The Real Reason the Russo Brothers Are Returning to the MCU for Avengers: Doomsday
Steve Rogers is back. The first Avengers: Doomsday trailer confirms the shock return, and the Russo Brothers reveal why Chris Evans is suiting up again after Endgame.
Marvel just hit the nostalgia panic button. The first trailer for Avengers: Doomsday finally makes it official: Steve Rogers is back. And the Russo Brothers wasted no time getting sentimental about Chris Evans stepping into the stars-and-stripes again.
So yes, Steve Rogers is back
If you had been hearing the whispers, you were not imagining things. Evans last showed up as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Endgame, and his return has been rumor fuel ever since. The new Doomsday trailer locks it in.
Steve does not say a word here, but the images do the heavy lifting: he rides a motorcycle up to Peggy Carter's house, stares down his Captain America suit like it is an old ghost, and then cradles a baby. The trailer ends with a title card that spells it out: "Steve Rogers will return in Avengers: Doomsday."
What the Russos are saying
Right after the trailer dropped, Joe and Anthony Russo posted it on Instagram with a little heart-on-sleeve caption about why Steve matters to them. This is the pull-quote:
"The character that changed our lives. The story that brought us all here together. It was always going to come back to this."
How the Russos fit back into this
The Russos started their Marvel run with Captain America: The Winter Soldier, then stacked Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame on top of it. After seven years away from the MCU, they are back to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Given their history with Evans and Steve, their Instagram post lands like a mission statement.
What kind of movie Doomsday is
This one is a full-on crossover mashup. Marvel is positioning Doomsday as a team-up across eras, pulling in characters from the past and present: the Fantastic Four, the original X-Men, the New Avengers, and the Avengers all share the stage. They are uniting against Doctor Doom, who is played by Robert Downey Jr. Yes, you read that right.
Marvel's rollout plan
Steve's spot is apparently just the first volley in a four-trailer strategy. Here is how it is reportedly lined up:
- Trailer 1: Steve Rogers focus (the one that just dropped).
- Trailer 2: Thor spotlight.
- Trailer 3: Doctor Doom spotlight.
- Trailer 4: A broader ensemble teaser with multiple characters.
When you can see it
Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18, 2026.