CAPTAIN AMERICA’S UNEXPECTED RETURN
Is redeploying Chris Evans’ Cap a good idea?
On 14 January a seismic news story broke via trade outlet Deadline – Chris Evans would be suiting up once again as Steve Rogers in “at least one Marvel property”. As per the report, this wouldn’t be Captain America 4, but a supporting role akin to Robert Downey Jr.’s appearance as Tony Stark in Spider-Man: Homecoming. To paraphrase Marvel’s first Avenger, it would seem that Evans has had enough rest.
The story didn’t end there, however. Later that same day Evans took to Twitter with three words: “News to me” (and a shrug emoji, natch). Whether a flat-out denial of the report, or an attempt to throw reporters off the scent in order to preserve a surprise return, a key question persists: is bringing back Steve Rogers less than two years after his big goodbye in Avengers: Endgame a sound idea?
From a logistical standpoint it makes sense. Rogers, after all, is alive and well in the MCU as we know it – albeit living a peaceful, fulfilling life with Peggy in the past (and that’s before you throw multiverses and quantum time travel into the mix). For the MCU to simply ignore the fact that Cap is walking around as it tells stories that trade on his legacy will feel at best odd, or at worst tarnish the notion that this is a persistent, connected universe.
Marvel Studios has certainly earned enough trust that if Evans’ return is on the cards, there’s every reason to believe that Kevin Feige and co. have a worthy idea that won’t undermine Endgame’s emotional farewell for the sake of a quick buck. But there is something about the idea that rankles. One of the triumphs of the 23-film Infinity Saga is that it encompasses a complete, wholly satisfying character arc for Steve Rogers, including a literal passing of the shield to Anthony Mackie’s Falcon. There is a risk that a Rogers encore could undermine the fragile full circle Evans and Marvel Studios spent a decade constructing – something everyone involved is no doubt acutely aware of.
So is it a good idea to bring back Steve Rogers? In the immortal words of Chris Evans: JF