Many fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are looking forward to Avengers: Secret Wars. Even after Avengers: Endgame, fans were eager to see more of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Chris Evans’ Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
As speculation about the Multiverse continues to ramp up, reports suggest that Iron Man and Captain America actors might be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Phase 6 of the Multiverse Saga will come to a close with the release of The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars in 2025.
With Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson in place as Captain America, talk of Evans and Downey Jr. remains speculative at this point. Many signs point to both MCU legends returning before the present storyline concludes and a new one starts in the years to follow.
Chris Evans Could Make a Comeback in Avengers: Secret War
In the past, the Marvel veteran has made it plain that he thinks Avengers: Endgame’s finale is flawless, and anything that screws with it would demand an almost perfect formula.
It seems to me that Evans’ biggest concern seems to be finding a compelling cause to reprise his role as Steve Rogers as someone other than Captain America, whose mantle is presently held by Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson. Following his retirement as Captain America, Rogers has taken the nom de plume of Nomad, who has been speculated to be working on his own Marvel Studios project at the moment.
Because of this, the return of Rogers to the Earth-616 version of the Marvel Universe looks to be a priority for Evans. For all his disinterest in fan service, Evans has shown an interest in returning as the Human Torch from the Fantastic Four in the Multiverse. The actor has previously said that repeating his 2005 character was an easier sell for him than returning as Captain America due to the beautiful finish that his MCU hero had.
In spite of the fact that he doesn’t want to spoil what a magnificent experience portraying Captain America was, Evans believes his Human Torch didn’t really get his day. If Evans does return for Secret Wars, it may be as his Fantastic Four hero rather than the MCU icon, unless Kevin Feige can come up with a compelling reason for him to do so.
How Avengers: Secret Wars Could Bring Back RDJ
Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man was killed off in Avengers: Endgame, ending a decade-long journey through the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite the fact that Downey Jr. is moving on to other projects, fans are still clamoring for him to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
If the MCU’s most excellent star is brought back from the dead, it must happen in a significant big-screen production in order to attract a tremendous audience response. Ironheart and Armor Wars on Disney+ have sparked some fan speculation about how Tony Stark may fit in, but it’s unlikely.
Given the alternatives, it looks like Downey Jr. will return in Secret Wars as a Variant when the Avengers run against a different version of Iron Man. As with Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. has a never-say-die attitude towards returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Meanwhile, the Russo Brothers have described how Iron Man’s return has to be earned and surprising and shock audiences.
Re-joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Finding a compelling cause to bring back Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. appears to be all that is required for their comeback. Neither of the performers seemed to be engaged in merely fan service, but maybe the appropriate compensation might alter that.
For Downey Jr., the most probable way he’ll show up in Secret Wars is if one of the MCU’s heroes encounters a Variant from another universe. Resurrecting or time-traveling Tony Stark from Earth-616 would undermine his Avengers: Endgame sacrifice, something neither the actor nor the studio are prepared to undertake.
Despite the possibility that Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans aren’t done with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s safe to say that they won’t be returning to the spotlight anytime soon. In the future, he’s likely to make cameos or have a small part in blockbuster films with the Avengers, but he won’t be revealed until then.
