Red Skull's MCU Return Was Already Set Up 6 Years Ago According To Avengers: Endgame Theory
Following on from one of the most tragic events in Avengers: Endgame, a new theory uncovers the perfect way for Captain America villain the Red Skull to return to the MCU. Johann Schmidt's Red Skull has an important place in the MCU's history, as he was the first supervillain Steve Rogers fought after becoming Captain America during WWII. While his fate was left unclear in Captain America: The First Avenger, the Red Skull returned in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame as the Soul Stone's ghostly guardian, but his possible MCU future is uncertain.
The Red Skull is one of Marvel Comics' most notable, influential and threatening antagonists, so it's a shame he hasn't been given the same prominence and attention in the MCU. There have been calls for the former HYDRA leader to return to the MCU, however, and a new theory provides a shocking possible explanation as to how. Avengers: Endgame left the Red Skull's future up in the air, so it would be brilliant to see the super-soldier supervillain come back to battle several iconic MCU heroes.
Marvel Studios Gave The Red Skull The Perfect Way To Return After Avengers: Endgame
Ross Marquand Replaced Hugo Weaving As The Red Skull In Avengers: Infinity War & Endgame
Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame revealed that the Red Skull was transported to Vormir, the "Dominion of Death," after holding the Tesseract in his hand in The First Avenger. There, he was tasked with guiding prospective claimers to the Soul Stone, and this included Thanos and Gamora in Infinity War and Hawkeye and Black Widow in Endgame, with Gamora and Natasha Romanoff both losing their lives so the others could acquire the Soul Stone. This has become important in a new theory shared by Reddit user Pietin11.
The Reddit theory delivers the observation that the recently-freed Red Skull is now on Vormir with Natasha Romanoff's body, which is equipped with functional time travel technology and Pym Particles, which she used to travel to 2014 during the Time Heist. The Red Skull could take this technology and use it to escape Vormir, allowing him to wreak havoc in the MCU's future. Of course, this may initially set him loose in an alternate timeline, but the Pym Particles can be used to travel to the MCU's main continuity, as proven by 2012's Thanos in Endgame.
The Red Skull Has Been Wasted In The MCU
The Red Skull Deserves A More Prominent Role 14 Years After His Debut
It would be fantastic to see Johann Schmidt's Red Skull return to the MCU, as he is considered to be one of the most wasted supervillains in the franchise's history. The Red Skull was introduced to Marvel Comics in 1941's Captain America Comics #1, so he is one of Marvel's original and longest-running villains, but he has not been given the same treatment in the MCU. There are decades of stories from the comics that haven't been explored in live-action, so bringing the Red Skull back to the MCU could begin to examine some of these unseen events.
34 Years Ago, A Marvel Movie Proved Why Using A More Comics-Accurate Red Skull Design Is Way Scarier
Hugo Weaving's portrayal of Red Skull is exceptional, but the character's debut 34 years ago was far more terrifying than the MCU's version.
This could open the doors for Marvel Studios to make the Red Skull the focus of stories, including the cosmic cube and its manipulation, perhaps leading to a Secret Empire adaptation, a battle against the Avengers and the X-Men, narratives involving Old Man Logan, or even explaining Sharon Carter's turn into the villainous Power Broker. It would also be great for the MCU to explore Johann Schmidt's origin as the Red Skull in more detail, which was only teased in The First Avenger. This could lead to the Red Skull popping up in any number of upcoming MCU projects.
The Red Skull Would Be A Fantastic Villain To Several MCU Heroes
The Red Skull Is Not Just A Captain America Villain
Image via Marvel Studios
The Red Skull is most notably the archenemy of Steve Rogers' Captain America in Marvel Comics, perhaps his most persistent threat, which throws his return to the MCU into doubt. Chris Evans' Steve Rogers left the MCU in Avengers: Endgame, but the actor has recently been reported to be returning after his brief cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine. This could possibly reunite Steve Rogers and Johann Schmidt in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, which would be incredible to see a decade and a half since the pair were last on-screen together.
Steve Rogers' MCU Movie | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
Captain America: The First Avenger | 2011 | Joe Johnston |
The Avengers | 2012 | Joss Whedon |
Thor: The Dark World | 2013 | Alan Taylor |
Captain America: The Winter Soldier | 2014 | Anthony & Joe Russo |
Avengers: Age of Ultron | 2015 | Joss Whedon |
Ant-Man | 2015 | Peyton Reed |
Captain America: Civil War | 2016 | Anthony & Joe Russo |
Spider-Man: Homecoming | 2017 | Jon Watts |
Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | Anthony & Joe Russo |
Captain Marvel | 2019 | Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck |
Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | Anthony & Joe Russo |
If not pitted against Steve Rogers' Captain America once more, it seems likely that the Red Skull could become a significant threat to Sam Wilson's new Captain America. The Red Skull manipulated and fought Wilson several times in Marvel Comics, though it seems more likely he'll face an even older MCU superhero, should he return. Avengers: Endgame surely established a rivalry between the Red Skull and Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton, who may be seeking vengeance for Black Widow's death, which would provide some heartbreaking and intense closure for the MCU's Hawkeye.
Avengers: Endgame
- Release Date
- April 26, 2019
- Runtime
- 181 Minutes
- Director
- Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
- Writers
- Keith Giffen, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, Jim Starlin, Joe Simon, Steve Englehart, Jack Kirby, Steve Gan, Bill Mantlo, Stephen McFeely, Christopher Markus
Cast
Tony Stark / Iron Man
Steve Rogers / Captain America
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