Captain Carter’s MCU Return Fixes Phase 4’s Steve Rogers Legacy Issue

Warning: Spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Captain Carter’s rumored live-action return would finally fix the problem with Captain America’s legacy in MCU Phase 4. On the heels of her shocking cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter joined the list of MCU characters expected to get their own MCU project. However, Marvel Studios has yet to confirm if there’s any accuracy to the rumors.

Supposedly, Marvel has big plans for Captain Carter, who has already had two Phase 4 roles. Before that, Peggy had a major role in Captain America: The First Avenger and cameos in three other MCU movies. In addition to a guest appearance in Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD, Atwell starred as her Captain America character in Agent Carter, but neither show appears to be MCU canon since they were made by ABC (and not Marvel Studios). And though the conclusion of Captain America’s story may have given the impression that the MCU would officially close the door on both characters, the multiverse has provided the MCU with a new way to use her.

Disney+’s animated Marvel’s What If…? show introduced into the MCU the concept of a Peggy Carter variant who ends up with the super soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers. Having emerged as the show’s most popular contribution to the MCU mythos, it wasn’t a surprise when it was confirmed that she’d be back for Marvel’s What If…? season 2. But the same can’t be said for her Doctor Strange 2 role, which unexpectedly served as Captain Carter’s live-action debut. And though the Earth-838 version of her character was short-lived, the multiverse will make it easy for her to appear again. Plus, her return should solve one crucial issue, which is the handling of Steve Rogers’ legacy.

Phase 4 Focuses On Iron Man’s Legacy More Than Captain America’s

Phase 4 has amounted to touching celebrations of the legacies of Black Widow and Iron Man, who famously lost their lives in Avengers: Endgame’s ending. And though Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers technically survived the events of the movie, his story reached its conclusion as well. Given his importance to the Avengers and the MCU as a whole, it would make sense for him to receive the same treatment that Iron Man has been getting, but that, unfortunately, hasn’t been the case. Admittedly, his image and reputation were vital to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and he was recognized by Hawkeye’s Rogers: The Musical, but that doesn’t compare to the current situation with Tony Stark.

Not one, but two MCU shows will honor Iron Man’s memory in Phase 4. As a series about War Machine trying to keep Stark’s technology out of the wrong hands, Armor Wars is sure to focus heavily on Rhodes’ respect for what Iron Man built in the MCU. There’s also the matter of Ironheart. While its protagonist, Riri Williams, may not have had a personal connection to Stark, her character is still expected to fill the role of his successor, which makes it highly likely that her journey will call for her to develop an understanding of the legacy that Iron Man left behind. Also, Iron Man cast a shadow on WandaVision through his impact on Wanda, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier through the absence of the Avengers, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, due to the villains’ link to the Iron Man trilogy.

Captain Carter May Be Getting Her Own Live-Action Show

Rumor has it that Marvel is developing a live-action Disney+ show for its Captain Carter character. Aside from Atwell’s obvious involvement, there are no details on what characters would be featured, or who would write or direct the show. Whatever the premise would be, it wouldn’t have to be defined by her origin story in Marvel’s What If…?  Since it’s unlikely that Doctor Strange 2 just killed off the animated show’s breakout hero, it’s assumed that there was never just one Peggy Carter who took up the shield. Since that’s the case, Marvel’s Captain Carter show can be a new story set in an unexplored MCU timeline.

Captain Carter & Captain America 4 Can Make Steve Rogers’ Legacy More Important

Unless Marvel makes a shocking move and relocates a Captain Carter variant to Earth-616, her story should feel somewhat isolated from the MCU. Even so, the essence of who Captain Carter is should prevent it from having the same level of separation from the MCU that Moon Knight had. After all, she’s an alternate take on Captain America’s origin story and a person with a deep and lasting connection to his character that should never be ignored or forgotten. With that in mind, it stands to reason that her live-action series would eventually have to reckon with a Steve Rogers, whether it be the version that appeared in What If…?’s Captain Carter timeline, an entirely new take on him, or the memory of a fallen Steve. Since it’d be a live-action series (and Evans has no intention of returning), the latter option has the strongest likelihood of happening. Whichever route it takes, a Captain Carter show would be poised to inevitably pay homage to Steve’s heroism.

Captain Carter wouldn’t be alone in shining a light on Steve Rogers’ legacy. Captain America 4 is sure to continue what The Falcon and the Winter Soldier started when it advances Sam Wilson’s story and explores his adventures as the MCU’s new Sentinel of Liberty. Thanks to these two projects, the MCU will be able to balance out the levels of attention the MCU is giving Captain America and Iron Man. Their characters deserve to be honored equally.

Honoring Steve Rogers’ Legacy Is Better Than A Chris Evans MCU Return

Because of the storytelling opportunities created by the multiverse and time travel, the MCU could theoretically bring back Chris Evans as Steve Rogers in spite of how Endgame ended. But just as it is with Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, it’s for the best if the MCU never brings him back. To do that would risk ruining or negating the significance of the happy ending that Avengers: Endgame delivered for his character. The way things ended for Captain America erased any need for him to come back in any capacity. Instead, the MCU should follow the same approach it’s taken with Iron Man, which is to use its movies and shows to reflect the Avenger’s continued influence over the MCU.