Warning: This article contains spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine.

Summary

• Chris Evans could return to the MCU as a twisted version of Captain America, following in Robert Downey Jr.'s footsteps.
• Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU, but not as Iron Man, rather as Doctor Doom in Phase 6.
• Chris Evans has been hesitant about returning as Captain America, but the multiverse may allow many actors to portray different versions of their heroes in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.

Robert Downey Jr.'s transformation into iconic Marvel villain Doctor Doom has come as a shock, but Chris Evans could follow suit if he brings Tony Stark and Steve Rogers being powerful Avengers leaders. Unfortunately, both of these legendary heroes departed the MCU in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, but this wasn't the end for Downey Jr. and Evans themselves.

Chris Evans recently made a shocking return to the MCU during 2024's Deadpool & Wolverine. However, instead of playing his previous MCU hero, Steve Rogers' Captain America, Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the MCU as a villain. This opens the door for Chris Evans to do the same, finally reuniting with his former MCU co-star.

Chris Evans Could Return As HYDRA’s Captain America In Avengers: Secret Wars

It seems unlikely that Chris Evans will bring Johnny Storm's Human Torch back into live-action again, as Deadpool & Wolverine provided him with a long-wanted, brutal and shocking ending. Chris Evans has been hesitant about returning as his original version of Steve Rogers' Captain America back after Avengers: Endgame wrapped up his story perfectly. However, after the reveal that Robert Downey Jr. will be playing a new MCU villain, it's possible that Chris Evans could do the same, perhaps debuting as HYDRA's Captain America.

Steve Rogers was outed as a HYDRA sleeper agent during Marvel Comics' Secret Empire event in 2017, turning the status quo of the Marvel Universe on its head. Introducing this evil version of Captain America, dubbed HYDRA Supreme, in Avengers: Secret Wars could provide Chris Evans with an interesting avenue back to the MCU. Not only would this not tarnish his previous experience as the heroic Steve Rogers, but this would also allow him to explore new sides of his iconic character that he perhaps didn't the chance to before.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Return As An MCU Villain Might Convince Chris Evans To Do The Same

After a five-year hiatus following his emotional sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, Robert Downey Jr. was confirmed to be returning to the MCU by Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige and returning directing duo the Russo brothers at this year's San Diego Comic-Con. Instead of playing Tony Stark's Iron Man, a role which he portrayed for over a decade, Robert Downey Jr. will be bringing Doctor Doom to life in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. For a while, it seemed impossible to imagine Downey Jr. returning to the MCU, so his reprisal could hint at the same for Chris Evans.

After his return in Deadpool & Wolverine, Chris Evans suggested that now may not be the time to bring Captain America back to the MCU. He stated to US Weekly that "it might be better just to let those times be those times." While this all but confirms Evans won't be returning as his heroic Captain America, this doesn't discount the opportunity for him to follow in Downey Jr.'s footsteps and twist his former MCU role into a villain. This could reunite these two MCU legends in Phase 6, and other Marvel stars might follow suit.

Oh man, I don't know. I think... you know, those were wonderful, wonderful times and it's probably the dearest role to my heart but... you know, it might be better just to let those times be those times.

Which Other MCU Heroes Could Become Villains In Phase 6?

Practically every hero in the MCU's history has a villainous counterpart in Marvel Comics, most of whom would be fantastic to see in live-action. For Tony Stark, the mask-wearing Doctor Doom is a strong antithesis, while Captain America's HYDRA sleeper agent flipped Steve Rogers' story on its head. Similar twists have been given to other Avengers, too, some of whom could return in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, perhaps portraying variants of their more heroic MCU heroes.

Scarlett Johansson could return as a version of Black Widow who never left the Red Room, and Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye could re-adopt his Ronin moniker. Thor could become a more vengeful god, or perhaps his clone from Marvel Comics, Ragnarok, while Mark Ruffalo could play a more brutal version of the Hulk, perhaps Maestro. There are endless possibilities when exploring the multiverse, which Marvel Studios has already proved by bringing back Robert Downey Jr., so there could still be a future for Chris Evans' Captain America.

MCU Movies

• 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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• Blade (2025)

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• Avengers: Doomsday

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• Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  December 17, 2027

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