Avengers: Endgame gave Captain America the perfect sendoff, with Steve Rogers living out the rest of his life with his longtime love interest, Peggy Carter. He then officially retired by giving his shield to Sam Wilson, marking what was previously thought to be the end of Chris Evans' run as Captain America.
However, a recent report from Deadline indicates a potential deal for the actor to return to his role as the Star-Spangled First Avenger. But just how is the Marvel Cinematic Universe planning on bringing Evans' Captain America back? Here are some theories.
Old Man Cap Was A Skrull
This theory proposes that Old Man Cap from the end of Avengers: Endgame was not actually Steve Rogers at all, but was instead a Skrull. The Nick Fury-led Secret Invasion show coming to Disney+ could possibly deal with Skrulls disguising themselves as superheroes, as was the case in the comics run that inspired the show. Under this theory, Cap could possibly be one of the first superheroes to have been captured and impersonated, effectively kick-starting Secret Invasion. The real Steve Rogers would have also been captured by rogue Skrulls while trying to return from his journey after a brief stop in 1948 with Peggy Carter.
This could also explain the plot hole about why Steve does not return from the exact same place where he left, even though earlier in the movie, it showed the Avengers returning mere seconds onto the same spot after their time travel journey. The older Captain America just seemingly appeared without going through that process, waiting for Sam and Bucky nearby. As well, if Chris Evans is to return as Cap in his prime, the Skrulls could have just taken on the appearance of an old man with a likeness to Steve, as the Skrulls could only take on the appearance of what they can see according to the comics.
Captain America Is From The Multiverse
As the MCU expands into the multiverse, the Steve Rogers that returns might not even be the same one from Phases 1 - 3. Both WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness are expected to introduce the idea of multiple worlds and universes into the MCU, and with that comes the possibility of alternate versions of favorite heroes, including Captain America. The animated What If...? is already introducing "Zombi Cap," so it is not too big of a stretch for Marvel to bring other versions from different universes.
In addition to being from a separate universe, Captain America could also be from another timeline. He could potentially be from the one where the 2014 Thanos died; thus, the Avengers never had to go on the Time Heist. Additionally, the Loki series is clearly set in the alternate timeline created from the events of Endgame, where things could have also turned out vastly different, perhaps with Cap never leaving to return the stones in the first place.
Steve Rogers De-Aged Through The Quantum Tunnel
Given the ever-increasing stakes of Phase 4 and beyond, the Avengers and other heroes may be facing threats that they could not handle on their own. While Captain America is not as strong or invulnerable as some of the other superheroes, his tactical prowess, accuracy and leadership ability is second-to-none. A major threat requiring both brawn and brains could see the Avengers get to a point where they are desperate enough to ask Cap for assistance.
An old man might not be able to do much good on the battlefield, but fortunately there already exists a way to manipulate age in the MCU. If Steve Rogers in his prime is truly needed, they could put him through the Quantum Tunnel that was featured in Endgame. The device was shown to be able to push time through people, effectively changing their age, as was hilariously demonstrated when Scott Lang went in as an adult only to come out as both a baby and an old man.
Pre-Endgame, Flashbacks, or Cameos
The MCU does not shy away from telling tales that are set in the past, as was the case in Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain Marvel. One way to bring Captain America back could be through a film or sequence that is set pre-Endgame. A flashback sequence or perhaps even an entire film could be devoted to Cap's time as a nomad following Civil War, similar to the upcoming Black Widow film.
Another way to bring back Steve without changing the ending of Endgame is to bring him back in a cameo role, perhaps again being impersonated by Loki or a Skrull. Alternatively, he could appear once more in the hilarious PSAs that were first seen in Spider-Man: Homecoming. As well, with the X-Men expected to soon join the MCU, a perfect way to introduce Wolverine would be through a Cap cameo showing him fighting alongside Cap in World War II.