We Now Know How Old Man Cap Got Back To The Main Timeline

Whenever a movie introduces time travel into its story, there are going to be questions about the timeline. The Marvel Cinematic Universe seemed to set its own rules about time travel in Avengers: Endgame, but some felt like Captain America coming back as an old man at the end contradicted them.

Thankfully, directors Joe and Anthony Russo have clarified once and for all how time travel works in their films, even if screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely don’t agree. Let’s take a look at the various explanations of how Old Man Cap got back to the main timeline in Avengers: Endgame.

#Avengers #Marvel #MCU

[Looper]

Do you agree with the screenwriters or the directors?

[AdiAfendi]

I remember being at an age where I enjoyed Back To The Future and Terminator without getting into a PhD-level dissertation.

[Microfoot]

So the Russos' explanation is exactly what I thought happened. I would've thought most people would realize this considering Tony and Cap were able to travel from 2012 to 1970 without having to return to 2023 first.

[FranklynFMMcInnis]

Endgame is so good that I don't care to pick it apart. Just glad that Steve finally got to be with Peggy.

[Klujma]

Russos makes way more sense and is finally logical. He lived with Peggy until she died and he traveled back to og timeline to say hey to his bros, then he maybe even gets back to his alternate timeline after passing his shield to take care of his kids, if he has some.

Iam finally little satisfied now.

[alexharvey]

Me: so how many avengers videos you still got

Looper: Yes

[WesleyKingdom]

There's no old cap.
It's just Loki😂

[jakesaathoff]

I always thought Cap came back old by doin it the old fashioned way: he waited.

[muhammad_pulliam]

Here’s a theory.... after returning the stones, he went and got with Peggy. Explained that he’s from the future and just enjoyed his life with her. She maintained her life as if she had found a new love in order to not upset the timeline. Cap was a part of that timeline the whole time. He just went back to the point where he crashed into the ice, and lived with Peggy until the events of Endgame. Doesn’t affect anything in the timeline... he’s a superhero so he technically could live that long. 🤷🏾‍♂️ Not really that hard to digest if you don’t over think it. Peggy kept that secret, even from the Cap in the snow. He wouldn’t put it together, because it wouldn’t become an idea to him, until he has to go back in time. Cap created his own time loop. THATS why he gave the shield to Sam. 🤫

[danielblair]

There were still two Steve Rogers existing at the same time in time no matter if it was an alternate timeline or the main timeline because Steve Rogers went back in time to a time that past Steve Rogers was still frozen in ice.


If things were to progress in the alternate timeline in a similar manner to the original timeline (and I don't see why they wouldn't) then past Steve Rogers frozen in ice is going to be revived around the same time as it occurred in the original timeline and then you'll have two Steve Rogers running around even in the alternate timeline.


So, no matter which scenario you used (alternate timeline or main timeline) there are still going to be two Steve Rogers existing in one timeline.


There is no way of escaping that fact because Steve Rogers is going back in time to a time where his past self is frozen in ice.


Steve Rogers going back in time does NOT cause his past self that is frozen in ice to cease to exist.

[sarah-jaynemcdonald]

I like the one where there were 2 Caps in the main MCU time line best. I love the thought of when he is speaking to Peggy on her death bed, she is keepin that secret from him, for his own good of course. That visit would also let Cap know everything in his time line is going to plan. And if you watch the scene, what Peggy says to capt makes sense if you have in mind she already married him.

[Amanda-whww]

Why does everyone forget the conversation with Bruce about time travel? I always took the Ancient Ones explanation about the infinity stones to be bad realities that will be created. Because if removing a stone and returning resets that reality, then what happened to Loki in the 2012 timeline? Or Gamora from the 2014 one? Heck you can go so far to say that if Cap returns the stones to 2014 and it resets the timeline, Thanos never came to 2023 and Stark would be alive. The writers explanations keep making it more complicated. What the directors say about Cap makes the most sense to the time travel theory presented in the film. Really hope they clear this up in the Disney Plus series.

[spidergoblin.]

After 3 months I've figured out xD that Cap travel back to the past then creates a new timeline. Basically, he lives in peace with Carter and his succeed the mission in another timeline while other Cap being an Avenger in the main timeline. So, the theory that two Caps lived during main timeline is like nonsense for me. I rather stand with the director's statement instead.

[TheRealCSD]

People who think he just aged up to the main year dont think things through. Its not just the infinity stones that make alternate timelines. The infinity stone taken away make darker timelines. But any change to the past such as two captain americad existing will create another timeline because "changing the past doesnt not change the future" go watch dragon ball super where trunks explains this perfectly

[summertyme]

All time travel back into the past in this film is through *different timelines.*
Why Nebula can kill her old self without dying -> *different timelines.*
Why Cap can fight Cap -> *different timelines.*
Why Thanos from past is now alive again, and killing him at the end of the film does not undo his collecting the stones in the 1st place -> *different timelines.*
Why Thor can take his hammer from the past -> *different timelines.*
Where Cap gets the shield he gives to Falcon at the end of the film -> *different timelines.*
How Cap can dance with Peggy in the past -> *different timelines.*

As per the filmmakers. Anyone saying main timeline simply creates an irresolvable plot-hole [paradox and plot hole actually have the same meaning], that’s why the filmmakers reject it.
If you disagree....open invitation to reply and we can discuss. 😎

[Stephaniededson]

Directors have to have it. There is no way Steve Rogers would let Bucky Barnes stay as the winter soldier. No way.

[A..D..D]

2 Steves, but same person. Young Steve frozen in Ice, and Old Steve who has previously fought in Wars young steve has yet to fight. Old Steve goes back to Marry Peggy, and he kept a low profile so as not to tip anyone, even his younger self off to what is going on.

[stevejason]

If cap made the time jump, shouldn't he still come back at the end of the countdown (just like when all the avengers come back at the same time, after collecting the stones) and not before or after?

The guys who actually wrote the movie disagree. They say he was in the main timeline all along.

You'd think this stuff would be discussed as the movie is being made, but apparently not.

[GeorgeBailey]

Two timelines. Two jumps back. First, he lives an alternate timeline with Peggy Carter. Whether he is an active Captain America, who knows? Probably. He saves Bucky, etc, etc. Then he uses Pym particles to go back again and lives a normal life, leaving the original MCU timeline undisturbed.
Steve Rogers would not age at a normal rate. So, if he only went back once and maintained the original MCU timeline, you would think he would look to be between 45 to 60 (at most), not fully aged.
Also, Sam was at Peggy's funeral. Presumably, he knew that Steve had, or wanted to have, a relationship with Peggy Carter. For the life Steve lived that left the timeline undisturbed, perhaps he had a relationship with someone other than Peggy Carter. This might be why, after Sam notices the wedding ring and asks, "Do you want to tell me about her?", Steve says, "No, I don't think so."