Avengers: Endgame director Anthony Russo has detailed the significance of the film's newly extended final scene, explaining how it directly leads into the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. The revelation came during a Q&A session following a New York screening of Avengers: Endgame Encore.
Russo was asked about specific moments in the extended cut that are intended to gain new meaning in light of Doomsday's development. He pointed to the film's conclusion, where Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter's reunion is interrupted by a visit from Loki. As reported by fans who attended early showings, the previously established romantic dance between Steve and Peggy is cut short. In this revised scene, Loki appears, seemingly in his capacity as a TVA agent.
"There's certainly a pivotal moment at the end where... the moment has a different meaning," Russo stated, as relayed by Avengers Updates. "We play one beat past where Steve Rogers' story ended with Peggy Carter, and in that moment, that's where Doomsday is born."
While Russo offered no further elaboration, the implication is that the actions or decisions made during this encounter set the stage for Doctor Doom's eventual emergence. Fans have theorized extensively, particularly given a recent teaser that depicted Doom grieving his wife and child. The prevailing fan theory suggests that Steve and his companions inadvertently send Doom on a path toward revenge through their timeline manipulations.
Many questions remain unanswered, including the reason for Loki's visit to Steve and Steve's ultimate fate. Some fan speculation posits that Loki is rescuing Steve and Peggy from a universe on the brink of destruction, relocating them to Doctor Doom's domain. Other theories suggest that Steve and Peggy having a child in a reality they do not belong to could create a multiversal imbalance, potentially by removing another child to compensate.
Avengers: Doomsday is slated for release on December 18, at which point these narrative threads are expected to be resolved and Steve Rogers' story continued.