Joe Russo Says ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Won’t Erase Steve Rogers’ ‘Endgame’ Ending
Few farewells in the Marvel Cinematic Universe landed quite like Steve Rogers’. At the end of ‘Avengers: Endgame’, Chris Evans’ Captain America chose to stay in the past and build a quiet life with Peggy Carter, later passing his shield to Sam Wilson as an old man in what many fans considered the perfect ending for the character.
That’s why the confirmation of Evans’ return in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ sparked such strong reactions. The first teaser showed Steve riding his motorcycle to a modest home, lingering over his old suit and smiling at an infant in his arms, and some fans immediately questioned whether bringing him back would undermine his emotional send-off.
The Russo brothers have since made it clear that Steve’s return is deeply tied to that ending. ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’, a theatrical re-release featuring 4 new scenes, altered the final dance between Steve and Peggy by adding a surprise appearance from Tom Hiddleston’s Loki.
Anthony Russo has said that the moment Steve’s story ended with Peggy is where ‘Doomsday’ is born. In a conversation published by Disney, he explained that as the brothers conceived the road forward, it became clear they needed to pick the story up from where they left it in ‘Endgame’, he said in an interview with The Walt Disney Company.
Joe Russo says ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’ gives fans a chance to see Steve Rogers’ story continue after ‘AVENGERS: ENDGAME’: “We love [that] ending as much as anybody. And Endgame will still exist as Endgame. There’ll still always be that ending for Steve Rogers. If you choose to continue the story, if you want to stay on the ride a little longer, if you want to enjoy this continuing saga, [Avengers: Doomsday] provides a new opportunity to launch you into a new story.” (via: @Fandango)
— MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) October 27, 2026
Now Joe Russo has addressed fans who worry that the original conclusion is being taken away. As MCU Film News highlighted, the director told Fandango that ‘Doomsday’ gives audiences a chance to see Steve’s story continue without erasing what came before.
Russo explained that he and his brother love the ‘Endgame’ ending as much as anyone, and stressed that the film will always exist as it is. In his view, Steve will always have that original conclusion for fans who want to keep it.
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— MLB (@MLB) October 24, 2026
At the same time, he described ‘Doomsday’ as an opportunity for those who want to stay on the ride a little longer. For viewers eager to follow the continuing saga, the new film offers a launch point into a fresh chapter of Steve’s story.
The Russos have been consistent about Steve’s importance to the new film. Joe Russo previously told Fandango that continuing the character’s story, while reuniting with Robert Downey Jr., felt like the right way for the brothers to return to Marvel.
New trailer for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ In theaters December 18 https://t.co/1wsiTk1Nnv
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) August 15, 2026
Anthony Russo has also said they couldn’t imagine the ‘Doomsday’ narrative without Steve playing a central role. Evans himself had said he would only return if there was a good reason, and he believed the new story gave the heroes a very real need for Steve Rogers.
The ‘Encore’ re-release was designed to bridge the 2 films. Joe Russo has called revisiting ‘Endgame’ essential viewing for following the story of ‘Doomsday’, while noting that the new scenes connect directly into the upcoming crossover.
Fans have also spotted a key clue in the first ‘Doomsday’ trailer, which shows Loki handing someone his card from the Time Variance Authority. Many now believe that card was given to Steve, setting the events of the new film in motion.
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— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) October 25, 2026
Not everyone is convinced the return is the right move, with some fans still feeling protective of Steve’s original farewell. Others are excited by the idea that his choice to stay in the past could have unexpected consequences across the multiverse.
Joe Russo’s comments offer a middle ground: the ‘Endgame’ ending remains untouched for those who cherish it, while ‘Doomsday’ invites everyone else to see what happens next. Fans will find out when ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ arrives in theaters on December 18.
Do you think Steve Rogers’ return in Avengers: Doomsday can work without ruining his Endgame ending?
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