Hold up… Some Marvel die-hards are LOSING THEIR MINDS because Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie’s Black Captain America) isn’t getting the spotlight they demand in Avengers: Doomsday!
Insiders say the early teasers are ALL about Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers coming back – suit in the box, family vibes, nostalgia overload – while Sam’s barely mentioned. Fans are screaming “disrespect!” and “undoing Endgame’s legacy!”
One side: “Bring back the REAL Cap! Evans is box office gold!” The other: “This is racist! They hate Black Cap and are desperate for white heroes!” “Marvel needs to shove diversity down our throats or it’s over!”
After Captain America: Brave New World tanked and got slammed as “mid,” now Steve’s return has everyone raging. Is Marvel pandering to trolls? Or admitting the “new era” flopped?
Doomsday drops December 2026 with RDJ as Doom… but who’s REALLY leading the Avengers? Sam or Steve?
The fandom war is HERE – whose side are you on? Full story below 👇🔥
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is facing fresh fan division as early teasers for Avengers: Doomsday, set for release on December 18, 2026, spotlight the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers. Many supporters of Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, who inherited the Captain America mantle in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, have voiced frustration, arguing the move sidelines the current hero and relies heavily on nostalgia.
Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Avengers: Doomsday features Robert Downey Jr. as the villain Victor von Doom, alongside a massive ensemble including Evans, Mackie, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and numerous others from across the MCU and former Fox X-Men films. Early theatrical teasers, screened ahead of Avatar: Fire and Ash, depict Steve Rogers retrieving his old suit from storage in a domestic setting, complete with a young child, hinting at his post-Endgame life.
Online reactions have been polarized. Some fans celebrated Evans’ comeback as a boost for the franchise following mixed results in recent phases. Others criticized it as “desperate,” suggesting Marvel is undoing the symbolic shield handoff to Sam Wilson to recapture past success. Comments on platforms like X and Reddit accused the studio of disrespecting Mackie’s portrayal, especially after Captain America: Brave New World (February 2025) received lukewarm reviews and underperformed at the box office despite praise for Mackie’s performance.
Mackie, who first appeared as Sam Wilson/Falcon in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, has been vocal about embracing the role. In interviews promoting Brave New World, he emphasized representation, noting the importance of a Black Captain America for diverse audiences while maintaining the character’s core ideals. Comic writer Mark Waid, who introduced Sam as Captain America in the 1990s, has defended the change as faithful to the source material.
Industry sources clarify that Sam Wilson remains the official Captain America in Doomsday. Reports from outlets like The Cosmic Circus state Evans reprises Steve Rogers in a supporting capacity, not reclaiming the shield. Sam’s team reportedly includes Thor, Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), new Falcon (Danny Ramirez), Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), and Loki (Tom Hiddleston), positioning him as a leader against Doom’s multiversal threat.
The controversy echoes longstanding debates in the MCU. When Sam took the mantle in Endgame, some fans resisted, preferring alternatives like Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) addressed racial themes directly, including skepticism about a Black man wielding the symbol of American idealism. Brave New World continued this, exploring government intrigue and Sam’s growth, but reshoots and critical reception tempered enthusiasm.
Marvel Studios has not commented on the backlash. Kevin Feige and the Russos have teased Doomsday as a return to large-scale ensemble storytelling, blending legacy characters with newer ones. Evans’ involvement stems from multiverse elements, potentially tying into Doom’s reality-warping plans.
Fan discourse has amplified on social media, with hashtags debating diversity versus nostalgia. Some argue post-Endgame projects struggled without original Avengers anchors, pointing to successes like Deadpool & Wolverine. Others contend sidelining Sam undermines years of buildup, risking alienation of audiences seeking fresh representation.
Doomsday follows Thunderbolts* (2025) and precedes Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), capping the Multiverse Saga. Production is underway, with Mackie confirming his central role and excitement for the Russos’ direction.
As marketing ramps up, the balance between honoring the past and advancing new heroes remains a key watchpoint for the franchise’s future.
