BREAKING:‘Avengers: Doomsday’ World Series Teaser Sends the Fantastic Four to the Ballpark Before Doom Crashes the Game

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Ant-Man Slip-up Hilariously Settles Who’s Really Captain America Now

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When Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers stepped away at the end of ‘Avengers: Endgame’, it felt like the final page of a long story. He returned the Infinity Stones, chose to stay in the past with Peggy Carter, and came back to the present only to hand his shield to Sam Wilson. For years, that moment stood as the definitive passing of the Captain America mantle.

Then Marvel reopened the book. In December, Steve Rogers got his own teaser for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, officially confirming that Evans would reprise the role. The clip showed him cradling an infant before a title card announced that Steve Rogers would return, and many noticed it pointedly did not say, Captain America.

That distinction has now been played for laughs in the movie itself. During Game 1 of the World Series, Marvel debuted a new ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ preview, and one of its standout moments features Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man awkwardly calling Steve “Cap” right next to Anthony Mackie’s current Captain America, Sam Wilson, before catching himself.

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The exchange, shared widely by DiscussingFilm, sees Scott Lang fumble out a “Right Cap? I mean Steve…” correction. It works because Sam carries the Captain America name now while Steve is back for this film, leaving even Ant-Man unsure who gets called Cap anymore.

Some viewers picked it as the funniest beat of the whole spot, praising the way Scott immediately realizes he’s done something disrespectful and scrambles to fix it. As if there was any doubt, the moment also solidifies Sam Wilson as the Captain.

The joke lands at a sensitive time for the fandom. When Evans’ comeback was first confirmed, some fans called it disrespectful to Mackie’s Sam Wilson, arguing that the ‘Endgame’ shield handoff had effectively been undone. Others voiced general frustration with Marvel returning yet again to names from the Infinity Saga.

Mackie has tried to calm those worries, saying in interviews that Steve Rogers is returning but not as Captain America. Recent official character descriptions back that up, placing the title and the leadership of the Avengers firmly with Sam.

Even so, earlier footage kept the debate alive. One trailer showed what appears to be a long-haired Steve standing before his old friends Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson, neither of whom looked thrilled about the reunion. The Ant-Man gag reads as a self-aware nod to all that awkwardness.

The World Series spot wasn’t just about one punchline. It also featured Thor seemingly bothered that Steve can still wield Mjolnir years after ‘Endgame’, a moment set in what looks like New Avengers Tower. The footage opened with the Fantastic Four at Ebbets Field on their home world, with real MLB stars watching from the dugout rail.

Not everyone was impressed overall. Some critics felt the preview was underwhelming, having hoped for a full scene of the heroes actually playing baseball together. Still, even those viewers singled out the Ant-Man slip-up as a new scene worth talking about.

How Steve fits into the larger story remains a mystery. Evans’ return reportedly gives him a central role, including a mission with Thor to find Loki, which has led some fans to worry he could overshadow Sam. He’s also not done after this film, with Evans confirming he will appear in ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ as well.

For now, the message from Marvel seems clear enough. Steve is back, but the shield stays with Sam, and anyone who forgets will be gently corrected. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026.

Do you think Marvel is handling Steve Rogers’ return well while keeping Sam Wilson as the true Captain America in Avengers: Doomsday?

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