However, the reason may be more simplistic. As the Russos themselves point out, they have affection for Steve. After all, they made their MCU debut with Captain America: The Winter Soldier and returned for Civil War before jumping to the Avengers movies. Further, Captain America is, as the title of his first MCU tells us, the First Avenger, the moral figurehead that all the other heroes follow.
The more compelling question may be the one right in front of us. As in the aforementioned teaser, the Russos refer to the character as “Steve Rogers,” not as “Captain America.” They may be doing so just because secret identities aren’t really a thing in the MCU; or they may be indicating that Sam Wilson will remain Captain America in the MCU, and the returning Steve has no intention of supplanting him.
Or could it be that the return of Steve Rogers will demoralize the heroes even more than the reveal that Doctor Doom looks like Tony Stark? The comics have featured several evil versions of Steve Rogers, ranging from the zombie Colonel America to an evil Cap that worships Cthulu to, most recently, the fascist Captain Hydra. All of these characters are Steve Rogers, but not all of them are Captain America.
Obviously, Doctor Doom will be a key figure in Avengers: Doomsday. But if the Russos want to turn their love of Captain America into further doom for Marvel’s heroes, then an evil Steve Rogers would be a great choice… perhaps even a better first choice than Doom.
Avengers: Doomsday releases December 18, 2026.
