Four brilliant actors have portrayed different iterations of Marvel Studios' Captain America: The First Avenger in Phase 1, bringing the star-spangled man-with-a-plan into the live-action MCU.

While several actors have portrayed Captain America in live-action and animation, dating back to Captain America legacy in the MCU.

Chris Evans

Chris Evans Played Steve Rogers’ Captain America In The MCU’s Infinity Saga

Chris Evans debuted as Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger, and is still the longest-running actor to portray a version of Captain America in the MCU. Steve Rogers became the original Captain America after being enhanced by Dr. Abraham Erskine's super-soldier serum during World War II. As Captain America, Rogers fought the Red Skull before sacrificing his own life to spare the lives of millions more, though he woke up almost seven decades later to continue his fight. In the modern era, Steve Rogers' Captain America became a founding member and de facto leader of the MCU's Avengers.

Chris Evans appeared in a total of eleven MCU feature films as Steve Rogers' Captain America, making the hero a regular fixture during the MCU's Infinity Saga. Avengers: Endgame saw him the Captain America shield and mantle onto a successor, however, choosing to retire in the past with Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter instead of continuing his superhero journey. Despite his departure, Chris Evans has been speculated to be returning to the MCU as Steve Rogers' Captain America, perhaps in Phase 6's Avengers: Secret Wars, which could see him team up with any number of the MCU's other Captain Americas.

There have been reports that Chris Evans will return to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday, but that has not been confirmed, and it is unclear if he would play Captain America again for the film or pull a Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and play someone else entirely. Chris Evans responded to these reports, and although he attempted to lay waste to the claims, it is never that simple with Marvel Studios. His statement is as follows:

That’s not true, though. This always happens. I mean, it happens every couple years—ever since Endgame. I’ve just stopped responding to it... Yeah, no—happily retired!

Wyatt Russell

Wyatt Russell Played John Walker’s Captain America In The Falcon & The Winter Soldier

While Steve Rogers ed the Captain America shield and mantle on to Sam Wilson in Avengers: Endgame, it was Wyatt Russell's John Walker who became the MCU's next Captain America. A former football star at Custer's Grove High School, John Walker went on to become a highly-decorated United States Army Captain. John Walker became the first person in history to receive the Medal of Honor three times, fought in Operation Enduring Freedom alongside his best friend and heroic sidekick Lamar Hoskins' Battlestar, commanded high-level counter-terrorism and hostage rescue operations, and studied at MIT, displaying his higher-than-average speed, endurance, and intelligence.

While John Walker may have had the qualifications fit for taking over from Steve Rogers as Captain America, the new star-spangled man felt inadequate when in battle with Karli Morgenthau and the Flag Smashers. This led to him ingesting Wilfred Nagel's experimental super-soldier serum, but this destabilized his mental state even further. After Lamar Hoskins' tragic death, Walker used the Captain America shield to brutally murder a Flag Smasher in broad daylight, which led to him being stripped of his title, though this creates the opportunity for him to be recruited as the morally gray US Agent by the mysterious Valentina.

Anthony Mackie

Anthony Mackie Plays Sam Wilson, The MCU’s Current Captain America

After John Walker's brief stint as Captain America in 2021's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson finally decided to embrace the position that had been gifted to him by Steve Rogers in Avengers: Endgame. Sam Wilson originally started his MCU career as the Falcon in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and his dedication to his superheroism and close bond with Steve Rogers made him the clear choice to take over the role of Captain America. Despite this choice, Wilson was understandably hesitant to wear the Stars and Stripes as a Black man in modern day America.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's intense finale saw Sam Wilson finally embrace his position as the MCU's new Captain America, kitted out with a vibranium superhero costume designed in Wakanda. Despite sporting this new look in the MCU's Phase 4, Sam Wilson received a new Captain America costume in Marvel Studios' Captain America: Brave New World, which was released in February 2025, and marked Sam Wilson's big-screen debut as the star-spangled man-with-a-plan. By the end of Captain America: Brave New World, Sam Wilson is looking to rebuild the Avengers.

Josh Keaton

Josh Keaton Has Voiced Many Different Versions Of Steve Rogers’ Captain America

With Sam Wilson developing his story as the MCU's live-action Captain America, Josh Keaton voices the superhero in Marvel Studios' animated media. Originally, Keaton debuted as Steve Rogers in the premiere episode of 2021's What If...? season 1, which focused on a timeline where Peggy Carter became the world's first super soldier instead of Steve Rogers. Keaton's Rogers went on to become the HYDRA Stomper alongside Captain Carter, and Keaton reprised the role in "What If... Ultron Won?," "What If... Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?," "What If... Captain Carter Fought the HYDRA Stomper?," and "What If... the Avengers Assembled in 1602?."

As well as voicing different versions of Steve Rogers' Captain America in What If...?, set in the multiverse of the MCU, Josh Keaton also voiced Captain America in Marvel Studios Animation's X-Men '97. Set outside the MCU's main continuity, X-Men '97 episode 7, "Bright Eyes," saw Captain America intercept X-Men member Rogue during her search for Henry Gyrich and Bolivar Trask in the wake of Gambit's emotional demise. This has been the most recent appearance of Captain America in any Marvel Studios project, though he will return to live-action in 2025, and have a crucial role in the MCU's future.

When Will Captain America Appear Next In the MCU

Sam Wilson Could Be Back Soon

Now that Captain America: Brave New World is out and solidifies Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson as Captain America, the question is raised about when he will make his next appearance in the MCU. Given that the next run of MCU movies looks to set up Avengers: Doomsday, it is possible that Sam Wilson could return in Thunderbolts* due to his connection to Bucky and him trying to rebuild the Avengers. Depending on how Thunderbolts* goes, he could be looking to recruit from within the group.

If Sam Wilson doesn't appear in Thunderbolts*, he will definitely appear in the next Avengers film, given that he will be a key cast member of Avengers: Doomsday. With how Captain America: Brave New World ended, by the time Doctor Doom comes to take on the MCU's heroes, he will hopefully have put together a team to try and stop him. No matter where, though, it seems likely that Sam Wilson will continue to be Captain America, at least through Avengers: Secret Wars.

MCU Movies

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  Captain America: Brave New World

  Release Date

  February 14, 2025

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  May 2, 2025

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  July 25, 2025

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

  Release Date

  July 31, 2026

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  December 17, 2027

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