Chris Evans Is Back—and It Matters: 5 Times the MCU Did Right by Returning Legends

Marvel finally dropped the first teaser for 'Avengers: Doomsday,' and yep, that is Chris Evans back as Captain America. The money shot: Steve Rogers walking into the same house we last saw with Peggy at the end of 'Endgame.' Translation: they are picking up Steve's story right where we left it. Which, honestly, raises the big question: can the MCU bring him back without undercutting that perfect goodbye? Evans already popped up as Human Torch in 'Deadpool & Wolverine' for a quick laugh; fun cameo, sure, but not exactly a character arc.

When Marvel actually nails a comeback

1. Wesley Snipes as Blade

   Out of all the 'Deadpool & Wolverine' surprises, Snipes slashing his way on screen again was the one nobody had on their bingo card. After the messy 'Blade: Trinity' days and two decades away, even Snipes said he never expected to wear the sunglasses again. Add in Marvel casting Mahershala Ali for the MCU's new 'Blade' and it felt like that door was welded shut. Somehow Ryan Reynolds still convinced Snipes to cameo, which is wild considering their very public falling-out back then. Fans ate it up. Stylish swordplay, swagger intact, and a nice full-circle nod to the '90s/early 2000s era when the original 'Blade' movies basically kept Marvel afloat.

2. Charlie Cox as Daredevil

   Cox wrapped his Netflix run in 2018, then quietly re-entered the MCU as Matt Murdock in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' and again for a meet-cute in 'She-Hulk' (fun, but hardly essential). The real payoff is 'Daredevil: Born Again,' which kept the grit and bones-crunching fight energy fans loved. Behind the scenes got messy in 2023: Marvel tossed early material because it 'felt off' and recalibrated the show under new showrunner Dario Scardapane. That course correction appears to have worked. Season 2 is locked for March 4, 2026, and a third season is in development. For a legacy character return, this is the template.

3. Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man

   'No Way Home' gave Garfield the redemption arc he deserved. Teaming with Tom Holland and Tobey Maguire reminded people how emotionally sharp his Spidey really was. The moment that sealed it: when Zendaya's MJ falls off the Statue of Liberty and Garfield's Peter saves her, echoing the Gwen tragedy from 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' but finally giving him a win. Rumor mill says he could swing back in an Avengers movie. Garfield told Esquire he would return 'if there is a great concept or something that hasn't been done before that's unique.' Hard to argue with that criteria.

4. Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man

   Raimi's Spider-Man remains the sentimental favorite for a lot of fans, so when Tobey walked through that portal in 'No Way Home,' nostalgia did the rest. That movie went on to make around $1.9 billion worldwide. Ever since, the wish list has had one big item: more Tobey. Insider chatter (via Daniel Richtman) claims he turns up in 'Avengers: Doomsday' and likely 'Avengers: Secret Wars' since that story continues there. Adding fuel: a fan in London posted a photo with Maguire back in September 2025, saying they bumped into him while he was in town. Not proof, but the tea leaves keep piling up.

5. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine

   Jackman publicly retired the claws, then 'Deadpool & Wolverine' happened, and it smashed records as the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever. The best part is the movie didn't cheapen his 'Logan' legacy; it gave us a version of Wolverine with his own baggage to work through instead of just pointing at the past and calling it a day. As for what's next, Jackman is playing coy but not closing the door.

So, who is actually in Doomsday?

The teaser locks in Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, seemingly continuing his post-'Endgame' life. Beyond that, it's rumor city. The strongest whispers: Tobey Maguire swings in, Andrew Garfield could follow, and we might get another round with Hugh Jackman. There's even talk that the Multiverse Saga finale pieces could bring Tobey and Hugh together against a very unexpected big bad: Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Huge grain of salt there, but that rumor refuses to die.

'Maybe. I'm never saying 'never' ever again'

That was Jackman on 'The Graham Norton Show' when asked if Wolverine might show up in an Avengers movie. He knows exactly what he's doing.

The bottom line

Marvel has definitely fumbled some returns over the years, but when they take the time to honor what made these characters work in the first place, it can be electric. With Steve Rogers back on the board, the bar is high. Doomsday hits U.S. theaters on December 18, 2026.

Which legacy returns are you actually excited about, and which ones should Marvel leave alone? Tell me where you're at.