Avengers: Endgame brought us a fulfilling conclusion to the Captain America story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Cap not only helped save the universe, he finally got his happy ending with the love of his life. But, Steve Rogers could have had a different adventure in Endgame. A very different one. Thanks to a panel with the writers of the film at San Diego Comic-Con, we now have some insight to an idea that was floated around in the beginning.
Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus talked about an idea that saw Cap joining forces with the most unlikely of partners:
“We wrote a big document that was everything you could possibly do in these movies. In there, is the Red Skull is clearly alive… He’s awesome! Let’s find a way to use him. Let’s tie this whole thing together… We did send him to space and send him a way very much on purpose…”
“There’s a fascinating one-act play to be written of Captain America going to Red Skull. Never wrote it. In the manifesto document, there was one theory that Cap who goes to space… and he has to collaborate with Red Skull to get the Stone.”
This would have been an interesting dynamic for sure. Cap had already been through so much, especially when it came to Hydra. In such a dire moment as the events of the film, however, unlikely bedfellows are necessary. So, a partnership with The Red Skull to retrieve the Soul Stone would have made for a compelling act in the movie.
Alas, this is something that never came to be, as it never even reached the writing stage, but it is fascinating to hear all the avenues that the writers considered traversing. I think, in the end, they made the right choices, and gave fans a brilliant film that brought proper closure to the ‘Infinity Saga’.
Would you have like to have seen Cap and Red Skull team up in Avengers: Endgame? Let us know in the comments below!