I’m Convinced Avengers: Endgame Encore Just Debunked The Biggest Secret Wars Theory
The door knocks. Loki arrives. The MCU’s future settles. That is the argument now making the rounds, and it rests on a single post-credits scene from Avengers: Endgame Encore. The 2019 MCU crossover has been re-released with new footage, and it now offers some fresh insight into Steve Rogers, which may reveal quite a bit about the franchise’s future.
The Door Knock From Loki
Endgame Encore adds new scenes to the 2019 film, including a knock on the door of an elderly Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter. On the other side is the TVA’s Loki, offering his help. The scene is brief, but it carries weight. It sets up Steve Rogers’ return to action in Doomsday, the upcoming film that kicks off Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The knock changes the picture. It suggests Steve Rogers from Earth-616 is the one who returns to the fight. That matters because it connects the past, present and future of the MCU.
What Steve’s Future Tells Us
The elderly Steve Rogers at the end of Endgame hands a new shield to Sam Wilson, passing the mantle of Captain America. The new footage now supports the idea that this Steve is the same one from Earth-616, the original timeline. That means his story continues beyond the events of Doomsday and Secret Wars.
The implications are significant. If Steve survives the Multiverse Saga, his happy ending with Peggy holds. He lives, raises a child, dances, and eventually hands the shield to Sam. That timeline cannot exist if the MCU resets completely.
Why A Full Reboot Is Doubtful
Since Avengers: Secret Wars was first announced in 2022, fans have wondered whether it would reboot the franchise. A clean slate would erase decades of investment in this interconnected universe, which first started nearly two decades ago. That has always seemed doubtful.
Now the new footage offers a concrete reason to doubt it. If Steve’s future is intact, the MCU cannot simply start over. There must be continuity between the world before the multiverse is destroyed and the world after.
A Soft Reboot Instead
The likelier path is a “softer” reboot, much like the aftermath of the 2015 Secret Wars comics event. That story rebuilt and streamlined the multiverse rather than starting from scratch. If the MCU’s Doomsday and Secret Wars destroy the multiverse and Steve survives, the same logic applies.
The post-Secret Wars universe cannot be an entirely unrelated timeline if the same elderly Steve still exists. He also has to interact with Sam Wilson at the end of Endgame. That creates a chain of continuity that a full reboot would break.
The Russo Brothers And The Fanbase
The elderly Steve Rogers at the end of Endgame is a beloved moment in the MCU. Fans have grown attached to that version of the character, and the Russo brothers have built their reputation on delivering emotional endings. Changing that ending would be a bold move.
The new footage suggests the ending stays. Steve survives, Peggy survives, and their story continues. That is a reassuring prospect for anyone who has followed the franchise for years.
Kevin Feige Has Already Hints
Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige has alluded to this direction before. The MCU will experience a fundamental change to the multiverse, but not one where everything that came before becomes meaningless. The franchise will rebuild and streamline, not reset.
The evidence from Endgame Encore fits that vision. Steve’s story continues, and his survival of the Multiverse Saga suggests the MCU will keep its history while reshaping its future.
The Cast Of Doomsday
Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film and the kickoff of Phase 6. The cast is stacked, with returning heroes and newcomers alike. The X-Men join the roster, and the villain is Victor von Doom, played by a returning Robert Downey Jr., revealed at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024.
The film also brings back Thor and introduces Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic and Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, played by Vanessa Kirby. The ensemble is broad, and the stakes are cosmic.
Release Dates For Both Films
Avengers: Endgame Encore is now playing in theaters. Avengers: Doomsday releases on December 18th from Marvel Studios.
| Film | Release Date | Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| Avengers: Endgame Encore | September 25, 2026 | 185 minutes |
| Avengers: Doomsday | December 18, 2026 | 165 minutes |
The Evidence In The Footage
The new footage shows a knock on the door, Loki’s offer of help, and the implication that Steve Rogers will return to the fight. That is all the evidence the article draws on. It is slender, but it is consistent with the larger picture of continuity.
Here is what the new scenes confirm:
- A knock on the door with Loki on the other side
- Loki offering his help to Steve and Peggy
- The implication that Steve will return to the fight in Doomsday
- Confirmation that Doomsday’s Steve is indeed our Steve Rogers from Earth-616
The Argument’s Weak Spot
There is one hole in this argument. The knock on the door is not a definitive answer. It is a scene from a re-release, and it does not address the actual plot of Doomsday or Secret Wars.
The article builds its entire case on a single knock and a presumed timeline. That is a thin foundation for a conclusion. The MCU has surprised fans before, and a definitive answer may come later.
Still, the logic holds up. If Steve’s future is preserved, the MCU cannot reboot. That is a comforting thought for anyone who has invested years in this shared universe.
The door has knocked. The future is settled. The MCU moves forward.
See the video the story is built around at Screen Rant.
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