Imagine a world where Captain America himself was slated to make a surprise appearance in The Fantastic Four: First Steps! It sounds like something straight out of a fan-fiction dream, but whispers from the Marvel rumor mill suggest this was once a very real possibility. As we eagerly await the epic showdowns in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, details about past Marvel projects are surfacing, offering fascinating glimpses into what could have been.
The Plot Twist That Almost Was:
According to insider John Rocha, who has a solid track record with Marvel scoops (remember his early leaks about The Punisher and Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?), Chris Evans was initially intended to reprise his role as Steve Rogers in a post-credits scene for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This wouldn't have been just any Steve Rogers, mind you, but the very same one we last saw in Avengers: Endgame. The idea was for the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom to enlist Steve's help in bringing him to the prime MCU timeline, Earth-616, to gain the trust of other heroes. But here's where it gets potentially complicated... Rocha theorized that this scene might have been removed because the initial plan involved Steve working with Doom to fix a problem he inadvertently caused in their world, only for Doom to then betray them. This raises a fascinating question: Could Steve Rogers have been a reluctant ally to Doctor Doom before the villain's ultimate turn?
A Magical Multiverse:
Rocha also dropped another tantalizing hint about Avengers: Doomsday, suggesting that Doctor Doom might command his own version of the 'Black Order' – a formidable group of witches and wizards. This opens the door to the potential involvement of powerful magic-users like Scarlet Witch and even Doctor Strange. And this is the part most people miss... while the comics have their own interpretations of Doom's allies, this insider information points towards a significant magical element in the upcoming Avengers film, potentially impacting characters like Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange.
Adding to the multiversal intrigue, recent reports suggest that Captain America and Peggy Carter might be residing on Earth-828. This could be a consequence of Loki's timeline meddling in Avengers: Endgame, with the TVA perhaps relocating them after altering events.
Piecing Together the Multiverse Puzzle:
With so many intriguing pieces of information swirling around, it's becoming a delightful challenge to assemble the full picture of Marvel's grand plans for Avengers: Doomsday. It's still a mystery whether the Steve Rogers post-credits scene was actually filmed or if its removal was a strategic choice to better set up Doctor Doom's debut, especially since Doom hasn't had the same kind of multi-film build-up as Thanos.
The Star-Studded Lineup:
Avengers: Doomsday is set to feature an incredible ensemble cast, including returning favorites like Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Winston Duke, Tom Hiddleston, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, and Robert Downey Jr. We'll also see new franchise debuts from Wyatt Russell, Simu Liu, Tenoch Huerta Mejia, Mabel Cadena, Florence Pugh, Danny Ramirez, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Lewis Pullman, and India Rose Hemsworth. Joining them are the stars of The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn – as well as X-Men veterans Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden, and even Deadpool & Wolverine's Channing Tatum. Rumors also point to Ryan Reynolds and Hayley Atwell making appearances.
Directed by the Russo Brothers and co-written by Stephen McFeely, with contributions from Michael Waldron, Avengers: Doomsday is slated for release on December 18, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027.
Now, over to you! What do you think about the idea of Steve Rogers potentially working with Doctor Doom? Does this scrapped scene change your perspective on the upcoming Avengers films? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
