Yesterday, it was reported by The Wrap that Phase One actor Chris Evans is going to be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in an undisclosed capacity for “Avengers: Doomsday.” The expectation has been since the summer that we might see some actors who have exited the MCU make a grand return. However, the outlet is keeping mum beyond that and doesn’t seem exactly aware if Evans is going to be suiting back up as Steve Rogers or someone else completely (recastings don’t seem to be off the table given the Multiverse angle).

A return for Evans isn’t exactly new information either, trades like Deadline had previously stated he was trying to work out an unnamed “new project” with Marvel Studios that, which ultimately could have been more about him reprising his Fox-era version of “Fantastic Four” member Johnny Storm in last summer’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” Although, we should point out Evans, in theory, could be playing a new character entirely in “Doomsday” like how Robert Downey Jr. was announced at San Diego Comic-Con as the villainous Doctor Doom after playing Iron Man.

Perhaps, they’re trying to get some of the original actors to play villains in the film? It is certainly plausible as “Avengers: Endgame” teased the idea of the Hydra-backed version of Rogers.

While some fans might be giddy about the prospect of the return of “Steve Rogers” (who was established as old-as-hell at the end of “Avengers: Endgame’), it’s unclear how substantial the return is actually going to be and if it’ll be more than a cameo/flashback. There also doesn’t seem to be a clear idea if he’s even playing Rogers, although, in the comics, an older version of Rogers was still kicking ass even if Sam Wilson had taken the Captain America mantle.

There was a funny conspiracy theory mentioned in “The Falcon & The Winter Soldier,” that Rogers was now living on the moon. While a return for Rogers is likely, given the comics established an older Rogers in hero mode, we’ll have to wait for more information about all this.

This news comes after Evans has had a few critical hiccups recently with features such as “The Gray Man,” “Ghosted,” “Pain Hustlers,” and “Red One” not exactly electrifying folks after the actor gracefully exited the MCU. His minor stint in “Deadpool & Wolverine” wasn’t terribly distracting and he seemed like he had fun doing it, including his foul-mouth rant used as the film’s stinger/post-credit scene.

It’s hard to make an in-depth call on the thinking behind having The Russo Brothers back as directors (after some post-MCU misfires) alongside newly minted Oscar-winner Robert Downey Jr. and now Evans. But it’s starting to give the vibe that Marvel/Disney is increasingly desperate to recreate the magic of the last two “Avengers” installments after some perceived stumples on a handful of their film and TV projects. This could simply be the studio’s attempt at hedging their bets that more callbacks are going to draw more people to the theater and boost the box office appeal. All while at the same time event sequels like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and the aforementioned “Deadpool & Wolverine” have certainly established that if you cram in enough nostalgia fan service, and callbacks, even if the story/scripts are weak, folks will show up in impressive numbers.

In our opinion, it is only a matter of time before we start hearing Scarlett Johansson’s (leading next year’s “Jurassic World Rebirth”) name being thrown around as well, as it looks like Marvel isn’t too interested in letting these actors move on with their careers (or potentially their characters) and are somewhat relying heavily on recapture the magic on the last two “Avengers” installments after bailing on “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” (had “Spider-Man 4” and “Shang-Chi” director Destin Daniel Cretton set to helm) due to Jonathan Major’s legal issues leading to his firing and Marvel sort of icing the Multiverse villain in the second season of “Loki.”

I’m not exactly thrilled by these stunt castings of “Avengers: Doomsday,” maybe, it won’t feel as much of a headache in the final film and undoes the great ending of “Avengers: Endgame.”

SOURCE: THE WRAP