As Avengers: Endgame had so much to squeeze into its 3-hour runtime, there are many parts of the plot that we’re left to speculate about after we’ve seen it. Perhaps the biggest mystery surrounding the movie is Captain America’s trip back through time at the end, in which he returns the Infinity Stones to their proper times and places. One of those, of course, is the Soul Stone, which needed to be taken back to Vormir. And, more specifically, under the guardianship of the Red Skull.
This has led fans to theorize that Cap and his old enemy must have come face to face during Steve’s mission, which surely would be one awkward reunion. The Russos have previously touched on the subject, confirming that it would’ve had to have happened, and now they’ve discussed the possibility of it again on Endgame‘s commentary track in which they’re joined by writers Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus.
Anthony Russo brought up the topic first, asking the two scribes whether they ever considered the inevitable Cap/Red Skull meeting. “He would have to,” McFeely said, with Markus confirming that the pair pondered the idea “many times.”
The writers then speculated that the Red Skull would likely still have been obligated to remain on Vormir as the Stonekeeper, even though it’d been removed. Markus suggested he’d be waiting for it to return, but McFeely wasn’t certain, commenting that this could mean Schmidt was waiting forever for something that never happened. Russo then wrapped up the debate, concluding: “It’s fun to think about.”
McFeely and Markus recently revealed at their Comic-Con panel that an early idea for the Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame saga was to have Cap and Red Skull team up to find one of the Infinity Stones. As it is, there’s the promise of further appearances for the former HYDRA leader to come as his fate in Avengers: Endgame was left open-ended. After all, if he’s been freed from his service, maybe he’ll find his way back to Earth and cause trouble for Sam Wilson’s Sentinel of Liberty?