Charismatic, handsome, soulful, Chris Evans was arguably the heart of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So when the character’s arc came to an end during “Avengers: Endgame,” fans felt nearly bereaved—one can argue his absences are part of the reasons the MCU hasn’t felt the same since ‘Endgame.’
Of course, reports last year said Evans would return to Marvel for “Avengers: Doomsday and ‘Secret Wars,” not necessarily as Captain America again, but potentially as Nomad or another multiverse version of Captain America. Given that Robert Downey Jr. is doing that exact same thing—returning to the two new upcoming “Avengers” movies, but this time as Doctor Doom, instead of Tony Stark, it didn’t seem far-fetched that Evans would make his return too.
But nope, in a recent interview, Evans has denied these reports and explicitly noted that he’s contentedly done with his Marvel tenure.
That’s not true, though,” Evans told Esquire this week in a profile piece about Anthony Mackie becoming Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “This always happens. I mean, it happens every couple years—ever since ‘Endgame.’ I’ve just stopped responding to it. Yeah, no—happily retired!”
In the same profile, Mackie echoed the same thoughts. When Mackie talked to Evans, he told him the same thing. “He goes, ‘Oh, you know, I’m happily retired,’ ” Mackie shared.
So, did Mackie read about Evans supposedly returning to the MCU at the same time the public did? Yep.
“I learned that right there. My manager showed me. He’s like, ‘Oh, so I guess Chris is coming back.’ That’s all I know. I haven’t seen a script,” he said.
But maybe it’s all moot anyhow. If Evans says he’s not coming back, well… one could suggest he’s lying as Andrew Garfield did to protect his return as Spider-Man in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” or maybe just do what we’ll do. Take it at face value for now, because what else can you do? Assume everyone isn’t truthful. Now that’s no way to live. If it happens, great. If not, oh well, plenty of new characters in the MCU now to try and enjoy.
“Avengers: Doomsday” opens May 2026, but before that, we’ll see Mackie as Captain America in “Captain America: Brave New World” on February 14, 2025.