Marvel confirming Chris Evans’ return as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday has sparked a wave of excitement online, with many fans welcoming the move as a major win for the MCU’s Multiverse Saga after years of failure.
The reveal came via a teaser trailer currently playing in theaters alongside Avatar: Fire and Ash, with leaked footage quickly spreading online like wildfire.
While some fans and outlets have focused on backlash (their bluesky handles say it all), a majority of the fan response has been overwhelmingly positive, fueled by nostalgia and excitement over the original Avengers lineup reuniting under the Russo brothers.
Nostalgia Hits Hard for Longtime MCU Fans
A recurring theme in fan reactions is nostalgia. Many viewers say seeing Evans back as Steve Rogers immediately brought back memories of the Infinity Saga’s peak years.
One fan wrote that the teaser “hit me right in the childhood,” while another called the combination of Chris Evans returning and Robert Downey Jr. playing Doctor Doom “legendary,” adding that Marvel is “cooking something legendary.”
Others focused on Evans himself, praising his look and presence in the footage, with reactions like “He hasn’t looked this good in YEARS” and “That’s the nostalgia hit we all needed… my heart’s already racing.”
Day-One Hype Builds for Avengers: Doomsday
Beyond nostalgia, many fans made it clear Evans’ return alone is enough to guarantee opening-night attendance.
“I will be there day one, idc,” one fan posted, while others celebrated the moment with blunt enthusiasm, declaring “CAPTAIN AMERICA RETURNS” and “HE’S BACK.”
Some longtime MCU fans described the casting as a reminder of what originally made the franchise work, with comments praising Evans and Downey Jr. for still delivering “peak” Steve Rogers energy years after Endgame.
Multiverse Saga Embraces Its Biggest Strengths
While some criticism exists around revisiting characters who seemingly had final endings in Avengers: Endgame, supporters argue Avengers: Doomsday is designed to be a massive Multiverse event, not a passing-the-torch story.
With the Russo brothers returning, Evans back as Steve Rogers, and Downey Jr. entering the MCU as Doctor Doom, many fans see Marvel leaning into proven strengths to anchor the next Avengers era.
For these fans, the excitement isn’t about replacing newer heroes, but about delivering a true event film that feels worthy of the Avengers name.
Fans Remain Unconvinced by Anthony Mackie’s Captain America
While many fans are celebrating Chris Evans’ return, others point to ongoing dissatisfaction with Anthony Mackie’s tenure as Captain America as a major factor behind Marvel’s pivot.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier failed to become a breakout hit for Disney+. The show’s heavy-handed messaging and uneven storytelling turned off a portion of the audience rather than building momentum for Sam Wilson as the new Captain America.
That lack of enthusiasm carried over into Mackie’s first solo film.
Captain America: Brave New World bombed at the box office and is now the worst-performing Captain America movie in the franchise.
Marvel Studios has since begun pulling back from its Disney+ strategy. The company has been scaling down budgets, reducing content, and — most notably — separating Disney+ shows from the main MCU movie continuity.
Disneyland is also using the Steve Rogers Captain America, not the Anthony Mackie version.
For critics of Sam Wilson’s Captain America, Chris Evans’ return isn’t undoing Endgame — it’s Marvel responding to what fans actually showed up for.
