Though many rumors are swirling that Chris Evans will return to theMCUas a Hydra aligned Captain America variant, I am convinced that Evans should play a wholly different character inAvengers: Doomsday, the Beyonder. When Chris Evans hung up his shield as Captain America inAvengers: Endgame, it felt like the end of an era. Now he is returning tothe MCU timelinein an undisclosed role, though there are severallikely characters Chris Evans could play. However, one that has not been included in this debate, I think might be the most viable: the Beyonder.
Chris Evans’ tenure as Captain America helped cement the MCU’s status as a cultural juggernaut. Over the course of a decade, he turned Steve Rogers into a character both aspirational and relatable, embodying values that resonated deeply with audiences. However, his exit inEndgameclosed the door on that chapter in the MCU timeline, paving the way for Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson to inherit the mantle inCaptain America: Brave New World.
Chris Evans Is Reportedly Returning To The MCU For Avengers: Doomsday But His Role Isn’t Known
It has been reported that Chris Evans returns in theMCU’sAvengers: Doomsday. While specifics remain elusive, speculation runs rampant. The immediate assumption might be a multiverse variant of Captain America, such as Hydra Cap or an alternate-universe Steve Rogers. However,such roles might undermine the emotional finality of hisEndgamearc.
Marvel Studios seems intent on leveraging nostalgia strategically, as seen Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as the MCU’s Doctor Doom. Rather than retread familiar territory with a Captain America variant, Evans could follow suit and play a wholly different character. Indeed, Evans' return could align with Marvel’s ambitious exploration of cosmic and metaphysical themes. A character like the Beyonder wouldallow Evans to leave his Steve Rogers persona intact while offering a radically new experience foraudiences.
Marvel’s multiverse saga is culminating in two colossal films:Avengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars. Announced as back-to-back installments, these films will release a year apart, mirroring the structure ofInfinity WarandEndgame.Doomsdayis therefore expected to set the stage forSecret Wars, a storyline steeped in multiversal chaos andepic battles on a patchwork planet known as Battleworld.
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This setting, first introduced in the 1984 “Secret Wars” comic, was reimagined in Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 event, which merged alternate realities into a single domain ruled by Doctor Doom. The connective tissue between these films islikely to be a cosmic entity with the power to orchestrate such a scenario. Enter the Beyonder, an omnipotent being who manipulates reality and brings heroes and villains together for his grand experiments. Given Marvel’s penchant for reinterpreting its source material, the Beyonder’s involvement feels almost inevitable.
MCU Theory: Chris Evans Will Play Beyonder In Avengers: Doomsday
With Chris Evans' return to the MCU, reprising Steve Rogers seems unlikely. After all,Endgamegave the character a poignant and definitive farewell. Instead, Marvel couldfollow a strategy similar to Robert Downey Jr.’s comeback as Doctor Doom: recasting familiar actors in unfamiliar yet pivotal roles.
In the 1985 “Secret Wars II” miniseries, theBeyonder adopts a human form modeled after Captain America.This connection offers a compelling in-universe justification for Evans’ casting. Imagine the meta-layered impact of Evans playing a being who deliberately emulates the MCU’s most iconic hero, only to reveal a vastly different personality and agenda.
Rumors ofDoomsdayandSecret Warstaking place on Battleworld add further weight to this theory. If Battleworld serves as the central arena for multiversal conflicts, the Beyonder’s presence feels like a natural fit. Marvel could reinvent the character’s motivations and aestheticswhile maintaining his reality-bending powers and obsession with humanity. This reinvention would align with the studio’s tendency to modernize its cosmic entities, as seen with Ego inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2and He Who Remains inLoki.
Why Beyonder Is The Perfect Role For Chris Evans’ MCU Return
The Beyonder represents a thrilling opportunity for Chris Evans to flex his acting muscles in ways audiences haven’t seen before. Unlike the grounded and morally centered Steve Rogers, the Beyonder is aflamboyant, enigmatic, and often morally ambiguouscharacter. This would allow Evans to shed his earnest persona and embrace a role that demands charm, eccentricity, and unpredictability.
The Beyonder’s comic origins are notoriously convoluted, ranging from a living embodiment of an entire multiverse to a mutant Inhuman hybrid. This lack of rigid definitiongives Marvel Studios the creative freedom to tailor the character specifically for Evans. They could lean into his charismatic screen presence while adding layers of complexity and menace. The Beyonder could oscillate between a disarmingly friendly facade and a chilling display of power, creating a dynamic that audiences can’t take their eyes off.
Casting Evans as the Beyonder adds an intriguing meta-commentary to the MCU. The Beyonder’s fascination withhumanity mirrors the audience’s fascination with Evans as Captain America. His choice to model his appearance after Steve Rogers would blur the lines between character and actor, offering a poignant exploration of legacy and identity.
Imagine the dramatic tension if the Beyonder, with Evans' familiar face, manipulates the Avengers, forcing them to confront their own multiversal counterparts in the wake of RDJ’s Doom. Thecharacter’s playful yet menacing demeanor could make him a compelling foilto the team. This is particularly applicable to Sam Wilson’s Captain America, who must assert himselfin the shadow of Steve Rogers’s Cap.
Chris Evans’ post-MCU roles have demonstrated his remarkable versatility. InKnives Out,he shed his squeaky-clean image to play the smarmy and manipulative Ransom Drysdale. InThe Gray Man, he embodied a psychotic antagonist with an unsettling mix of charm and menace. These performances provethat Evans can effortlessly pivot from a likable hero to a morally complex or outright villainous character.
Chris Evans' MCU Return In Avengers: Doomsday Means The Controversial Story Stan Lee Loved Can Become A Reality
Chris Evans is set to return to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday, and there is one absolutely perfect role for the former Captain America star to play.
As the Beyonder, Evans could draw on these experiences to craft a performance that’s equal parts captivating and unnerving. Whether the character is toying with the Avengers or grappling with his own existential crisis, Evans’ability to convey depth and nuance would elevate the role. Indeed, ifAvengers: Doomsdayestablishes the Beyonder as a key antagonist, Evans’ star power could anchor the narrative leading intoSecret Wars.
The Beyonder’s omnipotence and curiosity about human nature make him an ideal catalyst for the multiversal chaos that defines the storyline. As the architect of Battleworld, the Beyonder’s interactions with alternate versions of beloved characters would offer endless possibilities for drama and spectacle. Moreover, pairing Evans with other MCU heavyweights, such as Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, would create a dynamic interplay of egos and ideologies, putting a villainous slant on their previous interactions forAvengers: Doomsday.
Avengers: Doomsday
Cast
Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face off against Victor von Doom - played by the returning Robert Downey Jr.. Avengers 5 will also mark the beginning of phase 6 of the MCU.
