Chris Evans has shocked us with his physical transformation during his appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival. He was noticeably out of shape in a still from the film, Honey Don’t, that recently went viral on social media. However, the actor is back in his Captain America bod, which has also sparked some speculations among fans.
He was attending the premiere of his film Sacrifice at the event. The 44-year-old showed up in a tucked-in blue t-shirt and black pants, with a clean-shaven look. Evans was rarely spotted without his beard in recent years, which makes fans wonder why he has taken on this particular look. For some, the obvious answer was that he was returning to Avengers: Doomsday.
Chris Evans. #TIFF pic.twitter.com/hnHVipg3vt
— Variety (@Variety) September 7, 2025
Not to mention, he looks jacked up in the photos. The chest area looks wide, and the tummy looks flat & incredibly in shape. In a few side poses, he even showed off his bulked-up biceps. One social media fan, who claimed to have attended the premiere with Evans, said on X:
Since everyone is talking about it, and as someone who was very close to him sitting in the front row, yeah, Chris Evans is back for Doomsday/Secret Wars. He was jacked in real life, like, shockingly so.
Earlier, Marvel insider Daniel Richtman reported that Evans had filmed scenes for Doomsday in the U.K. One of the most recent rumors, as reported by Cosmic Book, suggests that Marvel is allegedly using a codename for Evans, who is indeed part of the upcoming movie. The rumors claimed that Evans is codenamed Luke Cage.
The rumors were strengthened by a leaked pic of a “1960s-style Luke Cage house” on the Doomsday set (via The Irish Sun). The rumors stated that the 1960s house was certainly not for the Marvel character Luke Cage, but for the MCU Cap, who went back in time to live with Peggy.
We Don’t Believe Chris Evans When He Says He Is Not Returning to Doomsday
Rumors of Chris Evans’ appearance in Avengers: Doomsday have been floating around the internet for some time now. According to Deadline‘s report, Evans was approached for a role in the film, which he reportedly accepted. When Esquire reached out to Evans regarding the rumors, he shared:
That’s not true, though. This always happens. I mean, it happens every couple years—ever since Endgame. I’ve just stopped responding to it. […] Yeah, no—happily retired!
In June 2025, Evans addressed his absence from the Doomsday cast during his interview with ScreenRant. When asked about the film, he shared that he talked to the Russo brothers and Robert Downey Jr. all the time. He also added that his Materialists co-star, Pedro Pascal, was filming the movie as they spoke. However, he had this to say about his appearance in the movie:
I mean, it’s sad to be away. It’s sad to not be back with the band, but I’m sure they’re doing something incredible, and I’m sure it’s going to be that much harder when it comes out and you feel like you weren’t invited to the party.
However, fans aren’t ready to believe the actor. They pointed out how Evans acted in Deadpool & Wolverine just last year. Others speculated that he might’ve only dismissed the rumor of appearing in Doomsday, adding that he could still appear in Secret Wars. Fans also commented that Evans shouldn’t be trusted because of Marvel’s ruthless tactics to maintain secrecy.
How Chris Evans’ Captain America Can Return in Avengers: Doomsday
Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans in Avengers: Endgame | Credits: Marvel Studios
Rumors have also been rampant about how Avengers: Doomsday can potentially bring Chris Evans as Captain America. The most prominent theory suggests that he will be the root cause of the events that will happen in the film. According to scooper My Time to Shine Hello, Steve Rogers’ decision to go back in time to live with Peggy may have angered Doctor Doom.
The scooper wrote on X, “When Steve went back in time to go live with Peggy he created the Incursions so now Doom wants him dead.” This Robert Downey Jr. vs Chris Evans theory has gained significant traction, with some speculating that it might end badly for the latter.
Given the stakes of the film should be higher, it is a likely possibility that Downey Jr.’s Doom could emerge victorious in this fight. Another insider, Alex Perez, gave a similar version of the theory when asked about the Chris Evans rumor during a Q&A. He shared, “End of the world, forced out of retirement, a hero’s job is never done.”
Others believe that the Avengers will seek Cap’s help to take down Doom. However, the rumors of Evans’ appearance are only growing stronger. What do you think about these rumors? Let us know in the comments below.
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to be released in the U.S. on December 18, 2026.
