Marvel teased Captain America’s son in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and two comic theories explain who he really is
Marvel Studios appears ready to crack open one of the most emotionally charged chapters in the MCU with ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’ And its first teaser has already ignited intense speculation. One brief moment suggests the introduction of a character who could reshape the MCU’s future: the child of Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter. After years of uncertainty and repeated denials from Chris Evans about any involvement, Marvel has now confirmed that Steve will return in the 2026 film. The twist, however, is that this isn’t simply another Captain America comeback. Instead, the story seems to explore the life Steve chose when he stayed in the past at the end of ‘Avengers: Endgame.’
The first ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ trailer, which debuted exclusively in theaters alongside ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ includes a callback to ‘Endgame’s’ final scene. Viewers are taken back to Peggy’s house. While Hayley Atwell’s Peggy does not appear on screen, Steve is shown holding a baby, implying that he and Peggy started a family together. That single image has opened the door to countless theories about who this child is and why they matter. Marvel Comics offers several possible blueprints. Over the years, different versions of Steve Rogers’ children have appeared across comics, animation, and games.
Two stand out as the most plausible inspirations for the MCU’s next move, as per ScreenRant. One leading candidate is James Rogers, a character introduced in the animated feature ‘Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow.’ In that story, James is the son of Captain America and Black Widow and eventually takes up his father’s shield. He grows into a leader among the children of fallen Avengers, fighting against Ultron with guidance from Iron Man. While his parentage would clearly need to change for the MCU, the core of his arc fits neatly into Marvel’s long-term storytelling. There’s also an intriguing wrinkle that could tie James to ‘Avengers: Doomsday’s’ reported villain.
If the MCU ages the character up through multiversal or time-based mechanics, James could be mentored by a corrupted or alternate version of Iron Man, now reimagined as Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.). Another possibility comes from the comics: Ian Rogers, who debuted in ‘Captain America Vol. 7 #1’ in 2012. Ian is the adopted son of Steve and Sharon Carter, artificially created by Arnim Zola. Though he ultimately becomes a hero, his origin is deeply tied to experimentation and moral ambiguity. Translating Ian’s story to the MCU would require major changes, particularly since the child in the trailer is strongly implied to be biologically related to Steve and Peggy.
If Marvel wants to avoid altering established comic relationships, there is one more option: Sharon Rogers, a character created not in comics but in the video game ‘Marvel Future Fight.’ She comes from an alternate reality where Steve was never frozen in ice and lived a full life alongside Peggy. In that timeline, Sharon eventually becomes Captain America herself after her parents retire. While Sharon would be a natural extension of Steve’s decision to stay in the past, the tone of the teaser suggests Marvel may be leaning toward James Rogers instead. Moreover, according to Variety, ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.
