Marvel Studios Just Set Up Its 6th Captain America Successor

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While Tony Stark launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the first ‘Iron Man’ film in 2008, Captain America was truly the heart of the franchise. Steve Rogers represented the ideal of a hero even before becoming a super-soldier, and his impact was so significant that Marvel decided the Captain America title should live on even after his story concluded.

Marvel had a plan to continue the legacy of Captain America after Steve Rogers retired, and while the shield has been passed on, characters linked to it from the comics keep appearing. Interestingly, the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series—which rarely focuses on the Avengers—might be hinting at another potential Captain America: the daughter of Jessica Jones.

The newest trailer for the second season of Born Again shows that when the Anti-Vigilante Task Force starts investigating, Jones is forced to return to action. She’s driven to fight because she fears for her child’s safety.

Although she didn’t say who her daughter’s father is, most fans believe she and Luke Cage eventually got together and started a family. In the Marvel comics, they have a daughter named Danielle Cage, who later becomes Captain America in an alternate universe.

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn’t drawn much from the damaged reality of Earth-15061, Marvel Studios usually finds ways to celebrate Captain America’s history. If a certain plan moves forward, Danielle would become part of a growing group of patriotic characters in the MCU.

Characters the MCU Has Set Up as a Future Captain America

Bucky Barnes

In Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve Rogers desperately wanted to fight alongside his friend Bucky Barnes. Initially deemed unfit for service, he volunteered for an experiment that transformed him into a super-soldier with incredible strength. After rescuing Bucky from the villainous HYDRA, Steve, now known as Captain America, formed a special unit called the Howling Commandos and helped shift the course of the war.

As a huge fan, it’s always been fascinating to me how Bucky’s story unfolded. He never had Steve’s super-soldier strength, but he was always right there, even getting a feel for the shield! Honestly, if HYDRA hadn’t gotten to him, I really think Bucky could have become Captain America himself. It’s tragic how being the Winter Soldier derailed that possibility. Thankfully, he’s managed to rebuild his life and become a key member of the New Avengers, alongside others who’ve faced their own demons.

Sam Wilson

After Bucky became unavailable, Steve Rogers needed a new partner in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. He found that partner in Sam Wilson, a military veteran and skilled pilot who flew using a high-tech wingsuit. Sam first joined Steve in The Winter Soldier and remained a loyal ally through Avengers: Endgame.

Once Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, lived a full life with Peggy Carter in the past, he passed his shield to Sam Wilson. It took Sam some time to adjust to becoming the new Captain America, given the weight of the title’s history. Eventually, he found his own way to be a hero and dedicated himself to protecting the world.

Isaiah Bradley

While researching the super soldier serum, Sam discovered Isaiah Bradley, a soldier who was secretly experimented on as part of a government attempt to duplicate the process that created Captain America. Although Isaiah fared better than some of the other test subjects, he was imprisoned for decades to cover up the government’s unethical actions.

At the conclusion of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson demonstrated that audiences were ready to embrace a Black Captain America. However, Captain America: Brave New World presented a new challenge: Samuel Sterns, also known as The Leader, manipulated and re-imprisoned him. True to his word, Sam stepped in to help, saving his friend once again.

John Walker

Before accepting his new life, Sam Wilson returned Captain America’s shield, hoping the government would store it away. Instead, they gave it to John Walker, as shown in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. John believed he was ready to replace Steve Rogers, but he quickly cracked under the pressure, even resorting to murder after taking a new version of the super-soldier serum.

After a very public and aggressive outburst, Bucky and Sam had to take the Captain America shield from John. Feeling lost and with nowhere else to turn, John started working with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, which led him down a path away from the hero he aspired to be. Joining the Thunderbolts team offered John a fresh start, and he seized the opportunity, ultimately saving the world and rediscovering his heroic nature.

Steve Rogers & Peggy Carter’s Child

The initial trailer for Avengers: Doomsday surprised fans by showing Steve Rogers returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to battle Doctor Doom. The clip featured the original Avengers visiting his home and meeting his child. This naturally led to speculation that he intends to train the next generation of heroes.

It’s still too soon to know if Steve and Peggy Carter’s child will follow in their footsteps and become a crime fighter. However, if they do, Marvel has several characters they could use in future movies or shows, like James Rogers from the animated film Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow and Sharon Rogers from the Marvel Future Fight video game.

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2026-04-08 20:35