Almost 14 years ago, Chris Evans entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: The First Avenger, and he appeared in 8 Marvel movies (including a cameo in Spider-Man: Homecoming) between 2011-2019. In the closing moments of Avengers: Endgame, Evans’ Steve Rogers passed the mantle of Captain America to his friend and partner, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), which paved the way for Captain America: Brave New World.
If you’ve already seen Brave New World, then you already know whether Evans returned for a cameo in that film. But for everyone else who hasn’t seen it, we’re going to answer that question now.
Does Chris Evans appear in Captain America: Brave New World?
No. In fact, the film has shockingly few callbacks to Steve Rogers. He is mentioned by name, but he does not appear. In fact, the movie appears to be deliberately vague about the fate of the man who was once Captain America. Neither Sam nor the film’s other character who personally knew Steve appear to be mourning his death. The last time that Steve was seen on-screen, he was an elderly man who was far past his physical peak.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series on Disney+ also failed to shed light on what happened to Steve after he handed his shield to Sam. Perhaps Marvel Studios just wants to keep the door open for revisiting the first Captain America rather than killing him off between movies. But for now, Steve Rogers is MIA in the MCU and presumably out of action for good.
Will Chris Evans return to the MCU again?
Evans made a surprise appearance in last summer’s blockbuster, Deadpool & Wolverine, where even Deadpool assumed he was once again playing Captain America. Instead, Evans reprised his role as Johnny Storm aka the Human Torch from the first two Fantastic Four movies produced by 20th Century Fox. It was a very brief return to the MCU, but fans seem to be eager for more.
There have been rumors that Evans and the rest of the original cast of The Avengers will return in some capacity for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. But during a recent profile in Esquire, Mackie related that Evans told him that he remains “happily retired” from playing Captain America and doesn’t plan to return. Of course, given Marvel’s veil of secrecy, that’s exactly what he would say. Evans’ cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine was a well-kept secret. If Evans ever does return, presumably that would be a closely guarded surprise as well.
Captain America: Brave New World is now playing in theaters.