WWEAfter the surprise ending of Avengers: Infinity War leaving many characters’ fates up in the air, it seems the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is set for some seismic changes.
Coupled with the fact many of the big name actors’ contracts are coming to an end after the as-yet-untitled fourth Avengers film, it means many fans – as well as producers, I’m assuming – are looking for others to take up the torch.
Chris Evans, aka Captain America, has already hinted the next Avengers outing may well be his last. However, the actor has also suggested he’s not done playing the character after all. Marvel loves to keep fans guessing…
One guy who’s putting his money on the former however, is John Cena, who recently dropped a massive hint how he’s picking up the infamous vibranium shield.
Yesterday, November 4, WWE wrestler and actor John Cena, posted a picture of said shield to his Instagram account. Although it came with no caption or no other clue as to what he was hinting at, some fans thought they knew it was pretty clear what he was suggesting.
One person commented:
wowww the new captain [sic]
Another speculated:
Are you going to play Captain America or provide the voice for an animated take?
Someone else hoped he might inject new life into the role:
Up to now I’m not a fan of cap but if cena is cap in future sure I’m gonna be a fan of him [sic]
Another simply said:
I approve of Cena being the next Captain America!
Of course, many people also raised the question – how can Jon Cena be Captain America if no one can see him? Or perhaps that would be the cap’s new tactic against Thanos…
The current Captain America, Chris Evans, recently tweeted an emotional (and apparent) farewell to the character, which sparked the speculation he was leaving the franchise.
He wrote:
Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day to say the least. Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor.
To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful.
Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day to say the least. Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor. To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful.
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) October 4, 2018
Fans were understandably freaked out at the tweet, with many taking it as confirmation Evans had hung up his shield for good, despite Cap promising us ‘he could do this all day’.
Commiserations may have been premature though, as Chris has since backtracked on the original tweet, claiming people have read a bit too much into it.
Speaking at ACE Comic Con in Chicago, he said, as per The Hollywood Reporter:
I should clarify that I know I did tweet something that made a lot of people think that it was in some way a spoiler.
I should clarify that regardless of how Avengers 4 ends, I would have tweeted the exact same thing. That last day of filming was a very emotional day and it was the culmination of almost 10 years of filming and 22 movies, this unbelievable tapestry.
You feel a lot more emotions than I think even I thought I’d feel. And I felt it was appropriate to share the gratitude. I know it had a ripple effect but I am neither confirming nor denying anything.
Has Chris passed his shield to John Cena? Avengers 4 can’t come soon enough…
Avengers 4 will be released in UK cinemas on April 26, 2019.
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Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.