The Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn’t officially confirmed Steve Rogers’ status following the events of Avengers: Endgame, but The Falcon and the Winter Soldier at least let us know that he probably hasn’t retired to the moon. There’s a museum exhibit honoring his legacy, so there’s every chance he could have quietly passed away, but the super soldier serum may have also given him a vastly extended lifespan.
If the original Captain America is dead, though, then he’d be turning in his grave over the events of this week’s episode. And if he isn’t, then seeing the footage of John Walker using his old shield to batter a man to death in the middle of the day will probably give him a heart attack anyway. Walker’s turn to the dark side looks to have been cemented, and it’s hardly a coincidence that he’s gone ahead and killed a guy so soon after taking the super soldier serum, which we already know amplifies the subject’s existing instincts.
Kevin Feige may have poured cold water on the reports that Chris Evans was in talks to return to the MCU, but as you can see from the reactions below, fans want the franchise’s original star-spangled superhero to come back more than ever now.
steve rogers dropped the shield to protect one man time and time again without losing its integrity while john walker took the shield to defend his overlarge ego and ultimately taint it as a whole THATS the difference pic.twitter.com/GvEmgSTldq
— foggy’s legal assistant (@STEVEMILF) April 9, 2021
https://twitter.com/goodguyevans/status/1380504475673108481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1380504475673108481%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fepicstream.com%2Fnews%2FBriConstantino%2FThe-Falcon-and-the-Winter-Soldier-Fans-Demand-Chris-Evans-Return-After-Episode-4
STEVE ROGERS COME BACK BIG TIDDIE BOY
— leiaˣ⁷: no longer active (@violetsmarjorie) April 9, 2021
https://twitter.com/WorthyCapShield/status/1380520895920414728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1380520895920414728%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fepicstream.com%2Fnews%2FBriConstantino%2FThe-Falcon-and-the-Winter-Soldier-Fans-Demand-Chris-Evans-Return-After-Episode-4
steve rogers come back please pic.twitter.com/Kunbb4ZQsW
— j ☄️ MoM spoilers (@mcuolsen) April 9, 2021
https://twitter.com/mcusapphic/status/1380429916240494594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1380429916240494594%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fepicstream.com%2Fnews%2FBriConstantino%2FThe-Falcon-and-the-Winter-Soldier-Fans-Demand-Chris-Evans-Return-After-Episode-4
The super soldier serum enhances the kind of person you already are. HEART and REASON is the difference between Steve Rogers and John Walker #TheFalconAndWinterSoldier pic.twitter.com/AfQ1sgFIxk
— BLURAYANGEL 🦇 (@blurayangel) April 9, 2021
#TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier #tfatws spoilers
john walker is everything steve rogers stood against. pic.twitter.com/zCOcx3f4fi
— alex⁷ (@cowboylikelevi) April 9, 2021
The difference between Steve Rogers and John Walker are these two scenes right here #TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier #TheFalconAndWinterSoldier pic.twitter.com/QwFGceziFi
— Js (@xviinorth) April 9, 2021
i’m tired of people acting as if the shield is what makes someone captain america. it’s who you are that makes you captain america. that’s why steve rogers could do it and that’s why sam wilson is the perfect person to carry it out. john walker has none of that & he never will
— mj (taylor’s version) (@gltybrknhrt) April 9, 2021
https://twitter.com/RuschJason/status/1380434420289572868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1380434420289572868%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fepicstream.com%2Fnews%2FBriConstantino%2FThe-Falcon-and-the-Winter-Soldier-Fans-Demand-Chris-Evans-Return-After-Episode-4
The optics aren’t great for the government in this case, after they willingly accepted the shield from Sam Wilson to display as part of the Captain America exhibit, only to hand it to John Walker and see him go off the deep end and use a symbol of hope as a tool for murder. Of course, an Evans return more than likely isn’t going to happen by the time The Falcon and the Winter Soldier concludes, but his shadow continues to loom large over the series regardless.