As reported earlier by TheWrap, Chris Evans has officially been cast in Avengers: Doomsday! He is speculated to return as Captain Hydra, an alternate version of Captain America who aligned with Hydra. With the multiverse playing a major role in the MCU’s future, the possibilities are endless!
As of March 6, 2025, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is once again stirring up a storm of excitement with the official confirmation that Chris Evans will return to the franchise in Avengers: Doomsday. The news, first reported by TheWrap in December 2024, has since been solidified, sending fans into a frenzy of speculation about what role the beloved actor will take on. While Evans famously hung up his Captain America shield after Avengers: Endgame in 2019, his return signals a thrilling new chapter for the MCU, especially with the multiverse poised to dominate the narrative. Among the most tantalizing theories circulating is that Evans will portray Captain Hydra, a dark, alternate version of Steve Rogers who sided with the nefarious organization Hydra—a twist that could redefine his legacy in the superhero saga.
Evans’ casting was confirmed amid a flurry of updates about Avengers: Doomsday, set for release on May 1, 2026, under the direction of the Russo brothers, Joe and Anthony, who previously helmed Infinity War and Endgame. The film promises to be a monumental event, with Robert Downey Jr. also returning—not as Iron Man, but as the menacing Doctor Doom. This reunion of two MCU titans has fueled speculation about how their characters might intersect, particularly given the multiverse’s ability to bring alternate realities into play. The idea of Evans as Captain Hydra stems from a popular comic storyline where Steve Rogers, brainwashed by a cosmic cube, becomes a loyal agent of Hydra, leading to a chilling reinterpretation of the star-spangled hero. Fans see this as a plausible fit, given Evans’ expressed reluctance to simply reprise his original role without a compelling twist.
The multiverse, a cornerstone of the MCU’s Phase Five and Six, opens the door to endless possibilities, making Evans’ return as a variant both feasible and exciting. His brief cameo as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine proved he’s not above dipping back into Marvel’s sandbox for a fresh take. Playing Captain Hydra would allow Evans to explore a darker, more conflicted side of Steve Rogers—or a version of him—without undoing the closure of his Endgame arc, where he handed the shield to Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie. Mackie, now the MCU’s Captain America with his own film Captain America: Brave New World hitting theaters in February 2025, has voiced enthusiasm about working with Evans again, though he’s remained coy about specifics.
Despite the confirmation, Evans himself has played it coy in public statements. In a January 2025 interview with Esquire, he denied rumors of his involvement, calling himself happily retired from the role of Captain America. However, fans and analysts alike are skeptical, pointing to a long-standing Marvel tradition of actors deflecting questions to preserve surprises—think Andrew Garfield’s denials before Spider-Man: No Way Home. Posts on X and other platforms have lit up with reactions, with many fans citing his Deadpool & Wolverine appearance as evidence he’s not truly done with Marvel. “He said he was retired, then popped up as Johnny Storm. Don’t trust him!” one user quipped, reflecting the playful distrust surrounding his latest comments.
What might Captain Hydra look like on screen? In the comics, this version of Steve Rogers retains his strength and leadership but wields them for Hydra’s totalitarian goals, sporting a green-tinged suit emblazoned with the organization’s octopus logo. For Avengers: Doomsday, this could set up a dramatic clash with Downey’s Doctor Doom, pitting two distorted icons of the MCU against each other—or perhaps aligning them as uneasy allies in a multiversal conflict. The Russo brothers’ knack for balancing spectacle with character depth suggests they could craft a Captain Hydra who’s both a physical threat and a psychological puzzle, challenging the Avengers in ways they’ve never faced before.
The film’s broader context adds further intrigue. With the Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts, and other heroes confirmed to appear, Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up as a sprawling crossover that could rival Endgame in scope. The multiverse angle, teased heavily in projects like Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, provides a narrative framework for bringing back familiar faces in unexpected forms. Evans as Captain Hydra could serve as a linchpin, tying together the MCU’s past and future while offering a fresh challenge for the current roster of heroes, including Mackie’s Captain America, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, and potentially even Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.
For now, details remain scarce, with production set to kick off in London this summer. Whether Evans’ role is a cameo or a central pillar of the story, his return as Captain Hydra would mark a bold evolution for the MCU, leveraging the multiverse to reimagine its foundational characters. Fans are already dreaming up scenarios—Bucky Barnes facing off against a corrupted Steve, or Doom manipulating Hydra’s champion for his own ends. Whatever the outcome, Evans’ casting ensures that Avengers: Doomsday will be a must-watch event, proving that in the MCU, no hero’s story is ever truly finished. The possibilities, as the multiverse promises, are indeed endless.
