Chris Evans' potential return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe could be as Hydra Captain America, not the star-spangled superhero fans are used to. It's fair to say the MCU wouldn't be as successful as it is without Evans' Captain America, who appeared in a whopping nine films over the course of just eight years, and he's still slated to return in Disney+'s What If...? series that sees the MCU actors come back in voice roles. But it seems Evans' tenure in the MCU isn't over yet.
Prior to Captain America 4. Instead, he could take on a role similar to the one Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man held after Iron Man 3, appearing in other films in either co-starring or small roles, like Downey did in Captain America: Civil War and Spider-Man: Homecoming.
While that's an intriguing choice for Evans' Captain America, especially since the last time audiences saw Steve Rogers, he was elderly and not really in the condition to take on another threat like Thanos again. However, Steve Rogers no longer being in his prime doesn't mean Evans can't return as the Captain America people ; a few changes can be made to accommodate a different Captain America from another timeline - perhaps the infamous Hydra Captain America that caused so much controversy in 2016.
Hydra Captain America Explained
As part of Marvel's larger Secret Empire storyline, SHIELD used Cosmic Cube fragments to alter reality, but those fragments ultimately merged into a child named Kobik. Not much later, Kobik sought out a clone of Red Skull, because he once held the Cosmic Cube in his hands and she believed he could help her become one being. Red Skull seized the opportunity to indoctrinate her in Hydra's ways. Because of him, Kobik's actions continually pushed Hydra's agenda forward, eventually leading to the creation of Hydra Captain America, aka Hydra Supreme.
Under Red Skull's influence, SHIELD created a town called Pleasant Hill and filled it with reformed supervillains. It didn't last, because an all-out battle took place shortly thereafter, and Steve Rogers - an old man at that point who was long past his prime - attempted to convince Kobik to use her powers to end the battle. Instead, Rogers was attacked by Crossbones and nearly killed - and Kobik took that opportunity to enact Red Skull's plan; she restored Steve Rogers' youth but also turned him into Hydra's Captain America, someone loyal to them and their values.
This twist led to the Secret Empire crossover event, in which Captain America was working to establish Hydra's dominance in the world. In the story, Hydra effectively conquered the United States and took on the superheroes who once followed him. A lot happened in the story arc, but it ended with Hydra Supreme being revealed as a double of the real Steve Rogers; Bucky Barnes was able to purge Kobik of Red Skull's influence and bring out the real Captain America, thus ending Hydra and Hydra Supreme's reign. After it was all over, the real Steve Rogers needed to restore his legacy, because it had been ruined by the fake Captain America.
Marvel Phase 4 Already Sets Up Hydra Supreme's Story
It's improbable Marvel Studios would perfectly adapt the Secret Empire storyline, since a lot more would need to happen in the MCU for that to be possible. But just like what the studio did with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. And various elements from Secret Empire and Hydra Supreme's stories can be seen in Phase 4, based on what's already been revealed to the public.
A key part of Hydra Supreme's origin is Steve Rogers being old and not acting as Captain America; that's what happened at the end of Avengers: Endgame, when Evans showed up as Old Steve Rogers. Furthermore, the character that succeeded Steve Rogers as Captain America was Falcon, who is on his way to doing just that in the MCU. Beyond the obvious, though, the trailer for the Avengers lost the Battle of New York. But what if, instead of it being a reference to the 2012 battle, it's a reality in which Hydra Supreme existed and won in a different Battle of New York? After all, the Chitauri were responsible for attacking Earth in Secret Empire as well. Plus, the MCU is now experimenting with pocket manipulated realities like Pleasant Hill with WandaVision. Individually, all of these things may seem inconsequential, but together, they can set up a new massive crossover event.
How Hydra Supreme Can Work In The MCU
The Infinity Saga concluded the main storyline of this particular universe with Thanos' defeat, but there are infinite universes out there in the multiverse - and that's the opening Marvel needs in order to explore a character like Hydra Supreme. Using this universe's Jane Foster's return, but this time as Mighty Thor.
Baron Zemo's inclusion in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier can help establish this, since he was a key member of the Army of Evil in Secret Empire, working alongside Hydra Supreme. The Army of Evil's formation could be the next domino to fall, following in Old Steve Rogers, Falcon taking on the Captain America mantle, and Scarlet Witch experimenting with an alternate reality. Marvel wouldn't even need to do Secret Empire in its entirety, but it can be used to show audiences the consequences of opening up the multiverse - it's a like a Pandora's Box; characters and worlds can collide with the characters and world MCU fans are already familiar with. With that in mind, Hydra Supreme could just be the tip of the iceberg.
