Captain America in the Marvel Universe: Who’s next?
Marvel/Disney announced last week that The Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) will be getting their own series on the upcoming Disney streaming service.
With big changes coming in Avengers: Endgame, the biggest question isn’t who’ll live, but who comes next for the Captain America mantle?
Chris Evans has also repeatedly cryptically implied that he’s done all he wants with Captain America.
“I think just the completion of the arc. That’s safe to say, right? This movie does kind of provide an ending… he’s been through so much.”
The actor may have taken to social media to bid farewell to the role of Captain America but he later clarified that by saying fans shouldn’t read too much into his remarks.
While Evans has said for a while now that he’s ready to move on from the MCU, there’s really no reason for him to turn down a big money contract for a handful of additional appearances.
The question this brings up is: who will be the next Captain America? In recent comics both Winter Soldier and The Falcon had taken the mantle for stretches of time.
With those two characters and actors locked into a small screen series, who else currently in–or hinted at existing in–the MCU has potential to wield the shield?
So let’s talk about the editor’s choice first candidate. No prizes for guessing! Let’s dive straight into it.
HAWKEYE
The most well-known of potential inheritors is probably Clint Barton. It’s known that Clint turns up alive in Avengers: Endgame.
In the comics, after Captain America’s death at the end of the Civil War storyline (much different than the movie version), Iron Man asked Clint take over the role, which he ultimately turned down.
In the Marvel Comics Universe, there has always been a long-simmering rivalry between the two characters, which hasn’t been played up in the movies.
There’s currently a Hawkeye miniseries planned for Disney+, which could set up the evolution of Hawkeye.
Moving Hawkeye into the role would be a good “promotion” for Jeremy Renner.
It also opens the door for some youth: making room to introduce Kate Bishop, the second Marvel Comics Hawkeye, who has been a fan favorite in several series over the past decade.
Renner’s films The Born Legacy, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, and Tag haven’t taken off. Disney might not think he has the box office prowess.
QUICK RECAP OF WHERE WE LEFT
Marvel fans will get one last chance to see Chris Evans in his role as Captain America. Avengers: Endgame is set to hit theaters later this year, on April 26th.
This final installment will be the conclusion of the current MCU story.
Fans will remember when half of the universe’s population was wiped from existence at the end of Avengers: Infinity War – which included half of the Avengers.
The remaining Avengers must band together to once again stop Thanos, and figure out a way to undo the catastrophic things he did throughout the last movie – especially in the final few moments.
