Chris Evans almost appeared in the post-credits scene of Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, marking a significant moment for fans anticipating his return. This cameo, known as the Chris Evans Fantastic Four cameo, was intended to connect key Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) storylines but was ultimately removed before release.
According to insider John Rocha, Marvel Studios had arranged for Evans to appear in this scene, which would have linked the original Avengers’ storyline with the evolving Fantastic Four narrative. Though the scene was cut, subsequent official announcements revealed Evans’ involvement through a teaser trailer, confirming his return to the MCU as Steve Rogers.
The Removed Scene’s Role in the MCU Timeline
The scrapped post-credits scene reportedly featured the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom asking Steve Rogers to join them within the MCU to help secure heroes’ trust. This interaction was meant to deepen the ties between the Fantastic Four’s universe and the main MCU timeline, setting up critical events in the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
Following Avengers: Endgame and prior to the conclusion of Loki Season 2, Steve Rogers is shown living a quiet life with Peggy Carter and their son. Loki informs Steve that the Time Variance Authority intends to prune his timeline because his existence and family disrupt the established flow. Loki offers Steve a new beginning in another universe — the Fantastic Four’s world — where he and his family could live peacefully.
Years later, during events leading to Avengers: Doomsday, Doctor Doom warns the Fantastic Four about the multiversal Incursions threatening all realities. Reed Richards and Doom seek out Steve to enlist his help convincing other heroes in the MCU to aid in stopping the crisis. Steve agrees, making this crossover crucial to the unfolding multiverse war.
Key Characters and Plot Elements in Avengers: Doomsday
Avengers: Doomsday is poised to be a pivotal MCU chapter, featuring an ensemble cast that crosses multiple universes. Robert Downey Jr. returns as Doctor Doom, a scientist and sorcerer responsible for triggering a multiverse-wide catastrophe. This story will address the escalating multiversal dangers and the interconnectedness of diverse Marvel realms.
Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter is reportedly aligned with Doctor Doom in the movie, motivated by a desire to repair the multiverse — a disaster linked in part to Steve Rogers’ presence in alternate timelines.
The Russo brothers direct the film, continuing their collaboration with writers Stephen McFeely and Michael Waldron, who have helped craft the overarching MCU storyline.
Extensive Cast Spanning Multiple Universes
The confirmed Avengers: Doomsday cast features a broad array of Marvel heroes and villains from the MCU, X-Men, and Fantastic Four franchises.
Main MCU heroes include Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Danny Ramirez as Falcon, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Letitia Wright as Black Panther, Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, and Lewis Pullman as Sentry.
The X-Men universe is represented by Ian McKellen as Magneto, Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, James Marsden as Cyclops, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, and Channing Tatum as Gambit.
The Fantastic Four universe will showcase Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (The Thing), rounding out the expansive team lineup that underpins the film’s multiversal stakes.
Significance and Future MCU Implications
Chris Evans’ near-inclusion in The Fantastic Four’s post-credits scene and his confirmed role in Avengers: Doomsday underscore Steve Rogers’ importance in the MCU’s evolving multiverse saga. Director Anthony Russo emphasized how integral Evans’ character is, stating,
His central role in the Avengers and the larger narrative of what the MCU has been is something that’s very personal to us. We can’t see this narrative without his central role in it.
— Anthony Russo
With Avengers: Doomsday scheduled for release on December 18, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars following on December 17, 2027, Marvel fans can expect these movies to reshape the MCU’s framework, blending characters from distinct franchises and exploring consequences that will impact storytelling for years to come.
According to John Rocha, Chris Evans cameo was reportedly planned in the post-credit scene of the Fantastic Four: First Steps :
"The Fantastic Four and Doom ask Steve Rogers to come with them to the MCU, Earth-616, to help them gain the heroes' trust … This was supposedly a… pic.twitter.com/K0mXABpX9w
— Earth 616 (@MarvelExrth616) February 4, 2026
