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The first full trailer for Avengers: Doomsday has arrived, featuring the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers in the MCU. However, I have some serious doubts that the former Captain America's return is as fully legit as it may seem.
After Rogers' Captain America retired at the end of Avengers: Endgame to be with Peggy in his original timeline, many assumed that his story had reached its natural (and perfect) end. However, it was confirmed via one of the first Doomsday teasers released at the end of last year that Evans would be returning, shown looking at his old uniform and holding his child.
Now, the first full public trailer for Avengers: Doomsday sees Steve indeed making a comeback and reuniting with Thor. That being said, I know Marvel isn't showing us the full picture. It seems too straightforward for there not to be some sort of twist, and even the trailer's "proof" that Rogers is legit doesn't sway me either. There's got to be a catch.
Steve Rogers Is Shown Reuniting With Thor (And Wielding Mjolnir)
Thor's words in the new Avengers: Doomsday trailer perfectly capture the desperation facing Earth's heroes with major multiversal incursions and the MCU debut of Doctor Doom (played by Robert Downey Jr.). Admitting that nothing has ever frightened him this much, the God of Thunder claims they'll need a miracle to survive what's ahead, having fought lesser evils with far more powerful allies.
At the end of the trailer, the miracle in question looks to be Steve Rogers himself, greeting his fellow founding Avenger who can't believe that the first Captain America is standing in front of him.
In response to Thor's claims that Steve's return is impossible, Rogers immediately proves who he is by summoning Mjolnir from Thor's hand to his, seemingly confirming his worthiness just as he did when Steve and Thor last fought together in 2019's Avengers: Endgame. The assumption to me made is that his in indeed the very same Steve Rogers (though I'm not convinced).
Something feels off about the reunion, and a quick look online confirms I'm not the only MCU fan who's suspicious. The return almost feels too clean and easy, hence the wide speculation that some sort of misdirect is at play that has yet to be revealed.
Thor's Hammer Isn't Enough To Convince Me Rogers Is Legit
Although wielding Mjolnir is clearly being used to help legitimize Steve Rogers' return in Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel Comics has proved that it isn't always foolproof evidence of someone's true self (or goodness). Case in point, Marvel's infamous Secret Empire storyline saw Hydra's corrupted version of Captain America lifting Mjolnir after reality itself had been manipulated, which involved altering Odin's enchantment on the hammer so that the strongest under Hydra's banner could wield the mighty hammer.
Seeing as how Avengers: Doomsday is already dealing with alternate multiversal realities, Doctor Doom, and reality-altering threats, one could imagine that it wouldn't be all that difficult to manipulate the hammer's requirement of worthiness similarly, allowing an alternate or corrupted Steve Rogers to wield the hammer as well. It'd certainly be a crazy twist if Evans was actually playing a dark version of Rogers, secretly working alongside RDJ's Doom, and not the actual Steve Rogers we're familiar with.
Additionally, there are some theories that this isn't Steve Rogers at all, but Loki using one of his signature illusions (he's posed as Captain America more than once). Following the events of Loki season 2, the new god and multiversal protector has had one of the greatest redemption arcs in the MCU. Keeping that in mind, perhaps Loki is initially trying to impersonate Steve to inspire Thor, who watched his own Loki die in Infinity War, while also being worthy of wielding the hammer due to said redemption and his new purpose.
Whether it's a darker Captain America, an alternate-universe variant, Loki in disguise, or something no one has yet predicted, Avengers: Doomsday almost certainly has plenty of twists and surprises in store.
Avengers: Doomsday releases in theaters December 18th from Marvel Studios.
