Some fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are not impressed at the news that Chris Evans is returning for Avengers: Doomsday.
In a newly released teaser clip that is showing in cinemas before screenings of Avatar: Fire And Ash, Evans is seen returning to the Steve Rogers character for the upcoming MCU epic.
Doomsday arrives on December 18, 2026, and in the new teaser, Evans’ Rogers is seen riding a motorcycle on a farm, and then holding a newborn baby. “Steve Rogers will return for Avengers: Doomsday”, reads a closing caption.
Evans played Rogers – the original Captain America in the film series – in multiple films, from 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger up until his apparent farewell appearance in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.
At the end of that movie, Rogers passed his trademark shield to his former sidekick Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), signalling Wilson’s ascension to the Captain America role, while Rogers travelled back in time to reunite with his beloved Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell).
The news that Rogers will in fact be back for Doomsday, however, has angered some MCU fans, who have criticised the decision for undermining Mackie’s role in the story and smacking of “desperation” from Marvel Studios.
“Do I love Steve Rogers? Yes,” wrote one X user. “But the absolute disrespect to Sam Wilson/Anthony Mackie because they can’t let a white man go come on bro.”
“It feels like Marvel is belittling Sam Wilson’s efforts to prove himself worthy of the shield Steve passed on to him,” wrote another.
do i love steve rogers? yes
but the absolute disrespect to sam wilson/anthony mackie because they can’t let a white man go come on bro pic.twitter.com/Xz6VjZalPe— millie🏎️ (@crossscyarika) December 15, 2025
It feels like Marvel is belittling Sam Wilson’s efforts to prove himself worthy of the shield Steve passed on to him. https://t.co/z0HsHvXrq8 pic.twitter.com/1UkbSSMHpP
— บักโตโต้ : 🦊🐰 (@piemhy) December 15, 2025
See other reactions here:
The desperation of Marvel is incredible to watch. They peaked with Endgame and thought everyone cared what happened afterwards. Clearly not. https://t.co/MqgbhB17ob
— Tom Smith (@tommsmith1993) December 19, 2025
marvel going back to the infinity saga characters for doomsday and secret wars is just pathetic and desperate. they fumbled post endgame so badly it pisses me off https://t.co/gY91LwyEIY
— sophia (@hellopugh) December 15, 2025
this is just how people been acting towards sam since that fucking teaser dropped pic.twitter.com/I272T7V2W1
— 𓆩 ⍟ 𓆪 | sam wilson defender (@winterwilson_) December 16, 2025
the disrespect to Sam Wilson man… https://t.co/SU2ROi8tOJ pic.twitter.com/WLDwSBR9GN
— Keizi Cinema 🎞️🍿 (@KeiziTV) December 15, 2025
One of Marvel's biggest, harming mistakes was not making a Sam Wilson movie out the gate in Phase 4
Riding the high of Endgame, firmly establishing him as Cap AND one of the two leading faces
Putting him on TV and neglecting him for years has done damage and put him in jeopardy pic.twitter.com/bpDWKFzvbz
— John | 🇵🇷 (@SchwayJohn) December 16, 2025
Sam Wilson you deserve so much better than being overshadowed like this, I really hope this movie doesn’t sideline him https://t.co/wJygNConD1
— Jack (-_•) (@captaincupkicks) December 15, 2025
It was only in June that Evans said he was “sad” not to be returning for Doomsday. “It’s sad to not be back with the band, but I’m sure they’re doing something incredible, and I’m sure it’s going to be that much harder when it comes out and you feel like you weren’t invited to the party,” he said.
Robert Downey Jr. is also returning to the MCU for the film, but as the villainous Doctor Doom rather than Tony Stark. Chris Hemsworth, Vanessa Kirby, Paul Rudd, Florence Pugh, Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen are also returning – see all of the names here.