Chris Evans, our forever Captain America, recently spilled some heartfelt thoughts about not being part of Avengers: Doomsday, the next big Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) epic. Chatting with ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley while promoting his new movie Materialists, Evans got candid about feeling a bit left out as the Russo Brothers and Robert Downey Jr. gear up for what’s shaping up to be a massive MCU reunion.
Evans, who carried the shield as Steve Rogers from 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger to 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, wrapped up his MCU journey with Steve passing the Captain America mantle to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). But rumors have been swirling for months about a possible return alongside Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter in Doomsday. Sadly, Evans confirmed he’s not in the mix, saying, “I’m sure they’re cooking up something amazing, but it’s gonna sting when it drops, and I’m not at the party.” You can feel the bittersweet vibe—he’s thrilled for his Marvel pals but bummed to miss out.
The rumor mill’s been relentless, though. Last December, The Wrap reported Evans was locked in for Doomsday, with fans guessing he might pop up as a multiverse version of Cap, like the evil Hydra Cap from the comics, or even as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch he played in Fantastic Four and briefly revisited in Deadpool & Wolverine. But Evans keeps shutting it down, telling Esquire in January 2025, “Nah, I’m happily retired!” Sound familiar? It’s giving Andrew Garfield denying his Spider-Man: No Way Home cameo, so some fans are still holding out hope he’s just playing coy thanks to Marvel’s tight-lipped contracts.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to be a wild ride, with Robert Downey Jr. stepping into Doctor Doom’s boots to face off against Sam Wilson’s Captain America, the Fantastic Four, and the Thunderbolts. Directed by the Russo Brothers, who gave us Evans’ best Cap moments in The Winter Soldier and Endgame, the film’s got major hype. Evans mentioned he still talks to the Russos, Downey, and other MCU buddies, which makes his absence hit harder. You can tell he’s still got love for the Marvel crew.
He’s also super protective of Steve Rogers’ story. Steve got his happy ending with Peggy in Endgame, and Evans has said before he’s content with that closure. There’s a worry, as ScreenRant pointed out, that bringing Steve back could steal the spotlight from Sam Wilson, who’s stepping up as Cap in Captain America: Brave New World and Doomsday. A Steve cameo might feel nostalgic, but it could muddy Sam’s moment. That said, a multiverse twist—like Evans as Hydra Cap or Johnny Storm—could be a fun way to nod to his Marvel roots without messing with the main timeline.
With Doomsday filming for its December 2026 release, fans are still crossing their fingers for an Evans surprise. His Deadpool & Wolverine cameo showed he’s game for some Marvel fun, and the multiverse opens the door for all sorts of wild possibilities. Maybe he’ll play multiple roles or just cheer from the sidelines. Either way, Evans’ mixed emotions about missing the MCU party have fans buzzing. While he’s off doing new projects like Materialists with Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal, the question remains: will we see him suit up one more time to face Doctor Doom, or is he really sitting this one out?