Ever since it was announced that Steve Rogers was returning in Avengers: Doomsday, speculation has been rife about what role he'll play in the new movie. Now, it seems like we might have our best insight yet, all thanks to current Captain America star Anthony Mackie.
Speaking to Variety after Marvel's SDCC 2026 panel, Mackie clarified that Chris Evans' character will not be Cap again. "Steve Rogers is returning, not Captain America," Mackie said. "Steve Rogers in the comic book – there is a comic book, you say you're a nerd, read the comic book. Don't be a nerd by trade, be a nerd by fact. So, in the comic book, Steve Rogers becomes Nomad."
Realizing he might have revealed too much, Mackie didn't give away any more when pressed if that could happen in the MCU. "I don't know! I don't even watch movies!"
In the Marvel comics, the original Captain America becomes Nomad after abandoning his original title when he becomes disillusioned with the United States government. He becomes a man without a country, allowing him to continue fighting as a hero, but not being defined by the USA. The storyline only lasted for a few months in the mid '70s but it was an interesting one.
We are still not sure how this version of Steve Rogers appears in Doomsday. The last we saw of him, he was an old man, having returned back to life with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) at the end of Avengers: Endgame. Atwell is confirmed for Doomsday and we've seen footage of Rogers with a baby. How does this all fit in with what's going on in the upcoming movie? Only time will tell.
At the Marvel panel, some new Avengers: Doomsday footage also debuted, revealing more about Victor Von Doom's past with Reed Richards. You can find out everything that happened in our San Diego Comic-Con 2026 live coverage.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026. For more, check out our guides to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows you need to know about.
