Ant-Man’s Captain America Slip in the New ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Footage Pokes Fun at the Steve Rogers Versus Sam Wilson Debate
Marvel has spent nearly a year walking a tightrope with Captain America. The studio wants to celebrate Chris Evans’ return without undercutting Anthony Mackie, and fans on both sides have been watching every frame for clues. That’s why even a throwaway joke can carry a surprising amount of weight.
The latest example arrived in an unlikely place. During Game 1 of the World Series on Fox, Marvel debuted a one-minute preview of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ that centered on the Fantastic Four throwing out a ceremonial first pitch at Ebbets Field. Most coverage focused on the baseball crossover, but a few seconds near the end have been getting more attention.
The Ant-Man Captain America slip in the new ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ footage comes when Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang checks in with a character in a Captain America suit by asking whether he’s right, calling him Cap, and then catching himself to say he means Steve. He then repeats the question to Steve Rogers. The exchange is brief, but it lands because 2 men in the frame could plausibly answer to that name.
Steve Rogers, Captain America and Ant-Man in ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’. “Right Cap? I mean Steve…” https://t.co/nxg48YhLnS
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 24, 2026
Sam Wilson has carried the Captain America title since the end of ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ when Steve passed him the shield. Steve returns in this film, which leaves even Ant-Man unsure who gets called Cap. One outlet called it the best moment of the preview, and another said it hilariously settles who the real Captain America is now.
The line also reads as a self-aware nod to months of awkward fan debate. Rather than ignore the question of what to call the 2 men, the film turns it into a gag. That’s a smart way to acknowledge the elephant in the room without taking sides in a heated conversation.
Evans’ return was confirmed last December with a teaser reading ‘Steve Rogers will return,’ and Marvel’s marketing has carefully avoided calling him Captain America. Mackie has tried to calm fears by saying in interviews that Steve is returning but not as Captain America. That distinction matters to fans who worry Sam’s story has been sidelined.
Reaction to the original teaser was mixed. Some Sam Wilson fans felt the franchise was positioning Steve as a main character again despite his definitive ending in ‘Endgame,’ while others were simply excited to see Evans back. The new joke seems designed to speak to both camps.
Beyond the gag, the preview contains a few other new beats. It shows Steve alongside Sam in his Captain America suit, Thor calling down lightning and a quick cut to Doctor Doom in his hood and mask. A shot of Sam’s Avengers team and hints of the X-Men and Wakandans also appear.
The footage is anchored by a funny scene on Earth-828, where baseball players from the real world stand in the dugout reacting to Reed Richards’ first pitch. One of them jokes that you could trust Cap on the mound, and another replies that it depends which Cap you mean. In other words, the Captain America question is a running theme.
New teaser for ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’. In theaters on December 18. https://t.co/gr47mK5Af7
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 24, 2026
Recent character descriptions have emphasized that Sam has assembled the Avengers and leads the group as they face the collision of 3 universes. The Ant-Man moment reinforces that message, since it clearly identifies Sam as the person wearing the suit and leading the team. Steve’s presence adds a layer of nostalgia, but the film doesn’t appear to hand the title back.
A fan theory has also suggested the trailers might be hiding 2 versions of Steve Rogers, possibly a variant from another timeline. Marvel hasn’t confirmed or commented on that, and the earlier trailer showed Thor reuniting with Steve in a moment that left plenty of room for interpretation.
Not everyone was thrilled by the preview itself. Some viewers who waited through innings of baseball were disappointed by how little new footage appeared, with one outlet noting there were no big reveals. Others thought it was a charming way to launch the film’s final marketing push.
Either way, the Ant-Man joke gave fans something to quote, and it turned a tricky narrative problem into a punchline. It also shows the filmmakers are aware of how audiences feel.
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ arrives in theaters on December 18, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. It leads into ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ on December 17, 2027. Until then, expect more small moments like this one to be dissected frame by frame.
Who should be recognized as Captain America in 'Avengers: Doomsday'?
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