Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is off and rolling, and we're learning a lot about the world post-Avengers: Endgame and the conflict it created. There's been a lot of chaos and confusion in the world's attempt to return to normal, and it sounds like some have grown to question the norm around them.
Some take that idea to the max like the Flag Smashers, and others hear crazy theories about Captain America on the moon and choose to believe them. As silly as it sounded and was immediately dismissed by Sam Wilson, I actually believe there's some truth to it. You read that right – I believe Steve Rogers, the old Captain America, is out in space, and I think we all should.
The Moon Line Felt Like A Classic Marvel Tease
When Torres randomly threw in that line about conspiracy theories about Steve on the moon, my Marvel radar immediately went off. It was such a random conversation, and one at the very least to get us thinking about what happened to Steve Rogers after Avengers: Endgame. The suggestion is just so out there, so ridiculous, and there's no way it could be true, right?
To me, this felt like the classic Marvel tease that ultimately gets a payoff down the stretch where we learn, surprise, Steve Rogers is in space. Of course, anyone skeptical it's a tease has a right to be after WandaVision teased a ton of things simply to misdirect and troll MCU fans. I know there are many MCU theories burnt by that experience, but keep in mind this is a different show with different rules.
More importantly, it seems like a show that will make nods to bigger MCU stories often. For example, that White Wolf reference made by Bucky in Episode 2 was very similar to the whole moon thing, but Marvel fans don't know anything about that. What we could speculate though, is that Steve Rogers is not dead, because if he was, wouldn't the government had made a big deal of it? Wouldn't Sam or Bucky have shared some moments where they acknowledged his death? Something is up.
Marvel Heroes Are Doing Things In Space, Including Nick Fury
The theory that Steve Rogers is in space isn't that hard to believe when you realize that Marvel has slowly been teasing activity with Nick Fury in space. First, we learned in Spider-Man: Far From Home that he's up there with Skrulls monitoring threats. Then, WandaVision featured a Skrull visiting Monica Rambeau to recruit her to space. Then, space comes up yet again in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier?
The Infinity Saga brought some epic battles to Earth, but there's definitely some early signaling from the MCU that the future battle could be in the stars. Kevin Feige has signaled there's no need for a balance between Earth and space-based stories, not that this story would require multiple features to tell. It sounds like a build to the next big Marvel event, where we finally see Chris Evans back as Captain America.
Maybe he's on a moon base and strategizing how best to help protect Earth, or he's just hanging out with Nick Fury. After all, conspiracy theories don't have to be 100% accurate, but they can always have a small sliver of truth. In this case, I think the old Captain America was sent to space, obviously for some big and important reason beyond retirement.
There's Been Chatter Of Chris Evans Returning To The MCU
Back in January, there were rumors that Chris Evans was in talks to return as Captain America, and I didn't believe it. Then Chris Evans made a comment about it, then Kevin Feige made a comment about it, and now people are off the train that Evans is headed back to the MCU. The thing is, neither one actually explicitly denied anything if you look closely, which makes it all even more suspicious.
Let's go first to Kevin Feige, who said that while he rarely says no to things, the rumor was dispelled by Chris Evans. The thing is, that's not entirely accurate because all Evans said was that the rumors were news to him, which in a court of law would probably not hold up as dispelling a rumor. In my opinion, both men sidestepped the question, and if Cap's return was a closely guarded secret they'd rather keep under wraps, what's the harm in a little white lie?
Like, say Kevin Feige and Chris Evans lied their ass off, and Steve Rogers is in the very next episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, what Marvel fan is going to be mad about that lie? I would reckon hardly any of them, and as much as we like to think celebrities are beacons of truth and would never lie to fans, we're all human. Evans can give quotes about how he hasn't watched WandaVision all he wants – I don't buy it.
What The Hell Would Old Cap Do In Space?
We've covered a lot of ground in this theory, but the biggest hurdle here is to explain why. Why the hell would the MCU bring an old, crusty, battle-worn, Steve Rogers and put him up on the moon? Why would you age up the beautiful Chris Evans and put the American hero on the moon in a base? What could he possibly do up there?
Well, we don't know what we don't know, and so far, Steve Rogers has lived an entirely separate life offscreen. He's lived two lifetimes, it seems, and with that great experience, he may just make up for any missed step in physicality with a lot of knowledge about strategy, leadership, and maybe even space? Hell, we don't know. Maybe he watched a bunch of the Science Channel!
One thing we do know, courtesy of Isaiah Bradley, is that the super serum sticks with the human body even in old age. Steve may not be peak form Captain America, but he could have enough strength to put someone's ass in the ground if he absolutely had to. He may be super old and at death's door, but I believe, even if he's old, Steve has at least one good adventure left in him. I'm ready to see it, so I really want it to be confirmed, or people at Marvel to clear some things up.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier releases new episodes on Disney+ Fridays. Do you believe Steve Rogers is still alive and in space? Sound off in our poll, and for more on Chris Evans, check out the reactions for when the internet suddenly remembered the actor had a bunch of tattoos.
This poll is no longer available.
