The first official trailer for Avengers: Doomsday, released on July 20, 2026, has ignited a wave of fan speculation about Chris Evans’s return as Steve Rogers. While the trailer showcases a multiverse-spanning team-up of Avengers, Thunderbolts, X-Men, and Fantastic Four against Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), viewers were most struck by Evans’s altered look—longer hair and a mullet—leading many to claim his face has changed.
Fan Reactions to Chris Evans’s Appearance
Social media erupted with comments questioning whether the character is truly the same Steve Rogers. User @Goldxn_Violin wrote on X: “Maybe this is pedantic, but that’s not him. That doesn’t look like him. That looks like Chris Evans.” Others like @hanithology asked: “I’m sorry, did Chris Evans just have his first glowdown?” @RestlessEmRose added: “Wtf is this? That’s not my Steve! This literally just looks like Chris Evans! I actually hate this so much.”
The Hydra Cap Theory
According to a widely circulated fan theory, the Steve Rogers in the trailer is not the heroic Captain America but an evil variant from the multiverse—dubbed “Hydra Cap” or “Stevil.” This version, presumably allied with Doctor Doom, would explain the grungier appearance. User @Sksj002 outlined the theory: “Long-haired Steve Rogers isn’t our Steve; he’s Hydra Cap. Hydra could be working with Doom. Thor looks genuinely shocked when Steve appears… If true, that would be one of the biggest MCU WTF moments.” @comicsexplained agreed, stating, “That is definitely Hydra Cap.” @HarleyQuinn720 added: “Maybe I’m crazy…ok no I am, but I don’t think that’s a good Cap. I think that’s Hydra Cap infiltratin’ the hero’s teams n’ winnin’ trust all for Doom.”
Explaining the Mjolnir Moment
A key plot point in the trailer shows this Steve Rogers lifting Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir—a feat typically reserved for the worthy. Critics of the Hydra Cap theory point out that an evil version should not be able to lift it. However, comic book lore provides an answer. In the 2017 storyline Secret Empire, a magical alteration changed the enchantment on Mjolnir, allowing Hydra Cap to wield it despite his villainous nature. This precedent supports the theory that the trailer’s Steve could be a corrupted variant.
What’s Next for the MCU?
Whether the character is Stevil or the original Steve Rogers remains unconfirmed. Fans will have to wait until the film’s release on December 18, 2026, to discover the truth. Avengers: Doomsday promises to be a pivotal event in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, blending multiple superhero teams in an epic confrontation.
