Time travel films are notorious for their convoluted storylines, paradoxical conflicts, and inadvertent plot holes. Despite being a critically praised box office juggernaut, the decades-spanning Avengers: Endgame is no different. While most fans ranged from content to impressed by its time-shattering narrative, anyone who tried to decipher Captain America’s finale was mostly left with a major headache. Did the Steve Rogers who returned to the 1940s create a new timeline, or had there been two Caps throughout the entire MCU this whole time?
As the architects of the plot, writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely were tasked with figuring out every bit of the time travel minutia, but don’t expect them to answer that question. The duo held a panel today at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, where they revealed all sorts of behind the scenes info (including an insane Captain America death scene). Yet, the one bit of intel they remained mum on is if an elderly Steve Rogers sat on the sidelines throughout all of the wanton destruction of the past 22 movies.
When pressed by fans for clarification, Markus admitted he’s entertained by the idea that there are two Steve Rogers, but it’s likely the duo will never say for certain at the risk of having to retcon the notion if it’s ever further explored in Falcon and Winter Soldier or another Avengers movie.
That being said, Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo revealed last month that they believe the Captain America who went to the past created a new multiverse branch, only returning to the 2023 timeline to hand over his shield to Sam Wilson in the aftermath of Thanos’ defeat.
“The way that it would work is that when Captain America goes back, he would create a branch reality. Now he would exist in that branch reality with a second Captain America who was frozen in ice…
Now what’s also a story for another time is, of course, if he created a branch reality, he would then have to use a Pym Particle to come back to this reality to hand that shield off.”
So, could we see Steve Rogers pop up once more in the MCU? While Chris Evans may not have any more Marvel films left on the contract, rumors persist that the actor is game for a quick cameo somewhere down the line. That being said, if you’re craving more of America’s ass at this very moment, you can catch a re-release of Avengers: Endgame in theaters right now. Just don’t expect Markus and McFeely to clear up any questions you may have once it’s over.