Avengers: Doomsday theory: Loki and Doom both recruit Cap

A report surfaced during filming on Avengers: Doomsday about a scene featuring Loki, Captain America and Peggy Carter. It's set in the same place where a scene with Doctor Doom was reportedly filmed. After thinking it over, I think both Loki and Doom are trying to recruit Captain America. Ultimately, I do think it leads to a big Avengers moment. In one of the ways I see this playing out, I believe this could be the start of the multiversal Avengers team.

Report says Loki filmed a scene in Steve and Peggy's home

It seems Chris Evans returning as Steve Rogers is a bigger deal than we thought. Based on what the insiders were saying at the time, this isn't a cameo or a small part of the movie. It sounds like he's going to have a sizable role.

According to a report from Daniel RPK, Tom Hiddleston filmed a scene in Steve and Peggy's home where Loki has a conversation with them. I want to stress that this is the same Steve Rogers from the Infinity Saga, the one we last saw at the end of Avengers: Endgame. He isn't a variant. The 616 Steve is the one who talks to Loki.

Why Doom reportedly wants to kill Steve Rogers

The big question is what Loki and Steve talk about. According to recent reports, Doctor Doom wants to kill Steve Rogers because Steve caused an incursion by going back in time. You may or may not think it makes sense that Steve's time travel caused an incursion, but that's the report.

We also heard that Steve, Peggy and Doom filmed a scene together, also inside Steve's house. So Doom wants to get to Steve for one reason or another, and Loki filmed a scene in the same place. I think what's happening comes down to one of three scenarios.

What Loki can do, and why Steve won't trust him

Loki can do two things at this point. First, he can look into any branch he's connected to, and that includes the timeline Steve and Peggy are living in. Second, based on what we know about his powers, he can project a version of himself into those timelines. I doubt he can physically leave his throne, where he's connected to everything. I believe he'll project himself to Steve and Peggy.

There's a problem with that. Steve knows Loki as a villain. The last time Steve ran into Loki was when he went back in time to the events of The Avengers, where Loki was the main villain. They had him restrained until he got away with the Tesseract.

As far as we know, Steve still thinks Loki is a villain. The main 616 Loki didn't turn good until the end of Thor: Ragnarok, and that only lasted a short while because Thanos killed him soon after. So if Loki shows up at Steve's house, Steve is probably going to assume he's a threat.

Scenario one: Loki warns Steve and Doom proves him right

In the first scenario, Loki tells Steve that Doom is coming for him, or that going back in time and staying in that universe caused a problem for the entire multiverse. Steve probably won't believe him.

Then Doom pays Steve a visit, and suddenly Steve is probably going to believe what Loki said. From there, I think Loki recruits Captain America. Steve uses his time travel device to get back to the main timeline. We know he can do that because he shows up again as an old man at the end of Avengers: Endgame.

Scenario two: Doom gets to Steve first

In the second scenario, Doom reaches Steve before Loki does. I don't think Doom can try to kill Steve right away here, because how would Steve survive that? He's a super soldier and he has the shield. But Doom is traveling the multiverse, so he probably has some crazy tech. Since he's the big bad of the next two Avengers movies, we assume he'll have some of his sorcery powers too. What is Cap going to do against that?

So I think Doom probably gives him options, something like: "You can either go back to your timeline or I can kill you or you can join me or I can kill you." I think he gives Steve that choice and leaves, setting him a deadline.

Then Loki shows up, having watched it happen from the branch Steve is in. He explains: "Look, I'm good now. Doom is bad. You clearly just saw that. Yes, there are some problems with the multiverse. I need your help." From there it plays out like the first option. Steve could use the device to go back to the main timeline, or Loki could take him along, because I think Loki wants to recruit him.

Scenario three, my favorite: a TVA rescue from Doom

The third option is my favorite because I think it would look the coolest on screen. Loki shows up first and tries to tell Captain America what's going on with the multiverse and that Doom is coming for him. Cap doesn't believe him. Loki insists he's a completely different Loki, that Doom is coming, and that they don't have much time.

As he explains this, Doom shows up and does try to kill Captain America. Loki, using someone from the TVA, opens a portal and takes Steve and Peggy out of there, saving them from Doom. He could even send characters like Deadpool and Wolverine, or other multiversal people on his team, to help in that moment.

From there, Steve and Peggy are at the TVA, where they get filled in on everything: what the multiverse is, what the TVA is and what Loki did. I believe this could be the start of the multiversal Avengers team.

Why Loki and the TVA could sit at the center of Avengers: Doomsday

We've heard two major things involving Loki for Avengers: Doomsday. Since Loki is holding everything together and is effectively in charge of the TVA, it makes sense he'll play a vital role. I think he'll play an important role throughout the whole movie, whether or not he's on screen, because I think he's building a multiversal Avengers team. That's something we've heard in past reports, and I love the idea.

We've also heard that everything in Doomsday leads to the TVA. When Marvel posted a short version of its chair reveal on Instagram, the line was "it all leads to Doom." The insiders then changed that quote, saying it all leads to the TVA and to Loki. That makes sense to me.

Loki is holding the entire multiverse together: the 616 universe, Deadpool and Wolverine's universe, the X-Men universe, all of it. If it all comes down, Loki will eventually have to be dethroned. Doom somehow learns that and has to get to Loki and the TVA. But Loki can see what's happening in the branches he's attached to, so he can see Doom coming. He isn't going to let Doom threaten him and take over everything. He's going to assemble a team to stop him, and I think it might start with Captain America.

Why Loki might go to Captain America before Thor

It makes sense that Loki would go to Captain America. He's a leader, and people trust him. On top of that, Doom is going after him, so it makes sense for Loki to go to Steve first.

You could argue Loki should go to his brother Thor first. Maybe that's too close to home. It would be emotional, but there's more to it. Loki would know that in this timeline, his variant died. Thor has no idea what the current Loki did with the TVA or all the good he's done. Showing up might send a shock through Thor, and it might also be futile. Loki is the god of mischief and has betrayed Thor many times, so Thor might think he's trying to trick him again.

That's especially true if Loki isn't physically there. At the end of Thor: Ragnarok, Thor throws something at Loki because he doesn't think he's there, and Loki catches it, proving he is. Since Loki probably can't leave his throne, a projection wouldn't pass that test. Thor would probably decide it's fake or some kind of trick. Maybe Loki goes to Thor first, Thor doesn't believe him, and he goes to Captain America next. Either way, I think it ends with Captain America leading the multiversal Avengers team.

That would also build toward a moment I hope happens: a reunion where Thor learns everything Loki did and can be proud of his brother.

Who could join Loki's team: Deadpool, Wolverine and Captain America

Insider reports say Loki will have a team. Doom is going to have a team too, which is why I think he might try to recruit Captain America. Even though Doom looks like Tony Stark, which might confuse Cap, I think Steve ends up going to Loki.

Before this, we thought Loki's team would be Deadpool, Wolverine, X-23 and Gambit, with Mobius, Sylvie, B-15 and everyone at the TVA behind him. Now I think Captain America is part of it, possibly with Peggy Carter. That depends on whether she has the serum in this version. I don't think she does, but we'll see.

This would also let Deadpool finally team up with Captain America and be part of his team. We know from Deadpool & Wolverine and from the comics that Deadpool deeply respects and admires Captain America. I think it would ultimately lead to Thor reuniting with Loki, and possibly to that Thor and Deadpool scene. I'm excited about the possibility.