Marvel Faces Fan Backlash Over Chris Evans’ Return as Steve Rogers: “They Can’t Let a White Man Go”

Marvel is facing strong criticism online after announcing that Chris Evans will return as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday. Fans are upset that the character’s comeback seems to overshadow Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, who took up the mantle of Captain America in Avengers: Endgame.

The new Avengers: Doomsday trailer, which is now playing in theaters alongside Avatar: Fire and Ash, confirms that Steve Rogers will appear again.

Many viewers feel this move undoes Endgame’s important moment when Steve passed his shield to Sam, signaling the start of a new chapter for the character.

Social media quickly filled with fans expressing disappointment. One wrote, “do i love steve rogers? yes but the absolute disrespect to sam wilson/anthony mackie because they can’t let a white man go come on bro.”

Another commented, “Man, I’m so f***** done with MCU, they disrespect my Fantastic Four family, they disrespect Sam Wilson, they disrespect everyone.” Others criticized Marvel for minimizing Sam’s role, with posts like “It feels like Marvel is belittling Sam Wilson’s efforts to prove himself worthy of the shield Steve passed on to him” and “the MCU just keeps on disrespecting Sam Wilson and I am TIREDDD.”

The backlash comes after mixed reactions to Mackie’s first solo film, Captain America: Brave New World. The movie earned $415 million worldwide, falling short of the $425 million Deadline Hollywood reported as necessary to break even, given its production and marketing costs.

Some analysts and Marvel president Kevin Feige suggested the absence of Chris Evans might have affected the film’s performance. Critic reviews were also mixed, though Mackie’s performance received praise.

Despite the controversy, Mackie has expressed interest in continuing his role as Sam Wilson. In January, he said he hoped to play the character for about ten years and planned to appear in Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).

Marvel’s decision is risky. While bringing back Steve Rogers might attract long-time fans, it risks undermining Sam Wilson’s story and alienating part of the audience who wanted to see him fully succeed as Captain America.

It will be interesting to see how Marvel balances both characters in the upcoming films. What do you think about Steve Rogers returning? Do you feel it’s fair to Sam Wilson? Share your thoughts in the comments.