With ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ inching closer, fans are eagerly speculating on the many directions the Marvel Cinematic Universe could take. One of the most intriguing and emotionally charged theories gaining traction is the idea of a villainous version of Steve Rogers’ Captain America appearing in the upcoming film.
While this might sound like a betrayal of everything the character stands for, ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ might have already planted the seeds for such a possibility. Coupled with Marvel Comics’ lore and the infinite possibilities introduced by the Multiverse Saga, this theory may not be as far-fetched as it initially seems.
Red Skull And The Soul Stone Could Give Rise To HYDRA Steve Rogers
To understand how an evil Steve Rogers could plausibly emerge in ’Avengers: Doomsday’, we need to rewind to one of ‘Infinity War’s most unexpected twists: the return of Red Skull. No longer a physical threat to the Avengers, he was revealed as the stonekeeper of Vormir. He was to guard the Soul Stone after attempting to use the Tesseract for his own gain.
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This revelation subtly reopened a narrative thread that had seemingly ended with ‘Captain America: The First Avenger.’ However, what if Red Skull’s story didn’t end there? Imagine a universe where Red Skull did manage to use the Soul Stone. Perhaps he sacrificed someone close to him, or even himself, to access its soul-manipulating powers. With the Soul Stone capable of altering the very essence of a person, this Red Skull could reshape Steve Rogers into a tool of HYDRA.
This isn’t without precedent in Marvel Comics. In the Secret Empire storyline, an aging Steve Rogers is restored to youth using a sentient Cosmic Cube named Kobik (which is tied to the MCU’s Tesseract). Unbeknownst to him, Red Skull uses this opportunity to implant false memories that convince Steve he has been a HYDRA agent all along. In the MCU, a similar trajectory could be constructed. Infinity War’s Red Skull twist can be merged with Endgame’s unresolved mystery of what happened when Steve returned the Stones.
A HYDRA Captain America Holds A Lot Of Narrative Power
Imagine the emotional gravity of a scene where Sam Wilson or Bucky Barnes faces off against Steve Rogers who looks and fights exactly like their old friend. But now he fights for HYDRA. Even more compelling is the thematic resonance this could have when paired with Robert Downey Jr.’s return as a variant Doctor Doom. If Doom is a dark mirror to Tony Stark, then an evil Cap could serve as a similar counterbalance.
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It could remind audiences of how easily strength and conviction can become tyranny when twisted. These two fallen heroes could symbolize the cost of unchecked ambition and misplaced loyalty. They could resonate with lessons their original versions spent entire arcs learning. Chris Evans has publicly denied returning as Cap. However, Marvel actors denying involvement before a surprise reveal is practically tradition at this point.
Andrew Garfield’s repeated denials before ‘No Way Home’ are now a meme in themselves. Given Evans’ previous portrayals of morally gray characters (like the Human Torch) the idea of him exploring a darker, more complex version of Cap could be exciting. Fans would likely welcome his return with a mix of excitement and dread. Seeing Evans back in the iconic uniform, but spouting HYDRA, would be a gut punch to longtime viewers. Yet, it would also be thrilling.
