Russo Bros. Address Chris Evans’ Captain America Return in Avengers: Doomsday

As the penultimate film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Sage, Avengers: Doomsday makes the lofty promise to unite new and old heroes against the franchise’s biggest threat yet, Doctor Doom. While it had been known Robert Downey Jr. would play the iconic villain, fellow MCU veteran Chris Evans was only confirmed to return with the release of the film’s first trailer.

Doomsday directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who previously directed Evans in multiple Captain America and Avengers films, discussed the decision to bring Evans back with Empire Magazine (via Avengers Updates on X). The Russos stated: “His central role to the Avengers and the larger narrative of what the MCU has been something that’s very personal to us. We can’t see this narrative without his central role in it.”

Chris Evans as Steve Rogers holding a baby

In the clip, Evans’ character, Steve Rogers/Captain America, is seen in the past he returned to during Avengers: Endgame in order to reunite with love interest Peggy Carter. The Doomsday trailer is restrained; instead of showing Steve in action, the hero rides his motorcycle, puts his suit in storage, and holds his infant child.

The implication is that this peaceful life will be disrupted by Doom and perhaps that his child will be a motivation for him to rejoin the fight. Notably, the text at the end of the trailer reads: “Steve Rogers Will Return In Avengers: Doomsday.” At the end of Endgame, Steve passed his shield and the Captain America mantle down to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), meaning that while he is returning, he may not use his old superhero moniker.

Despite not being the current Captain America, the Russos were keen to bring back Evans due to their longstanding working relationship. After the trailer was released online, the directors wrote on Instagram: “The character that changed our lives. The story that brought us all here together. It was always going to come back to this.”

So far, each of the trailers for Doomsday has focused on a different character or team. While the first trailer highlighted Steve, subsequent teases featured Thor, the returning Fox X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and Black Panther.

“What you’ve been watching for the last four weeks… are not teasers,” the Russos shared following the last trailer. “Or trailers. They are stories. They are clues… Pay attention.” Avengers: Doomsday releases in theaters on December 18, 2026.