By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Avengers: Endgame was a genuine triumph that showcased Marvel at its finest hour. It was genuinely thrilling seeing all of our favorite heroes come together to defeat Thanos once and for all. However, their ultimate victory came at a very high cost: Tony Stark sacrificed his life to undo the damage caused by the Mad Titan while finally removing his evil from the universe. Compared to that hero’s final fate, Steve Rogers got a far better ending. After returning the Infinity Stones to where and when they came, he stayed in the past to live happily ever after with Peggy Carter, the love of his life.
Endgame was, of course, meant to be a swan song for the former Captain America, and he even passed the shield on to Sam Wilson. Now, however, Steve Rogers is returning for Avengers: Doomsday, a movie that will pit him against a new foe with a startlingly familiar face. But what does this return mean for that happy ending Cap waited so long to get? From the sounds of it, nothing good. At a recent fan event, Captain America actor Chris Evans confirmed his character will suffer a very “brutal” fate.
From America’s Ass To America’s Dad
Because Avengers: Doomsday doesn’t come out until December 18, Chris Evans knows better than to spoil the plot of this highly-anticipated superhero crossover. However, he does like to tease fans with small glimpses of what they can expect to see. Case in point? During a Q&A session at the recent Fan Expo Boston, he admitted that the Doomsday directors love to torment his character. “The Russos love beating up Steve Rogers…To them, that’s what makes a hero, and that’s someone who gets punched so many times but still gets up,” he said. “So they keep finding new ways to kick his butt. And this one was brutal.”
Based on this description, it sounds like the Russos have a pretty good handle on what makes Captain America, Mr. “I can do this all day,” actually work. That’s hardly surprising, though. Before they brought us Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, they directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War. It’s fair to say that these directors have shaped Cap more than anyone else in the MCU. Now, it seems they are playing God with their favorite character: they gave Steve Rogers a happy ending, and they aren’t afraid to take it back!
Facing His Doom
But what “brutal” fate actually awaits Captain America in Avengers: Doomsday? While nothing has been confirmed, leaked plot details from alleged insiders paint a very bleak picture. We’re going to cover those details, but be warned: if the leaks are true, then this constitutes a massive spoiler for Doomsday. If you want to go into the movie knowing as few details as possible, this is your chance. Otherwise, keep reading to know what’s going to have you crying in the theater in a few months!
So, what’s gonna happen to Cap? According to the leaks, it all goes back to those original teaser trailers for Avengers: Doomsday. They very prominently featured heroes’ children, including Steve Rogers’ son, whom we see as a baby. The kid represents the happy union of Steve and Peggy Carter, but that happiness came at a price. The leaked plot claims that Steve’s time-travel antics caused an incursion that threatened Doctor Doom’s world. When Doom fails to stop the incursion, it causes an accident that kills his wife and son before it destroys his universe. In retaliation, Doom kills Steve’s son right in front of him in an “eye for an eye” type of vengeance.
In a few months, we’ll know if the leaks are true and if Captain America’s fight against Doom results in the shocking murder of his son. Even if the leaks are fake, though, there’s no doubt that our favorite Marvel hero will go through a physical and emotional wringer in Avengers: Doomsday. Will he maintain his heroism in the face of this ultimate trial, or will Steve finally encounter a challenge that makes him turn evil? We’ll find out together when Doomsday hits theaters December 18.