Will Captain Carter Return? Hayley Atwell’s MCU Future Explained
Warning: SPOILERS for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness!
Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter makes her live-action debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and here’s what Peggy Carter’s Marvel Cinematic Universe future could look like. The Phase 4 movie included plenty of major cameos connected to the MCU and the larger multiverse. Captain Carter was one of the many cameos to come in Doctor Strange 2, as Marvel Studios found another way to bring Hayley Atwell back. While Peggy’s fate isn’t great in the movie, that does not mean that she won’t return.
Peggy Carter’s role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is unlike anything she’s done before in the MCU. After being Captain America’s love interest in his first movie, she was a central part of his arc all the way through to Avengers: Endgame, where Steve Rogers and Peggy got their happy ending. Phase 4 continues to show Hayley Atwell’s character in a new light; however, as Marvel’s What If…? season 1 featured an animated version of Peggy as a supersoldier known as Captain Carter. Doctor Strange 2‘s The Illuminati team managed to once again feature Captain Carter, but this time in live-action, and give Hayley Atwell a new experience playing her fan-favorite MCU role.
The excitement that came with Captain Carter’s live-action debut didn’t last too long, though, as she and her fellow Illuminati members were killed by Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange 2. On the surface, this would make it seem that Hayley Atwell’s cameo was only meant to appease those wanting to see Peggy be a live-action superhero. However, the possibilities of the Multiverse and Marvel’s future plans mean that audiences might not have seen the last of her. Marvel Studios has confirmed Captain Carter will return at least once more in the MCU, but there are plenty of other scenarios for Hayley Atwell to remain a key part of the story going forward.
Captain Carter Will Return In What If Season 2
The piece of Captain Carter’s MCU future after Doctor Strange 2 that is already confirmed lies with What If…? season 2. After appearing in multiple episodes of the first season, Marvel has already confirmed that Hayley Atwell is returning to voice Captain Carter again in season 2 – and this was hardly a surprise based on how her story ended. Marvel’s What If…? season 1’s post-credits scene focused on Captain Carter in the present-day fighting alongside Black Widow and the rediscovery of the Hydra Stomper suit Steve Rogers used to operate. After redoing much of Captain America: The First Avenger‘s story with Captain Carter’s origin in the first season, it appears that What If…? season 2 will put its own spin on Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Peggy is currently only confirmed for a single episode, but The Watcher might once again recruit her to help out in another Multiverse event.
Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter Could Return In Captain America 4
There is also a possibility that Captain Carter becomes involved in Captain America 4 starring Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). The movie is expected to continue his arc of becoming the MCU’s newest Captain America after Avengers: Endgame saw Steve Rogers give Sam the shield and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier focused on him accepting that responsibility. Even though Marvel hasn’t indicated that Captain America 4 will involve any Multiverse connections, that does not mean it won’t happen. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ ending teases more incursions, so it is possible a version of Captain Carter comes to the MCU as a result of one.
That said, it is unlikely that Captain Carter will appear in Captain America 4. Marvel Studios will surely want the movie to focus on Sam Wilson’s journey as the MCU’s version of Captain America. Including Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter could be a distraction from that story. Captain America 4 is more likely to be a grounded, espionage-style film in the vein of prior franchise installments. In this way, using the Multiverse is unnecessary for this movie, even if it would result in a cool crossover between Captain Carter and Captain America. Additionally, there are other MCU projects that are better fits for Peggy’s return.
Will Hayley Atwell Be In Chris Evans’ Secret MCU Project?
Of all the possible MCU projects where Hayley Atwell can return, the rumored secret Chris Evans project could be the best option. The mysterious MCU project that could see Evans play Captain America again was first reported in early 2021, less than two years after he seemingly retired from the iconic role with Avengers: Endgame. Without knowing the details of the project that Chris Evans’ Captain America return will happen in, it is more difficult to figure out if Peggy Carter will appear. However, considering how large of a role she’s played in his MCU story, it would hardly be a surprise to see more of Hayley Atwell and Chris Evans together. Whether or not that means Atwell playing a live-action Captain Carter again is a different story altogether, though. Her return in the secret Captain America project could just be a more traditional version of Peggy Carter, but any Multiverse connections or alternative universe possibilities mean that Peggy and Steve could team up as supersoldiers.
Future MCU Movies Live-Action Captain Carter Can Return In
Beyond having a role in upcoming Captain America projects, the MCU has various movies and TV shows that could facilitate Captain Carter’s return after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. A popular suggestion is that Hayley Atwell will return as a live-action Captain Carter in a Captain Britain movie. Marvel comics introduced the concept of the Captain Britain Corps, a Multiverse team of variations of Brian Braddock and others to hold the mantle. A Captain Britain reference was even in Avengers: Endgame thanks to Peggy Carter’s role, and this could be a way for Captain Carter to appear again through the Multiverse, as long as Marvel Studios eventually makes a Captain Britain movie or TV show.
There are plenty of other potential ideas for Hayley Atwell’s MCU future after Doctor Strange 2. The movie might have killed its version of Captain Carter, but she could still be part of the rumored Illuminati project if it retains its Multiverse connections. Viewers could also see Hayley Atwell return as Captain Carter in something like Loki season 2 thanks to its fun Multiverse possibilities, while Marvel Studios could even give her a solo live-action Disney+ show after What If…? season 2 and her return in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Peggy Carter could also team up with the main MCU heroes during the expected Secret Wars adaptation or lead the potential A-Force movie. Hopefully, one of these ideas becomes a reality – which would mean Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter MCU future isn’t already over.