Mackie's Captain America: A Permanent MCU Role?

Since Chris Evans hung up his Captain America shield in Avengers: Endgame, rumors of his return as Steve Rogers have persisted. He's repeatedly denied them, claiming retirement. Yet, these rumors are fueled by a key difference between the MCU and comic books: in comics, nobody truly stays dead.

Death and rebirth are common in comics. Steve Rogers' assassination in the 2007 Civil War storyline was a pivotal moment, leading to Bucky Barnes taking up the mantle. But this, like Steve's death, proved temporary. Rogers' return was explained, restoring him to his "rightful" place. Years later, Steve's super-soldier serum was neutralized, aging him drastically, and Sam Wilson (The Falcon) became Captain America—a storyline mirroring the MCU's Captain America: Brave New World.

However, Steve's aging was later reversed in the comics, returning him to his role. This, along with similar storylines for characters like Batman and Spider-Man, explains the persistence of rumors about Chris Evans' return. The original always comes back, right? But is Anthony Mackie's Captain America permanent?

"I hope so!" Mackie stated in a recent interview. "I think the life span of Sam Wilson as Captain America depends on how well the movie does. So go see the movie!"

Mackie's chances of retaining the shield are stronger than Sebastian Stan's ever were. While Bucky's tenure ended in the comics, Steve and Sam later shared the mantle—both wielding the shield and embodying Captain America. Even if Chris Evans returns in future Avengers films, Mackie has a strong claim to the title.

However, the MCU differs from the comics. Since 2008, the MCU has emphasized permanence. Villains generally stay dead. This suggests Steve Rogers' farewell might be final.

"We're aware it's hard for some to let go of Steve Rogers," says Nate Moore, producer of Captain America: Brave New World. "But by the end, audiences will feel Sam Wilson *is* Captain America, full stop."

When asked if Mackie is the permanent Captain America, Moore confirms: "He is. He is. And we're so happy to have him."

Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson is the MCU's Captain America until his storyline concludes. This permanence creates higher stakes; there's no easy return. Natasha Romanoff, Thanos, and Tony Stark are gone. Steve Rogers is… well, retired.

"When Tony Stark dies, that's a big deal," says Julius Onah, director of Captain America: Brave New World. "It was a treat to work with Sam's role in the MCU."

"It's exciting to see how he leads the Avengers going forward," Onah adds.

By establishing permanence, Marvel aims to avoid the cyclical nature of the comics. "Sam is Captain America, not Steve Rogers," Moore explains. "He's a different person, and his Avengers might be different. The way he leads could be completely different."

With many original Avengers gone, the MCU's next major event will differ from the Infinity War/Endgame era. But Anthony Mackie will be central, leading the Avengers as the one and only Captain America. The MCU isn't known for casting stunts, is it?