Marvel Fans Slam Avengers: Doomsday Trailer Over Captain America Joke
by Devin Meenan · /FilmAdd SlashFilm on Google:
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Marvel Studios dropped a new look at "Avengers: Doomsday" via a TV spot during Game 1 of the MLB World Series. On top of previously-glimpsed action shots like Thor (Chris Hemsworth) lunging at Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), there's a new clip showing off some of the film's comedy. That is what has gotten most people talking, and not necessarily in a positive way.
During a meeting of Avengers, new and old, Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) says "Right, Cap?" when talking to Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). Steve gives him an awkward glare, because he isn't Captain America anymore — Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is. John Walker/USAgent (Wyatt Russell) also interjects that he was, briefly, Captain America while Scott tries to point out the confusion of there being multiple Captains America in the room.
Now, the scene shows plentiful signs of trailer editing, so there's probably more to the joke in the movie itself. But as of now, many Marvel fans aren't enjoying the perceived slight at Sam's legitimacy. Some important context here: Mackie has received racist backlash for Sam becoming Cap's successor, with the characteristic accusations that Marvel has a "woke" agenda making a Black man into an A-list hero. Marvel even leaned into this for Disney+ series "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," where Sam initially gets passed over for John Walker. Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) warned Sam that, "They will never let a Black man be Captain America."
"I know it's probably a joke and Steve is gonna say Sam is Cap not him, but mannn, it really looks sh**ty to have the only black guy who has been fighting grifters and been stuck with mediocre to bad Cap outings to be the butt of the joke even if it's in good fun," said user @GunnerDobbins on X about the "Doomsday" joke.
Marvel fans accuse Avengers: Doomsday of pandering to racist backlash
Critic Griffin Schiller made a similar point, writing: "Would be cool if the MCU would stop undercutting Sam's legitimacy as Captain America. Why does he have to keep proving himself? Why is that his sole character trait? Stuff like this is just cowardly. It's like, YOU don't even fully believe it."
User @finalgirlverse said, bluntest of all: "[J]okes aren't funny when they're racially motivated #sorry."
It should be noted that bringing Steve Rogers back at all for "Avengers: Doomsday" came with controversy, with fans reading in subtext that Marvel was reneging on making Sam Captain America. While Sam's debut solo film "Captain America: Brave New World" wasn't a mega-hit, it's pretty unfair and cynical to attribute the movie's failings to Anthony Mackie or Sam Wilson the character, rather than general Marvel fatigue.
The "Doomsday" marketing campaign seems to be having it both ways. Steve pointedly hasn't worn the Captain America costume or wielded the shield, with the intended applause moment instead being him wielding Mjolnir as a callback to "Avengers: Endgame."
Regardless, other fans are more forgiving of the "Right, Cap?" joke. X user @upperupland wrote that: "Sam Wilson is the current Captain America but Steve Rogers was Captain America for years and is synonymous with the character. I don't see anything wrong with referring to both as Cap. [Y]ou all need to get a grip."
Others have pointed out the joke ultimately reflects mostly on Scott Lang's character, who has always been depicted as reverent of Captain America. User @damiebi10 wrote: "Everyone, take a deep breath. It's a joke. Scott is a Steve fanboy. Makes sense for his character[.] Doesn't change the fact that Sam is [C]ap."
We'll see if that changes when "Avengers: Doomsday" arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026.