Fans are absolutely ravenous for new information about Avengers: Endgame, and with the film set to release in just a few weeks, there isn't much longer to wait. There's a lot to speculate about in the blockbuster, but the fate of Captain America (Chris Evans) is one of the most popular. Endgame will make us say goodbye to some fan-favorite characters, and fans have long guessed that Cap would be one of them. It'll be hard enough to say goodbye, and there are a number of ways Cap can make his exit.
In the absence of concrete information, fans theories have been growing like weeds for the past several months, many of them about the ultimate fate of Steve Rogers. People are clearly concerned about what's going to happen to Cap, and we've come up with a few options about how Marvel and the Russo Bros. could wrap up his story and give him a real conclusion fitting of his epic status in the cinematic universe. Here are five ways Captain America's story could end.
Cap's Going To Die
I'll get the most obvious and popular answer out the way. Fans have been expecting for a long time -- maybe even as far back as the first Captain America movie -- that Steve will die. That's mostly because he dies (temporarily) in the comics, but Cap dying would certainly be a big way to close out his story. It would fit well into his character arc. It's been established that Cap doesn't feel that he can settle down and resist the call to action if he thinks that there's something wrong in the world. It's just the kind of guy he is, and he values the lives of others more than his own. He once tried to sacrifice himself to save the world, and it's likely he's prepared to do so again. How he does it, though, is a different story.
Cap Sacrifices Himself To Stop Thanos
There's a theme in Avengers: Infinity War wondering if sacrificing a life is worth it to save multiple. I think that ultimately, the answer is 'no' unless there's no other option. With half the universe dead and gone, the Avengers are all out of options. One popular theory is that Cap will sacrifice himself and be killed by Thanos. The reason tends to vary, but maybe the most popular is that Cap is stalling Thanos in order to let his friends escape to fight another day. Mostly, people just want to see an iconic moment from the Infinity Gauntlet comic, in which Cap stands solo against Thanos, come to life. It's certainly a noble end and one that perfectly suits his character. I'm of the mind that Cap won't die until near the end, but basically anything can happen in the movie at this point.
He Lives And Hangs Up His Shield For Good
Rather than give Cap a hero's death, Endgame could go in the opposite direction and see Cap live through the whole adventure. Whatever happens over the course of the three hour runtime, it convinces Steve to retire and pass off his shield to a new generation. Maybe he notices the abundance of powerful heroes ready to protect the world, and that he finally isn't needed to set things right. Steve can take a well deserved rest and walk off into the sunset, which would leave things open for him to return one day if Chris Evans is feeling nostalgic. The problem with this ending is that it's hard to believe that Steve could just stop being Captain America, but it all depends on his personal journey in Endgame.
He Gets Trapped In The Past And Marries Peggy Carter
The single most popular rumor about Endgame is that time travel will play a big part in how the Avengers defeat Thanos. No details are known about it other than what people online have pieced together through set photos. However, if time travel is involved, there's a chance that Steve could get to return to the '40s and live the life that he missed out on. That means reuniting with Peggy Carter and finally getting to have that last dance (I'm not crying, you are). This is a particularly popular theory because fans want to see Cap happy, and people love that romance. Plus, there has been a surprising amount of emphasis on Peggy in Endgame trailers that adds credence that she might have some kind of role. However, Cap getting a second chance with Peggy would probably break the space time continuum -- not to mention the continuity of the MCU.
Cap Traps Himself In the Quantum Realm With Thanos
This one is my own personal theory about what will happen, and though there's like a 2% chance that it does, I think it's cool enough to include. Similar in concept to Thanos killing him, my theory is that the Avengers will trap Thanos in the Quantum Realm, and Cap and one other Avenger will stay behind to make sure he stays there. This is based on The Thanos Imperative, a comic that found Thanos teaming up with the Guardians of the Galaxy to stop an invasion from a dimension called the Cancerverse. Ultimately, it ends with a Thanos double-cross, and Star-Lord and a hero called Nova sacrifice themselves to trap Thanos in the Cancerverse. I think it'd be awesome to see the MCU adapt that ending, subbing in the Quantum Realm, which is rumored to play a role in Endgame. Not only would this be an epic sacrifice for Cap, but it would also keep him and Thanos on the board in case Marvel ever wanted to bring them back.
Endgame is such a mystery right now that it feels like almost anything can happen in this movie. That means that Cap's fate is up in the air, and unless some kind of massive leak happens in the next few weeks, we will just have to wait to find out what happens. Chris Evans has never really confirmed or denied that this is his last round as Captain America, but it's sure been feeling like this is goodbye. Whether Cap lives, dies or gets trapped fighting Thanos in another dimension for eternity (If I get that right, I will never shut up about it), it's likely that this is the last that we'll see of him for awhile, so let's hope that he goes out with a bang!
