One of the strangest fan theories surrounding ‘Avengers: Endgame’ completely reimagines Steve Rogers‘ emotional farewell. According to the theory, the elderly man who handed Sam Wilson the Captain America shield wasn’t actually Steve at all; it was Loki in disguise.
‘Avengers: Endgame’s Old Steve Rogers May Have Been Loki All Along
The theory starts with Steve’s commitment to Peggy Carter when he returned the Infinity Stones. Steve was supposed to go back to his original reality, so by staying, he could have created another branch reality. Eventually, that branch might have become a threat to the multiverse, and Loki might have intervened.
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This reading suggests that Loki told Steve that his life outside his timeline was causing him trouble. Instead of forcing Steve to abandon Peggy, Loki suggested to him that he move him and his family to another universe, where they would be able to coexist in peace. Steve supposedly agreed, but requested that Loki do one more favor: return to the main timeline and give Sam Wilson the shield.
The Bench Makes The Theory Even Stranger
The most significant clue fans can point to is Old Steve’s location. In ‘Endgame’, the Avengers go back in time and come out on the same platform throughout the movie. However, as Sam and Bucky get to the lakeside, Steve is already sitting on a nearby bench.
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This immediately brings up the question of how he got there. The theory claims the answer is Loki. Loki could have used a TVA TemPad to show up in the main timeline as Steve. It would also account for the fact that the older Steve acts a bit differently from the younger hero we’ve seen.
He calmly hands Sam the shield, says goodbye, and disappears from the story without explaining exactly how he returned. Despite being a theory, the bench detail is undeniably intriguing. Sometimes the smallest continuity mysteries are the ones that keep Marvel fans theorizing years later.
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