Ever since Chris Evans hung up his Captain America shield in Avengers: Endgame, rumors have swirled about his potential return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Steve Rogers. Despite Evans' repeated denials and his claim of being "happily retired," the speculation persists. This is largely due to a fundamental aspect of comic books: characters rarely stay dead for long.
In the world of comics, death and rebirth are commonplace. A prime example is the assassination of Steve Rogers following Marvel's 2007 Civil War storyline, a pivotal moment that led to Bucky Barnes taking up the mantle of Captain America. Yet, this was only temporary. Steve Rogers was eventually brought back to life, resuming his iconic role. A similar event occurred years later when Steve's super-soldier serum was neutralized, rendering him an elderly man unable to wield the shield. This time, Sam Wilson, known as The Falcon, stepped into the role of Captain America—a storyline that directly influenced Anthony Mackie's portrayal in the MCU, culminating in Captain America: Brave New World.
However, just a few years after Sam Wilson became Captain America in the comics, Steve Rogers' aging was reversed, and he returned to his shield-slinging duties. This pattern of characters returning to their original roles fuels the ongoing rumors about Evans' potential comeback. Given this, one might wonder if Anthony Mackie's position as Captain America is at risk, or if he is the MCU's permanent successor.
In a recent interview, Mackie expressed hope for a long tenure as Captain America, stating, "I don’t know. I think when you look at Sam Wilson, I guess the life or the span of him being Captain America goes with how well the movie does. So go see the movie!" He believes that by the end of Brave New World, audiences will fully accept Sam Wilson as Captain America.
While Mackie seems unaware of his character's future, his chances of retaining the role appear stronger than those of Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes, whose stint as Captain America in the comics was shorter-lived. Recent comic storylines have even shown Steve and Sam sharing the Captain America mantle, suggesting that even if Chris Evans returns in future films like Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars, Mackie could still hold onto the title.
However, the MCU differs from its comic book counterpart in its greater sense of permanence. When villains die in the films, they usually stay dead, suggesting that Steve Rogers' farewell might be final.
Nate Moore, a veteran MCU producer, acknowledges the difficulty some fans have in letting go of Steve Rogers. "We love Steve Rogers, he’s so fantastic. But I think that by the end of this movie, audiences are going to feel that Sam Wilson is Captain America, full stop," Moore asserts. When asked if Mackie is the permanent Captain America, Moore confirms, "He is. He is. And we’re so happy to have him."
From the final episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier onwards, Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson is unequivocally the MCU's Captain America. This permanence adds a different flavor to the MCU compared to the comics, where stakes are higher and characters like Natasha Romanoff, Thanos, and Tony Stark remain dead.
Julius Onah, director of Captain America: Brave New World, emphasizes the significance of permanent changes in the MCU. "When Tony Stark dies, that's a big deal," he says. Onah sees Sam Wilson's role as a new dramatic playground for storytelling and is excited about how he will lead the Avengers moving forward.
By instilling a sense of permanence in its films, Marvel aims to differentiate the MCU from the cyclical nature of the comic medium. Nate Moore explains, "Sam is Captain America, not Steve Rogers. He's a different person. And I think if you ask Sam who would be on the Avengers, it might be a different collection of people than Steve [would suggest]." This approach allows Marvel to explore new narratives and ensure that future Avengers teams feel fresh yet worthy of their name.
As the MCU moves beyond the Infinity War/Endgame era, it will be fascinating to see how the next major event unfolds, especially with many original Avengers now out of action. One thing is certain: Anthony Mackie will lead the Avengers as the sole Captain America, marking a new chapter in the MCU's ongoing saga.
