Chris Evans will soon return to the MCU, sparking theories that he could debut as a version of Captain America working for HYDRA. The HYDRA-indoctrinated version of Steve Rogers' Captain America first appeared in Marvel Comics in 2016, much to the shock of avid readers. Since then, there has been speculation about HYDRA's Captain America debuting in the MCU, but beyond a tease during Avengers: Endgame Time Heist, Chris Evans' Steve Rogers has always been depicted as the patriotic Star-Spangled Man-with-a-Plan.
New interest has now been sparked in an evil version of Captain America potentially debuting in the MCU, with the return of Chris Evans in Avengers: Judgment Day has been confirmed. HYDRA Captain America's Marvel Comics backstory means he would fit perfectly into the MCU's Multiverse Sagaand Chris Evans would be the perfect actor to play this twisted version of his iconic Marvel role. This evil Captain America continues to pose a threat in Marvel Comics, so he could be a fun, exciting, and dangerous addition to Phase 6 of the MCU.
HYDRA Captain America's Marvel Comics History Explained
HYDRA's Captain America debuted during Marvel Comics' Secret Empire event
2016 Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 introduced the evil iteration of Steve Rogers. After Marvel Comics' Earth-616 universe was recreated following the epic Secret Wars event, an elderly Steve Rogers learned about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s prison town, Pleasant Hill. Pleasant Hill's superhuman inmates were rendered docile by a sentient Cosmic Cube named Kobik, who took the form of a girl. Baron Zemo incited a war in Pleasant Hill, causing Steve Rogers to be attacked by Crossbones, and in the heat of battle, Kobik used his power to restore Rogers to his prime..
Unbeknownst to everyone, Kobik was indoctrinated by HYDRA and the Red Skull, so this new Rogers was instilled with his own twisted values. In truth, Kobik supplanted Rogers from Earth-616 with a HYDRA-loyal Captain America from another reality where Rogers fell into HYDRA's arms at a young age. Rogers was raised and trained by HYDRA and mentored by Daniel Whitehall, before embarking on a mission to infiltrate the United States during World War II. Gaining the trust of Dr. Abraham Erskine, this Rogers soon received the Project Rebirth supersoldier serum and became Captain America.
After Heinrich Zemo's death, Steve Rogers reluctantly declared his loyalty to the Red Skull and learned about the Cosmic Cube. Rogers ended up frozen in ice and woke up in the 21st century, where he set out to restore HYDRA to its former glory before replacing the original version of Steve Rogers in Pleasant Hill. He fought during 2016 Second Civil Warbut then HYDRA's Secret Empire began instigating Chitauri attacks on Earth. Rogers orchestrated the death of SHIELD Director Maria Hill and took the position for himself, allowing him to pass the "SHIELD Act" that could grant him absolute power.
Rogers began building his Evil Army and assassinated the Red Skull, establishing himself as Ultimate HYDRA. The terror surrounding the Chitauti attacks and other crises put the S.H.I.E.L.D. Act into action, legally putting Captain America in command of the United States, allowing his HYDRA to officially take control. 2017 Secret Empire The event saw HYDRA in total control, but the world's heroes fought to reassemble the destroyed Cosmic Cube and take down the evil Steve Rogers.. The original Captain America was soon brought back by Kobik and fought a battle with his HYDRA counterpart, emerging victorious.
This evil Steve Rogers was arrested, but made many escape attempts before finally being pardoned by a corrupted president of the United States, although he was soon killed by an ancient mutant, Selene, nonetheless. He was resurrected in 2023 and urged to become an enemy of Earth's mutant population. Rogers stole Captain Krakoa's armor and attacked the Senate, hoping to frame mutants and spread more mutant fear and hatred. This led him to declare himself the new Flag-Smasher in 2024 Strange Avengers (Vol. 4) #5.
HYDRA Captain America's Powers Explained
HYDRA's Captain America shares many powers with the real Steve Rogers
This HYDRA-indoctrinated alternate version of Steve Rogers has many of the same abilities as the original Captain America version of Rogers from Earth-616. He was given the same super-soldier serum as the original Rogers, but is perhaps more physically powerful as he was trained from an early age by HYDRA.and he certainly has more influence than his Earth-616 counterpart. This Rogers calls himself the HYDRA Supreme, or HYDRA Supreme Commander, and became the highest-ranking individual in the United States during the Secret Empire event.
Despite having more influence and possibly more physical power than Earth-616's Steve Rogers, HYDRA's Captain America was still defeated by his more heroic counterpart. The original Steve Rogers has commitment, dedication and conviction that HYDRA's Rogers doesn't have, which ends up leaving him crushed under the original Rogers' boot. HYDRA's Rogers had armor strengthened by the Cosmic Cube, but it was also destroyed by a Mjolnir-wielding Captain America, proving that the original version of Rogers is better in every way.
Why it would make sense for HYDRA's Captain America to appear in the MCU now
Chris Evans will return to the MCU in Avengers: Judgment Day
In the five years since he left the MCU at the end of 2019 Avengers: EndgameChris Evans was repeatedly asked if he would return. Evans noted that he is so protective of Steve Rogers and his history that he would be reluctant to return as Captain America, although his reprisal of Johnny Storm's Human Torch in Deadpool and Wolverine may have opened the door for him to return again. The cast of Chris Evans in Avengers: Judgment Day was announced, but the extent and nature of his role is still a mysteryspurring theories that the evil Captain America could debut.
Steve Rogers, from HYDRA, appeared in Marvel Comics after the Secret Wars event when Sam Wilson was acting as the main Captain America. This is now the case in the MCU, and Anthony Mackie's Wilson will make his film debut as the Star-Spangled Man in 2025 Captain America: Brave New World. This means now is the perfect time for Chris Evans to return as a twisted version of Steve Rogers, allowing Marvel Studios to adapt the Captain America vs. Captain America fight. Captain America from comics to live action.
How HYDRA's Captain America Could Fit Into Avengers: Doomsday
Avengers: Doomsday already has a formidable villain
While it would be fantastic to see Chris Evans' HYDRA Captain America make his first appearance in Avengers: Judgment Daythe Russo brothers' next crossover film already has a formidable villain. it was confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. would return to the MCU during Marvel's 2024 SDCC presentation, albeit not as Tony Stark, but as Doctor Doom. Doom may take up too much space for HYDRA's Captain America to have a substantial role, but there are clear ways for the two supervillains to actually work alongside each other.
It's possible that Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom will be presented as a hero, fighting villains and preventing destructive incursions alongside the MCU's new team of Avengers. This could lead to him opposing Chris Evans' evil Captain America, while the two could also be working together. In Marvel Comics, HYDRA Captain America forms an Army of Evil consisting of Madame Hydra, Zemo, Kraven the Hunter and many more, so it is possible that this group could be formed in Avengers: Judgment Day with Doctor Doom on the list, which could debut a powerful and terrifying live-action supervillain team.
Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face Victor von Doom – played by the returned Robert DOwney Jr.. Avengers 5 will also mark the beginning of phase 6 of the MCU.
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February 14, 2025
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July 25, 2025
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July 24, 2026