Captain America: New World Order would make a huge mistake by killing Steve Rogers. Chris Evans’ superhero helped lead the Marvel Cinematic Universe during the Infinity Saga, starring in three solo movies and four Avengers movies. His time with the franchise came an end with Avengers: Endgame, which saw Steve Rogers grow old with Peggy Carter in another universe before returning to Earth-616. It was here that he passed the Captain America shield and mantle to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). After growing into the role in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Captain America 4 will fully explore Sam’s Captain America.
As the next installment in the franchise that Chris Evans previously led, there have been ongoing questions about how Steve Rogers could appear in Captain America: New World Order. It has been stated that Chris Evans is not returning for the movie, but that does not mean that the movie will completely ignore his MCU character. Some Captain America 4 set photos have teased that a major funeral will take place in the movie, prompting speculation about who could die. Chris Evans’ character has become one of the subjects of such theories, but Captain America 4‘s Steve Rogers death would be a massive mistake.
The MCU Has Already Moved On From Steve Rogers (Without Killing Him)
The MCU does not need to kill Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers in Captain America: New World Order; the franchise has already moved on from him. Avengers: Endgame did a lot of the work to make sure that the MCU could move forward without needing to kill Steve. The movie’s time-traveling plot had the character go back and return the Infinity Stones and then grow old with Peggy Carter. Old Steve Rogers meant the MCU had to move on from the days of Chris Evans’ character being a superhero. This resulted in confirming that Sam Wilson is the MCU’s new Captain America after Avengers: Endgame.
Audiences might have a tough time completely moving on from Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, but all signs point to the MCU not having the same problem. Sam Wilson is fully taking command of the mantle in the Multiverse Saga after coming to understand the importance that him being Captain America carries. Marvel Studios has even largely refrained from referencing Steve’s whereabouts after Avengers: Endgame. Even with in-universe speculation about his fate, the launch of Rogers The Musical, and interest in Steve’s sex life, these references to Steve Rogers are mostly reflecting on his life.
Killing Steve Rogers In Captain America 4 Is Unnecessary
With the MCU already moving past Chris Evans’ character, Steve Rogers’ death in Captain America: New World Order would be completely unnecessary. The film can currently happen and either completely ignore the character or briefly reference him in passing. Either of those scenarios would fit in line with how the MCU has operated since Avengers: Endgame. Killing Steve Rogers is an unnecessary move then that hurts the MCU more than it helps it. Steve’s death would eliminate any chance for Chris Evans to return that is not multiverse or flashback related.
More importantly, Captain America 4 killing Steve Rogers would only remind audiences that Chris Evans’ character is not involved in the new movie or MCU. Marvel Studios might have interest in killing the character to try and force audiences to move on and stop waiting for him to return. The best way Captain America: New World Order can make audiences stop missing Steve is not by making them mourn his death but rather show how great Sam Wilson is as Captain America. No matter how it happens, killing Steve Rogers would be a mistake as it risks distracting viewers from the story at hand.
Steve Rogers’ Death Would Undo His Happy Avengers: Endgame Ending
There is also the likelihood that Steve Rogers’ death in Captain America 4 would hurt the character’s happy ending in Avengers: Endgame. After spending so much of his life longing to be with Peggy Carter and distracting himself by saving the world, Steve finally made a slightly more selfish decision by growing old with her. The reunion between Steve and Peggy is exactly the type of ending that the character deserved. He already lost the life he wanted to have once before when he was frozen in ice for 70 years. Avengers: Endgame‘s ending ensured that he finally got to live the life with Peggy that he gave up before.
Death is inevitable even for superheroes, so Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers will not live forever. But, considering how perfectly Avengers: Endgame ended his arc, Captain America 4‘s mistake would come with revealing that he does not get that happy ending after all. Marvel Studios is in a great position where it does not need to kill Steve Rogers in order for Captain America: New World Order‘s story to happen, so giving the character a new ending to his story should be avoided.
