Final Judgment and you're not ready

I know exactly who Chris Evans should play Avengers: Judgment Day and people won't be prepared for how exciting that could be. While it was recently reported that the original Captain America actor will return to the MCU in the next Avengers film, it has not yet been confirmed in what capacity, or if he will play the same version of Steve Rogers that fans know and love. With that in mind, I'm sure the best option comes from the comics (while also being one of the darkest).

As originally reported by The wrapChris Evans has joined the cast of Avengers: Judgment Day on an undisclosed paper. With that in mind, it's quite possible that Evans ends up playing a variant of Steve Rogers, not unlike his 2024 role. Deadpool and Wolverine where he played a version of his original Marvel character Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch. As such, I think I found the perfect role for Chris Evans in Avengers: Judgment Dayone that would be very emotional and that also doesn't mess with the perfect ending of the original Captain America that was seen in 2019 Avengers: Endgame.

How Steve Rogers' Story Ended in Avengers: Endgame

Passing the shield and getting your dance

As seen at the end of Avengers: EndgameSteve Rogers went back in time to return the six Infinity Stones that the Avengers had taken from different points in the past to bring back the ones that Thanos had erased. Avengers: Infinity War (as well as Thor's hammer, Mjolnir). However, Steve chose not to return to the current MCU as expected. Instead of, Captain America chose to remain in his original time in the 1940s to have his happy ending with Peggy Carter and finally have the dance he promised her before going on the ice.

That said, an elderly Steve Rogers arrives shortly after his younger self leaves to hand over his shield to Sam Wilson, offering his blessing for Sam to become the MCU's next Captain America. Although he didn't share the details, the implication is that Steve lived a long, happy life with Peggy, getting the happy ending he deserved. As such, it would be incredibly risky for Marvel Studios to try to bring back this original version of Steve Rogers in Avengers: Judgment Day especially considering how perfect its ending was.

I'd love to see Chris Evans play an MCU villain in Avengers: Judgment Day

Chris Evans as a bad guy is a lot of fun

Instead of, I'm much more interested in seeing Chris Evans play a villain with his imminent return to the MCU. After all, it would be incredibly fun and dynamic to see the actor take on a role that would be so antithetical to the original Captain America, one of the most morally upstanding Marvel heroes of all time. Likewise, Evans has more than proven his ability to play genuinely entertaining, charismatic villains like Ransom Drysdale in Rian Johnson's original film. Knives out movie or as Lloyd Hansen in 2022 The Gray Man from the Russo Brothers (who are also returning to the MCU to direct Avengers: Judgment Day and Secret Wars).

It's also worth noting that the Russos had already announced at SDCC 2024 that Robert Downey Jr. will play Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers film, instead of returning to play Iron Man who died in Avengers: Endgame. As such, This further supports the idea that Evans' return could be similar, where he will also return as a new villain to motivate a new assembly of Earth's Mightiest Heroes alongside Downey's Doom.. To that end, perhaps other actors from the past could also return as villains, like Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow.

My Avengers: Doomsday Theory Is That Chris Evans Is Playing Hydra's Captain America

Secret Empire Supreme Hydra

Keeping in mind the concept of Chris Evans as a villain, I would love to see Evans bring the Hydra Supreme from the comics to life in the MCU. As seen in 2017 Secret Empire comic event, Steve Rogers was replaced by a Captain America who was created as a Hydra sleeper agent, resulting from Red Skull altering reality using a Cosmic Cube. Eventually taking control of Hydra, this fascist Steve Rogers became the “Ultimate Hydra”, taking control of the country in a massive nationwide takeover.

Of course, Hydra Supreme was eventually defeated and the original Captain America restored at the end of the Secret Empire crossover event. That said, this darker Captain America has become a very popular alternate Steve Rogers despite his brief stint in the comics. Likewise, his initial debut, when he shockingly said “Hail Hydra” after pushing Erik Selvig out of a plane, gained national media attention, especially considering the exchange had not yet been fully revealed.

Avengers: Endgame already paid reference to Marvel Comics' Captain America Hydra

A fun Easter egg during the time heist

It is also worth highlighting that Avengers: Endgame already made reference to Hydra Supreme during “Time Heist”. Needing to obtain the Mind Stone from the Hydra agents incorporated into SHIELD in 2012, Rogers convinces Agent Sitwell that he is one of them with a classic “Hail Hydra”. He effectively uses his knowledge of the future to get the Infinity Stone without having to fight Hydra's secret plants in the elevator, just like Rogers did in 2014. Captain America: The Winter Soldier. As such, it can be seen as both a reference to Winter Soldier like this Secret Empire.

Now, Chris Evans' return in Avengers: Judgment Day could pay End of game reference even more. Debuting as a darker, more fascist version of the Rogers he once was would be very exciting. Perhaps the MCU's Hydra Supreme could come from a reality where Red Skull had the Mind Stone instead of the Tesseract, allowing him to effectively secretly corrupt and brainwash Captain America during World War II before entering the ice. Although I simply conjecture, I personally believe and hope that Chris Evans' MCU mirrors the return of Robert Downey Jr.'s MCU where he returns as a villaininstead of the original Captain America (whose story should definitely be left alone).

Avengers: Judgment Day is scheduled to be released in May 2026.

• Release date

  February 14, 2025
  

• Rays*

• Release date

  July 25, 2025
  

• Release date

  July 24, 2026