Chris Evans' Return Can Prove Sam Wilson Really Is Captain America

Chris Evans’ return to the MCU has the potential to prove that Sam Wilson is the perfect hero to carry on Captain America’s name. Chris Evans will officially return in the MCU’s Avengers: Doomsday, though it’s unconfirmed precisely which character he will be playing. With Sam Wilson becoming the MCU timeline’s next Captain America, Evans’ return could overshadow Sam’s newfound role. However, Evans’ return also presents an opportunity for Marvel to definitively establish Sam Wilson as the rightful bearer of the shield.

Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson officially took up the mantle of Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and stars in the MCU’s Captain America: Brave New World. This will solidify his role as the new Cap, but his journey won’t be without challenges. Notably, the trailer for Brave New World includes a pointed line from Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross: “You’re no Steve Rogers.” This critique underscores the lingering doubts about Sam’s ability to fill his predecessor’s shoes. Paradoxically, Evans’ return could be the very catalyst that helps Sam Wilson prove he’s truly worthy of the shield.

Chris Evans’ Return Risks Overshadowing Sam Wilson… Unless Marvel Do One Thing

The return of Chris Evans to the MCU is undoubtedly exciting, but it comes with risks. Steve Rogers’ popularity could inadvertently undermine Sam Wilson’s development as Captain America. Audiences already accustomed to Evans’ portrayal might find it hard to fully embrace Mackie’s Cap if Steve Rogers’ presence looms too large.

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However, Marvel has a potential solution: position Steve Rogers as a villain. Recent MCU trends have shown a willingness to reimagine beloved alumni in darker roles, as evidenced by Robert Downey Jr.’s casting of Doctor Doom. As a result, it’s fairly assumed that Evans will be playing a villainous variant of Captain America who is aligned with Hydra.

Indeed, the comics provide a precedent for such a twist. During Sam Wilson’s tenure as Captain America, an alternate version of Steve Rogers was revealed to be a Hydra agent, leading to the infamous “Hydra Cap” storyline. A similar plotline in the MCU would allow Evans to return in a compelling and complex role while pushing Sam Wilson’s character to new heights.

Making Steve Rogers an antagonist in Avengers: Doomsday would create an emotionally charged conflict that forces Sam Wilson to confront his insecurities and prove his worth. This narrative would also avoid relegating Mackie’s Captain America to a secondary role in his own story, ensuring that the focus remains on his evolution. As such, battling Hydra Cap could help Sam Wilson prove his worth as Captain America.

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A clash between these two ideologies would make for a thought-provoking exploration of what it truly means to be Captain America.

The idea of Sam Wilson facing off against an alternate, villainous Steve Rogers carries significant dramatic potential. Audiences already witnessed a brief but memorable clash between two versions of Captain America in Avengers: Endgame, when Steve Rogers fought his 2012 self. While that encounter was played for humor, a battle between Sam and a morally corrupted Steve would carry far greater emotional stakes.

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Such a confrontation would challenge Sam on multiple levels. He’d be forced to fight someone he once considered a mentor and friend, grappling with the personal betrayal while defending the ideals of Captain America. For Steve, being an antagonist doesn’t necessarily mean he’s outright evil – he could be a variant corrupted by outside forces, such as the multiverse’s incursions or Doom’s manipulations. This nuanced approach would preserve the integrity of Steve Rogers as a character while setting the stage for a deeply compelling narrative.

Additionally, this storyline would highlight the core differences between Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers as Captain America. While Steve represented the aspirational ideal of America during World War II, Sam’s Captain America reflects a more grounded and contemporary perspective, rooted in the struggles of ordinary people. A clash between these two ideologies would make for a thought-provoking exploration of what it truly means to be Captain America.

Sam Wilson Can Prove Himself The Definitive Captain America… By Beating His Rival

Sam Wilson taking Captain America's shield in Avengers Endgame

For Sam Wilson to firmly establish himself as Captain America in the eyes of both the MCU’s characters and its audience, he needs a defining moment of victory. Defeating a variant of Steve Rogers would serve as that moment. Not only would it demonstrate Sam’s physical prowess and strategic ingenuity, but it would also underscore his moral strength and unwavering resolve.

Sam Wilson’s Captain America has always been characterized by his ability to empathize and inspire, traits that set him apart from Steve’s more stoic and commanding presence. A victory over a corrupted Steve Rogers would prove that these qualities are equally valid, and perhaps even more vital in today’s world. Even though Steve Rogers already entrusted Sam with the shield in Avengers: Endgame, this battle would solidify Sam’s position as Captain America, stepping out of Steve Rogers’ shadow in the hearts and minds of the MCU’s characters and its audience.