite message.