In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Marvel fandom, Marvel Studios has officially confirmed that Chris Evans will reprise his iconic role as Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, in the upcoming mega-film Avengers: Doomsday. This announcement comes despite the actor himself hinting earlier this year at feeling left out of the project. The confirmation arrived via a teaser released by Marvel on Tuesday, December 24, 2025, revealing that Rogers is not only back but is also now a father.
The Road Back to the Shield: FOMO and Nostalgia
The journey to this surprising return has been paved with unexpected twists in Marvel's Phase 5 plans. Initially, the studio had banked on Jonathan Majors' Kang as the new overarching villain. However, following Majors' conviction in a domestic violence case, Marvel was forced to scrap the Kang Dynasty narrative. This pivotal decision led the studio back to familiar faces, most notably bringing back Robert Downey Jr.—not as Iron Man, but as the new chief antagonist, Doctor Doom.
Downey's return at San Diego Comic-Con last year came with a significant condition: the reinstatement of the Russo Brothers as directors for Avengers: Doomsday. This reunion of the creative trio behind Avengers: Endgame and the Captain America films seemingly ignited a sense of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) in Chris Evans. In an interview with Screen Rant earlier in 2025, Evans admitted, "It's sad to not be back with the band... you feel like you weren't invited to the party." This statement, which many took as a confirmation of his absence, makes his official return all the more dramatic.
The Russo Brothers, who began their MCU journey with Evans in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), also expressed palpable nostalgia. Announcing the news on Instagram, they wrote, "The character that changed our lives. The story that brought us all here together. It was always going to come back to this..."
A Deeper Plot: Doctor Doom's Revenge on Captain America?
However, industry insiders suggest that bringing back both Evans and Downey is more than just a nostalgic cash grab. A compelling fan theory gaining traction online posits a narrative necessity for Evans' return, intricately linked to Downey's Doctor Doom. The theory, reported by outlets like Den of Geek, suggests that Doctor Doom will disguise himself as Tony Stark to infiltrate and manipulate the Avengers.
His motive? Revenge. The theory speculates that Steve Rogers' decision in Endgame to travel back in time and live a life with Peggy Carter, thereby altering the timeline, caused catastrophic "incursions" in Doctor Doom's native reality. To exact his vengeance, Doom adopts the guise of Stark, capitalizing on the historic ideological rift between Stark and Rogers showcased in Captain America: Civil War (2016). This complex plot would provide a substantial reason for both legends to return in radically different capacities.
Who Else is Returning for Avengers: Doomsday?
The star-studded comeback isn't limited to Evans and Downey. Leaked teasers suggest that Chris Hemsworth is set to return as Thor, and Jeremy Renner is expected to reprise his role as Hawkeye. The status of Mark Ruffalo's Hulk remains shrouded in typical Marvel secrecy. While Ruffalo has publicly denied involvement, he humorously referenced his past spoiler leaks on The Tonight Show, saying, "They decided that it was better to get rid of me than for me to tell the end of the next movie."
The most notable Avenger likely absent is Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, following her legal dispute with Disney over the release strategy of her solo film in 2021. As the pieces fall into place, Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be a monumental chapter in the MCU, blending the comfort of legacy characters with a high-stakes, multiversal threat masterminded by a familiar face in a terrifying new role.
