Steve Rogers' Perfect MCU Ending Creates A New World Order Problem

While Sam Wilson has come into his own as Captain America, the mystery of what happened to Steve Rogers leaves a glaring issue that needs to be resolved before Captain America: New World Order hits theaters. Rogers received a peaceful and almost perfect ending at the end of Avengers: Endgame; however, that ending left many questions about what old man Steve did after he passed the title of Captain America on to Wilson. Steve’s fate was left ambiguous to fans, and it was even made into a quasi-joke in The Falcon and the Winter Solider with Joaquin Torres suggesting Rogers was now living on the moon.

While some heroes passing the mantle appear more clear-cut, like Riri Williams' Ironheart taking over for Tony Stark after his death or Yelena Belova being the next Black Widow, Sam's transition isn't quite as simple. Steve passes the Captain America title to Sam by giving him the shield. Steve still being alive can overshadow the work Sam did to feel worthy of the Captain America title in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Steve even in his old man form, could probably still hold his own in a fight, he is a super soldier after all.

Everything The MCU Has Said About Steve Rogers Post-Endgame

There’s not much fans know about where Steve Rogers is post-Avengers: Endgame. In Avengers: Endgame Steve went back and returned the infinity stones to their proper timelines, but he also stayed with Peggy Carter and presumably got married in the past. Though the writers and directors of Avengers: Endgame couldn’t even agree on whether Steve was in the original timeline, or if he created a new one. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it was theorized that Steve Rogers was on the moon, which could be the case. With Nick Fury in outer space, presumably on a SWORD ship, Steve could be up there advising. It’s also possible that in his old age Steve died, or that he's in hiding. It’s also possible that if he did live out his life with Peggy Carter, he traveled back to that reality. Right now, there are a lot of theories, but no solid explanation as to where Steve is. Considering Sam and Bucky Barnes know what happened to Steve, it is odd they haven’t said anything, but it could also mean that Marvel doesn’t know what to do with old man Steve yet.

The MCU Must Resolve Steve Rogers' Status

Captain America with the Vibranium gauntlet in Avengers Infinity War

For Captain America: New World Order to be a successful film for Sam Wilson to face off with Thunderbolt Ross, audiences need to know what happened to Steve Rogers. If his status isn’t resolved before the movie, or within its first act, there will be this looming thought that Chris Evans could return as Steve. It would be poetic for Marvel to give Steve the same send-off that Peggy Carter got in the first act of Captain America: Civil War. This way, it allows Sam and Bucky to put the Steve chapter of their lives behind them and for them thematically to have a new world order. If Marvel decides not to kill off Steve, giving fans a concrete answer as to why he can’t appear or help Sam is necessary.

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier was all about Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes learning how to be heroes without Steve Rogers, so it’s only right that they start Captain America: New World Order off by officially closing out any chance of Steve appearing. Fans want Sam to succeed in his new role as Captain America, but the possibility of Steve Rogers showing up has the chance to sour Sam’s first solo outing in the upcoming Captain America: New World Order.

Next: Captain America 4: Every MCU Character Expected To Appear