Judgment Day (and it's not HYDRA's Captain America)

Many think Chris Evans will return to the MCU in Avengers: Judgment Day like HYDRA's Captain America, but I think it would be better to see him bring a different version of Steve Rogers to live action. After he debuted as Steve Rogers in 2011 Captain America: The First Avengerwe saw Chris Evans' superhero undergo major transformations and become central to the MCU. His retirement from office in 2019 Avengers Endgame was very exciting, but we recently saw Evans back in action in Deadpool and Wolverineand he will return again soon.

Chris Evans has been cast alongside the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Mackie, Benedict Cumberbatch and more in the Russo brothers' upcoming film. Avengers: Judgment Day. This confirmation was soon followed by the revelation that Hayley Atwell would also return in the Phase 6 crossover film, which made me very excited about the possibilities of reuniting Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter.. I think I figured out exactly which version of Steve Rogers Chris Evans was supposed to play in Avengers: Judgment Daytoo, and it's not who you'd expect.

Hayley Atwell May Play Captain Carter in Avengers: Judgment Day

Hayley Atwell debuted as Captain Carter in the animated film What If…? Series

Some expressed concern about the return of Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell in Avengers: Judgment Day could ruin your perfect ending in Avengers: Endgame. However, this could easily be resolved by having them play variants of their iconic MCU characters, and I think it would be great for Marvel Studios to feature some of the variants seen in the Marvel Animation films. And if…? live-action series. This means Hayley Atwell could bring And if…? Captain Carter in live action Avengers: Judgment Dayfollowing And if…? conclusion in season 3.

Hayley Atwell has already portrayed a live-action version of Captain Carter in 2022 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This iteration, however, had no connection to its animation. And if…? counterpart, and was instead a different version of Captain Carter, who ultimately met his death at the hands of Scarlet Witch. Since And if…? is ending after season 3, I would love to see the animated version of Captain Carter move to live action in Avengers: Judgment Dayand that makes me think that Chris Evans' new character could follow the same pattern.

And if…? HYDRA Stomper is the perfect role for Chris Evans in Avengers: Judgment Day

HYDRA Stomper has been Steve Rogers' most regular variant in What If…?

Since it's possible that Hayley Atwell is playing a live-action version of her And if…? hero, Chris Evans could also do the same. Evans does not voice Steve Rogers in And if…?with Josh Keaton taking on the animation rolealthough Steve Rogers still bears the likeness of Chris Evans. It makes me think that Chris Evans could play one of the And if…? Steve Rogers variants in Avengers: Judgment Dayand I'd love to see him bring HYDRA Stomper to life in Phase 6, which could also give him his much-desired evil twist.

Steve Rogers' HYDRA Stomper followed a similar storyline to the MCU's Bucky Barnes in And if…?. He was presumed dead during World War II, but returned in the present day under the mind control of an evil organization, in this case the Red Room, rather than HYDRA. Rogers' HYDRA Stomper was last seen sacrificing himself to take down the Red Room, although he was teased that he survived. This makes me think that his jump to the live-action MCU was perfectly set up, and I'd love to see it come to fruition.

I want another one and what if…? Variants that will appear in the live-action MCU

Lots of what if…? Heroes may debut in live-action

Along with Steve Rogers' Captain Carter and HYDRA Stomper, I would love to see many other variants of the cartoon And if…? series moves to live action in Avengers: Judgment Day. It would be brilliant to see the likes of T'Challa's Star-Lord, Strange Supreme, Party Thor, Happy Hogan's Freak, Nova Corps Nebula, Sakaaran Iron Man, the heroic Hela and Kahhori, among others, appear in live-action. This would create the perfect opportunity for some of the MCU's biggest stars and most wasted characters to return, which I'm really excited about.

While it would be great to see countless animated variants of And if…? switch to live action, I would be very excited to see Hayley Atwell and Chris Evans develop the mythology of Captain Carter and Steve Rogers' HYDRA Stomper in Avengers: Judgment Day. This could be the perfect MCU project to accomplish this mission, as Robert Downey Jr. has already been recast as Doctor Doom, so other MCU veterans could also play different versions of their classic roles. If this comes to fruition, Avengers: Judgment Day It will be the most character-packed MCU film yet.

• Release date

  February 14, 2025
  

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  July 25, 2025
  

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  July 24, 2026