Avengers Doomsday: what if the return of Steve Rogers was actually very bad news?

All it took was one leak to ignite the web. While spectators rush to the cinema to discover Avatar 3 : Of fire and ashes (read our review), it’s another very short video that has set the Internet in turmoil – and especially Marvel fans. The subject? The very first teaser ofAvengers: Doomsdaywhich was released before its time.

We will not detail the content of this sequence at this stage of the subject, to preserve those who wish to keep the surprise intact. Just know that if these images are authentic, they confirm a persistent rumor about the casting, while calling into question the shocking end of the Infinity Saga, in the MCU.

But be careful: if you continue reading after the warning, you will then enter the territory of spoilers and theories based on leaks.

Warning: the following contains revelations about the leaked video.

An unwitting antagonist in Doomsday ?

The leaked video is very clear: actor Chris Evans, who plays Steve Rogers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is back. Not in the form of a peaceful old man, like the one we saw sitting on a bench at the end ofAvengers: Endgame (2019). Nor in the form of a memory that would grip the other heroes with emotion.

The Steve Rogers we see appears in the prime of life, visibly in full possession of his incredible physical abilities. He appears to still be living in the 1950s, holding a newborn in his arms, alongside Peggy Carter, whom he met in Captain America: First Avenger (2011), and later became his wife.

The sequence then ends with a key sentence: “ Steve Rogers will return in Avengers: Doomsday “. Note that the hero is not qualified here with his superhero name (Captain America) but by his civilian name. Firstly because this role has been entrusted to Sam Wilson since Endgame. Then, because Steve Rogers could be… an unintentional antagonist.

Indeed, once the immediate emotion has passed, if we take a step back and try to put together all the pieces of the puzzle that constitutes the lore of the MCU, this return could be nothing really joyful. And that dark days are undoubtedly brewing with Doomsdayscheduled for 2026, and its direct sequel, Secret Warsexpected for 2027.

The theory: an incursion provoked by Steve Rogers

In the MCU, there is talk of a particular concept called “incursion”, which is mentioned in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). It is a destructive collision between two parallel universes – since Endgame, we have in fact left the arc of the Infinite Saga to enter that of the Multiverse Saga.

Until now, these incursions were thought to be caused by dark magic or Strange’s interdimensional travels, and the reckless demands of Peter Parker (Spider-Man) in No Way Home (2021). But perhaps there is something more serious than the imprudence of a magician. The greatest danger in this area could come from Steve Rogers.

By choosing to stay in the past to live the life he was unable to have due to the war and his faculties, Steve not only took a well-deserved retirement. The leak suggests that it generated a line, and therefore a massive temporal branching. A branch that has grown, over the years, in parallel, and in competition, with the main timeline.

So the theory is this: the reality of Steve & Peggy in the 50s has become too cumbersome.

It would become unstable, invasive and would therefore be collapsing on our present. From then on, the return of Steve Rogers would almost be the result of chance: he does not return to save Earth-616 (the earth of the main timeline), but because his reality is in the process of colliding with his old universe.

Clues from the MCU that support this lead

We know that the Steve Rogers version of the incursion has already been a subject discussed among fans for several years. And obviously, this hypothesis is experiencing renewed interest, as evidenced by this Inverse topic and the recent discussion topics opened on X, Reddit and elsewhere. Furthermore, other clues point in this direction

First, Clea’s warning.

At the end of Multiverse of MadnessClea (Charlize Theron) appears to tell Strange: “ You caused an incursion and we will fix it “. We could say that it was because of the Darkhold spell, but perhaps Clea is talking not about Strange’s individual action, but about the collective action of the Avengers.

Given Clea’s profile in Marvel and her great power, she possibly has a very good overview of the multiverse. In other words, we can also say that she detected the big problem caused by the time travel ofEndgameletting Steve Rogers go back to the past and create a rival timeline.

Then, the concept of the Agglomerator.

In Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), we learn of the existence of individuals who are vital to the stability of their universe. For example, this is the case of Logan from Earth-1005, where Wade Wilson / Deadpool is located. The latter then sees his universe deteriorate due to the death of his Agglomerator, which is then the beginning of the adventures of the film.

A similar problem potentially exists here with Steve: by leaving his time stream to live his life in the past, an anchoring paradox could have arisen. Earth-616 has lost its Agglomerator (or one of them), which would lead to its collapse or, at least, its collision with the other reality, as if the multiverse was trying to fix this bug.

Finally, the flaw of The Marvels

The tear in space-time seen at the end of The Marvels (2023) already showed that the separation between realities had become porous – with the presence of a famous X-Men on the screen. A sign that realities are overflowing into each other and that the multiverse is becoming more and more agitated in the face of paradoxes and ruptures.

Steve Rogers versus Doctor Doom: the tragic duel

This is perhaps where the choice of Robert Downey Jr. to play Dr. Doom takes on real narrative meaning, beyond the obvious marketing coup and the pleasure of bringing together the three main “Avengers” on screen (Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr and Chris Hemsworth, as Thor). If this theory is correct, we could be in for a terrible moral conflict.

Just imagine: an incursion is underway. Two realities, two Earths will collide. To save the main timeline (Earth-616, that of the MCU), the other must be sacrificed. However, on this other Earth, there are Steve, Peggy and their child. Who will be cold enough to do it? Who will erase the rival world? Actually, who else but Doctor Doom?

This could be a tragic and symbolically strong face-off for fans: Dr. Doom, who is played by Robert Downey Jr., who played Tony Stark / Iron Man, the same one who sacrificed himself to save the universe, facing a Steve Rogers, the one who unwittingly condemned the universe for his personal happiness. A Civil War (2016), only worse.

This is all still very theoretical and hypothetical. It would be a risk for the studio. However, if Avengers: Doomsday takes this path anyway, it would bring a fascinating depth to the story: the bittersweet ending of Endgame would then appear like a fatal error. Steve should have been prevented from returning to the past.

Clearly, Captain America’s “happy ending” was perhaps only an enchanted parenthesis, but it must now be closed. We cannot deceive time with impunity for too long, and at the risk of paying dearly for it. Very expensive. And the addition here could well be called Dr. Doom. See you in December 2026 to see if this tragedy will happen.

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