Marvel Studios has spent years teasing the future of the Avengers without clearly defining who will actually lead the next era of the team. The MCU has added dozens of new heroes, tried out different tones and scales, and gone deep into the Multiverse since ‘Avengers: Endgame’.
However, one question has remained unanswered: who will be the emotional and narrative focus in ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘ when the original Avengers are no longer in the spotlight?
Marvel Might’ve Solved Its Avengers Future Problem With Steve Rogers’ Son
Amazingly, the original ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘ trailer might have provided an answer through suggestion. By disclosing that Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter have a child, Marvel could be establishing the basis of a whole new generation of leadership, one that is not based on legacy, but rather symbolism, lineage, and long-term narratives. It is not merely about Captain America returning. It is about what follows him.
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Marvel has been gradually putting together the Young Avengers puzzle, even though it has not fully invested in the team on screen for much of the Multiverse Saga. Kate Bishop, Kamala Khan, America Chavez, Cassie Lang, and Billy Maximoff are all characters who have been presented with obvious potential. On paper, the setup is there. The execution has been uneven, however. Part of the problem is time. The MCU is not as fast as the characters are supposed to be.
And many young heroes are already outgrowing the term. Another issue is cohesion. Although every character has its supporters, the Young Avengers do not have a central figure. This is where Steve Rogers’ son comes in. With the introduction of Captain America’s child in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, Marvel immediately links the future of the franchise to one of its most popular foundations. Steve Rogers is not only a former Avenger, but the ethical foundation of the MCU.
The Infinity Saga was characterized by his values, sacrifices, and leadership style. So, an heir of his bears that emotional burden in his blood. In case Marvel decides to make him a future team leader, be it of the Young Avengers or a reformed version of the Avengers, it addresses several issues simultaneously. It provides viewers with an emotional point of reference. And it escapes the weariness of having to keep on reintroducing new chosen ones with no connection to the past.
This would not be imitating Steve Rogers. It would be developing his ideals to a new age. Marvel has already taken an interest in such storytelling with Black Panther. The same philosophy may be used here. Steve Rogers’s son does not have to wear a suit immediately. His importance lies in what he represents: continuity, hope, and the idea that heroism can be inherited without being recycled.
How ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Can Make It Work
Naturally, there is one obvious obstacle: in ‘Doomsday’, Steve Rogers’ son is a baby. However, in a franchise that is based on time travel and multiversal fractures aging a character is no big deal. The trailer does not specify when in the timeline Steve returns. We only know that he is living in the alternate reality he created at the end of ‘Endgame’. That gives Marvel massive flexibility. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ might simply drag an older iteration of Steve Rogers into the current MCU, with a teenage or young adult son.
In case you missed it: Why Marvel Is Treating ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Trailers Like Chapters, Not Teasers
Moreover, this would not be the first time. Marvel Comics has already experimented with the same concept, and even Marvel Animation has experimented with the concept in Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow. In the comics, James Rogers, Captain America’s son, is leading a new generation of heroes. While that story paired him with Black Widow instead of Peggy Carter, the core idea remains compelling: Captain America’s legacy doesn’t end with Steve Rogers himself. Moreover, the MCU adaptation of that idea would give Marvel the fresh start it requires after ‘Secret Wars’.
