All good things must come to an end, unless it’s the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Then, you just throw the actor into the multiverse, and out comes a new beginning. In an unsurprising surprise move by Marvel, The Wrap exclusively reports that Chris Evans is set to make his formal return to the MCU.
No official details are known, but word is that Evans will be involved in some capacity with the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film, which is centered around his Avengers brother Robert Downey Jr’s return to the MCU as Dr. Doom. This news isn’t all that shocking, since it comes less than half a year after Evans surprised audiences with his appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine reprising his somewhat ignominious role as Johnny Storm from the Fantastic Four franchise.
It would be safe to assume Evans will return in Avengers: Doomsday as the Human Torch since Dr. Doom is a major adversary of the Fantastic Four in the comics, and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has said that “all those [Fantastic Four] characters go right into the next Avengers movies.” However, unless it’s a multiversal Fantastic Four team-up, Evans’ Torch possibilities are doused by the fact Stranger Things actor Joseph Quinn will be playing Johnny Storm in the upcoming movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Also, if Evans was convinced to rejoin the MCU like Downey was, we should expect the unexpected. On The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, weeks after revealing at San Diego Comic Con that he’d be playing Dr. Doom, Downey explained how Feige persuaded him to take the role Doom by intimating that it would be a way to push the MCU forward and beat expectations. What is more surprising than arguably the most beloved hero in MCU history becoming a villain?
Turning the second-most beloved hero in MCU history into a villain as well is not out of the realm of possibility. In any case, it’s feeling like the gang is getting back together. Benedict Cumberbatch recently told Variety that he’s interested in seeing where his Doctor Strange character goes in the future, saying, “There is a lot more to play and it’s very exciting.”
Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026. Prepare for all of this to be completely different by that time.