Could We See Captain America ‘Hail Hydra’ In The MCU?

Recently, I examined what Marvel Studios is doing with Thor. But, if you have been paying attention to comic news recently, or you read our article, you probably know about the huge twist in Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 by Nick Spencer. This new take on Captain America/Steve Rogers see’s Captain America do the unthinkable – ‘Hail Hydra’.

Fans have reacted strongly. Most are angry that the character who at the utmost integrity, and devotion to good could possibly be bad. Stan Lee himself, finds the idea “clever”. Kevin Smith commented on the heel turn, saying that it won’t change canon. Cap’s biggest fan Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) is allowing the story to play out. James Gunn’s cat has been threatened. Captain America himself, Chris Evans, is even in disbelief.

Obviously such a drastic change in the character so many have known and loved all their lives is going to be divisive. Personally, I believe Clark Gregg is right, and we need to let the story play out. But it got me thinking, could we ever see the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) version of Captain America/Steve Rogers follow this path, and take such a drastic turn?

My immediate reaction is there is no way, we could ever possibly see this. He spent two entire movies taking down Hydra in Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as well as the beginning of Avengers: Age of Ultron. In the MCU, the enemy of Hydra is Captain America.

But the question has me intrigued. The comic’s version of Civil War was followed by Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America. Many fans, myself included, believed that Captain America: Civil War would end with Cap’s death. I even envisioned a post credits scene for Doctor Strange in which Tony Stark and T’Challa showing up at the Sanctum Sanctorum to meet up with Doctor Strange and ask him to perform necromancy to bring Steve Rogers back to life. For those unaware, Doctor Strange has performed necromancy before in the comics, though incredibly reluctantly – he really doesn’t like to do it unless absolutely necessary.

We don’t yet know what will happen in Doctor Strange obviously, as it doesn’t come out until November, but many believe that it’s possible the “Eye of Agamotto” will contain one of the final two remaining Infinity Stones to be introduced in the MCU (if true, my guess is time, but this is pure speculation based on the teaser trailer, and the Ancient One’s (Tilda Swinton) comments about realities “being one of many,” and there being “so many ways to save lives”). While this may come to pass in the movie, we obviously did not see Steve Rogers die at the end of Civil War. I was really hoping for my idea of the post credit scene described above, though. It would have been an awesome way to bring Doctor Strange into the Avengers fold.

However, Marvel Comics has always loved to play the “what if?” game, and Marvel Studios has shown that they will take a story line from the comics and loosely adapt it to their needs for the overarching story (see how they adapted Civil War). Since Marvel Studios has shown they will take a run of the comics and adapt accordingly, what if they take the Fallen Son story and adapt it in the MCU with Captain America ‘Hailing Hydra’?

Crazy, I know, but hear me out. At the end of Civil War Steve Rogers, once again, finds himself lost and without a place to call home. He is a man on the run, though he did extend an olive branch to Tony Stark via a letter, in which he says, “If you ever need me, call.”

It still sounds crazy, I know. Hell, it even looks crazy. But the ending of Civil War, while not alone, shows Captain America “drop the shield”, symbolically abandoning the Captain America moniker, and leaves him on the run, a criminal in the eyes of the MCU world. It’s not hard to envision him becoming somewhat destitute. Could this destitution lead to the MCU’s Steve Rogers making the comic’s heel turn?

Or how about this? At one point in the comics, Steve Rogers abandons the mantle of Captain America and takes on the name Nomad. What if under the moniker of Nomad, Marvel Studios uses this opportunity to adapt the Fallen Son story and have it be about a destitute Steve Rogers’ descent into becoming an agent of Hydra.

I honestly don’t believe we would ever see this Steve Rogers truly become an agent of Hydra. However, what if Marvel Studios uses this as an opportunity for a fourth Captain America film, and have it involve Cap infiltrating Hydra (because despite how many times they’ve been defeated on the big and small screen, Hydra is never truly dead) by selling them on the idea he has nowhere else to go, only to bring Hydra down from within, and “redeem himself” within the MCU?

We don’t know where Nick Spencer is taking Captain America in the comics, as the story is playing out now. This may very well be where the story goes, loosely, despite Spencer’s denial that Cap is not undercover, a double agent, under some form of mind control, or that it’s a clone. But with Marvel Studios’ willingness to adapt storylines to fit their needs, maybe this is where the MCU can take Captain America next. Every movie has shown us a different Captain America – he has grown, tried to find his place in a world he doesn’t know, reinvent himself. Maybe this is a new, slightly darker place Marvel Studios can take Cap.

What do you think? Chris Evans is on record as wanting to continue playing the role, if Marvel wants to resign him. Where should Marvel Studios take Cap next?

For another fantastic article, check out our own Sam Flynn’s editorial on why superheroes matter more than ever in 2016!

Heroic Staff

Heroic Staff

Heroic Special Activities Division Agent Trainee Program