It’s been nearly six years since Chris Evans’Captain Americaretired from theMCUinAvengers: Endgame, but the erstwhile Avengers leader has been referenced every year since his departure save for one notable exception.Steve Rogers' MCU arccame to a satisfyingconclusion inAvengers: Endgamewhen, for the first time, Steve capitalized on the opportunity to look out for number one and visit the 1940s to be with Peggy Carter. Returning to the present after having lived several decades, Rogers remains coy about his life with Peggy and bequeaths his shield and mantle to Sam Wilson.
Despite ostensibly bowing out of the MCU at this point, theMultiverse Saga has been replete with referencesto Cap, ensuring that his legacy endures to an extent that even exceeds that of Tony Stark. In fact, every year since has featured at least one nod to Steve Rogers,with the obvious exception being 2020 as the global pandemic prevented any MCU releases. Just a few weeks into 2025, this trend has continued within the latest MCU trailer.
The Daredevil: Born Again Trailer Has The MCU’s Latest Reference To Steve Rogers
Rogers: The Musical Appears Briefly In New York City
Thefirst trailer forDaredevil: Born Again, which is due to premiere on March 4, was recently released and gives the first R-rated look atDaredevil’s return to the MCU. The show looks poised to explore Wilson Fisk’s political ascent to the Mayor of New York, with Daredevil apparently being driven back to vigilantism after retiring. Shots of Wilson Fisk addressing the denizens of New York in Times Square feature a handful of Easter eggs,
The fictional-turned-real musical centers on the life of Steve Rogers leading up to his Endgame departure as seen from the perspective of an average citizen in the MCU, meaning it is rife with intentional inaccuracies.
Rogers: The Musicalhas popped up multiple timesin most of the MCU’s New York-based movies and shows. After debuting inHawkeye, where the mid-credits scene of the season finale featured the musical number “Save the City” in full, it would be developed into a real-life, one-act show that ran for a short time at the Hyperion Theater in Disney California Adventure in Anaheim.The fictional-turned-real musical centers on the life of Steve Rogers leading up to hisEndgamedepartureas seen from the perspective of an average citizen in the MCU, meaning it is rife with intentional inaccuracies.
Every MCU Reference To Steve Rogers Since His Retirement In Avengers: Endgame
The Majority Of Mcu Releases Since Endgame Have Referenced Steve Rogers
Given that Steve Rogers was the leader of the Avengers, who have yet to reassemble sinceAvengers: Endgame, it’s no surprise that his MCU legacy boasts such staying power. Even when movies likeSpider-Man: Far From Home, the final movie of the Infinity Saga, focus heavily on Iron Man’s legacy,Rogers is still referenced in such moments as Happy Hogan’s ineffectual use of a shield to defend against a Stark drone(followed by the line “How does Cap do that?"). Minor references like these and larger ones in shows likeThe Falcon and the Winter Soldiernow litter the MCU.
2021
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
2022
2023
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
2024
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Daredevil: Born Again
While the most prolific reference to Steve Rogers isRogers: The Musical- which stands to reason given the prevalence ofNew York-based MCU shows and movies-it’s hard to ignore the amount of Rogers references that even occur outside his hometown. These even extend to the far reaches of space inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3and alternate universes inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This raises the question of why Marvel Studios is leaning so heavily into Rogers' legacy - but the upcoming reappearance of Chris Evans might provide the answer.
Chris Evans' Upcoming MCU Return Makes More Sense After All Of Marvel’s References
The MCU Appears To Be Gearing Up For A Villainous Rogers
While it makes sense that the MCU would continue to champion Steve Rogers' legacy, it could just as easily refrain from keeping him at the forefront of audiences' minds as the Multiverse Saga attempts to spotlight newer characters - like Sam Wilson’s Captain America, for example. Yet it was recently confirmed that Chris Evans will appear inAvengers: Doomsday, the first Avengers movie since Cap left the franchise inAvengers: Endgame. While his role has not been confirmed,Cap’s prolonged prevalence in the MCU is a big hint that Evans will be reprising this role.
Captain America’s 11 MCU Appearances Ranked
As a core and founding member of The Avengers, Stever Rogers, aka Captain America, has had a number of starring and cameo appearances in the MCU.
This will most likely be as a Steve Rogers variant, givenAvengers: Doomsdayis expected to focus heavily on the multiverse and its potential destruction. The prevailing theory is that Evans will portray a villainous variant like Hydra Supreme. If so, thenthe continued spotlighting of Steve Rogers' heroics might be an intentional move by Marvel Studios to intensify the impact of his villainous return. GivenCaptain Americais more unambiguously virtuous than Tony Stark, it might even exceed the impact of Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doctor Doom, whose MO draws a few parallels to Iron Man.
Captain America
Initially debuting in 1940, Captain America is the patriotically themed superhero who has shared the title with only a few individuals. Beginning with Steve Rogers, Captain America’s birth resulted from a frail man taking part in an experimental U.S. Army super-soldier trial, which imbued him with super-human abilities. The character is often depicted wielding a nigh unbreakable and aerodynamic shield made of vibranium that they use to defend and attack their foes.
