MCU fans got a surprising bit of news recently as reports surfaced that Chris Evans was in talks to reprise his role as Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, in some upcoming MCU projects. Given the seemingly definitive end of the character's journey in Avengers: Endgame, the news was seen by some as too good to be true.
Indeed, Evans seemed to suggest the whole story was news to him, but the spark of excitement was already lit for many fans. Of course, Captain America wasn't the only hero fans had to say goodbye to in Endgame. If the MCU is bringing someone back, should it be Captain America, or is Iron Man the better choice?
10 Captain America: Time Travel
Time travel was a big part of the massive story in Endgame and it played a pivotal role at the end of Captain America's journey. The movie concludes with Cap going back in time to return all of the Infinity Stones, but he also ends up staying in the past to live his life with Peggy Carter.
Since the time travel element was established, it remains a possible way to include Cap in some future adventures. It might even be fun to get one last standalone movie showing Cap's adventure returning the stones and reuniting with Peggy.
9 Iron Man: Flashbacks
Just because any future involvement of Iron Man would be hard to pull off doesn't mean he cannot make an appearance in the past. There are several MCU projects in which Tony Stark could be seen in a flashback appearance, giving fans just a little more time with the beloved hero.
There have been rumors of one such scene in Black Widow. Peter Parker could look back on a special moment with his mentor Tony in Spider-Man 3. Also, Eternals is said to explore the history of the MCU, so an appearance from the hero who started it all would seem appropriate.
8 Captain America: The Older Mentor
With his final appearance in Endgame, Steve passes his iconic shield on to Sam Wilson so that he can take up the mantel. This sets up the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as Sam comes to terms with the responsibility of his new position.
Having Steve return and take back the shield would be unfair, but perhaps he might show up in the new Disney+ series as a mentor. It seems as though not everyone will be onboard with Sam as the new Captain America so it would be nice for him to visit Steve as an old man and ask for some advice.
7 Iron Man: Irreplaceable
One of the biggest questions about the future of the MCU is how it is going to manage without some of its biggest names. While the universe is attempting to find a suitable replacement for Cap, Iron Man will be a harder character to duplicate.
The MCU might not exist today if not for Robert Downey Jr's performance as Tony Stark. It seemed as though they tried to make Doctor Strange the new Tony but that didn't really work. Iron Man is one of a kind and it might be worth finding a way to bring him back to fill the noticeable void.
6 Captain America: Old Man Steve
Endgame made for a fitting end for Steve Rogers, but it still feels like there are more stories to tell with this character. The way he is left at the end of the movie might set up the perfect final chapter in the character's story.
It was a surprise to see Steve as an old man, and it was easy to buy the fact that his superhero days are behind him. However, he is still Steve Rogers after all, so if there was a threat big enough, he could go on one final mission to save the day.
5 Iron Man: Artificial Intelligence
Over the course of the MCU, Tony Stark was responsible for some incredible technology and inventions. The fact that he was able to create a pretty lifelike artificial intelligence, as well as the B.A.R.F. technology, leaves an open door for how he could return.
It was recently announced that Ironheart would be an upcoming Disney+ series with the character of Riri Williams following in the footsteps of Tony Stark and Iron Man. Perhaps Stark himself could function as Ironheart's A.I. mentor.
4 Captain America: A Loose Thread
Out of the two heroes, Iron Man certainly has the more definitive ending in Endgame. While Cap's is certainly satisfying, it does leave a dangling thread in the MCU that fans always love to obsess over.
If Steve Rogers is still out there somewhere, no matter how old he might be, fans will be wondering if he is ever going to pop up again. Until there is a more definitive end for the character, that loose thread will be forever talked about.
3 Iron Man: The Multiverse
It seems as though the biggest storyline in Phase 4 of the MCU will revolve around the multiverse. Many fans suspect it is being set up in WandaVision, and that it's sure to play a big role in Spider-Man 3 and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
There are endless possibilities to what could be done with the multiverse, including resurrecting a character. With Cap still alive in the usual timeline, bringing him back through the multiverse would seem pointless whereas with Iron Man it would be a huge moment.
2 Captain America: He's Alive
It always seemed like at least one fan-favorite character would die in Endgame. While many fans thought it would be Cap to make the sacrifice, it ended up being Iron Man. It was a heartbreaking yet powerful end for the character, which is why it should not be undone.
The MCU has already been criticized for its perceived trepidations about killing off characters. To bring back Cap would also risk ruining a perfectly good farewell, but it would not diminish the stakes of the universe.
1 Iron Man: More Impactful
While bringing Iron Man back from the dead might hurt the reputation of the MCU, it's also hard to ignore how great of a moment it could be. To see Steve Rogers return would be emotional and fun, but Iron Man getting to return to the franchise he started would be epic.
There are so many fun ways this could be handled and the MCU can usually be counted on to deliver these big moments in the most effective way possible. While fans shouldn't hold their breath, Iron Man's return would definitely be one of the most impactful moments in the MCU.
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