Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter looks like she might play a significant role in Avengers: End Game following the release of the brand new trailer.
While discussing a plan with Black Widow, Captain America brings out his compass and looks at the image of Peggy Carter that’s been in the compass since the 1940s.
It’s unclear why Captain America is all of a sudden looking at the old picture of Peggy Carter as he had seemingly moved on following her death. In fact, he even began a romance with Peggy’s neice Sharon.
But Captain America’s compass with Peggy Carter’s photo might be the biggest clue the trailer gives us that time travel could somehow be involved. We know Captain America and Black Widow are discussing a plan, and it appears to be their only option as Captain America tells Black Widow, “I know it is. Because I don’t know what I’m going to do if it doesn’t.” The plan most likely involves Ant-Man as he shows up towards the end of trailer. We know Ant-Man has been to the Quantum Realm and it’s quite possible the Quantum Realm holds the key to time travel.
If Black Widow and Captain America are using Ant-Man’s knowledge of the Quantum Realm, which could be the key to time travel, it’s possible Captain America and Black Widow are traveling back in time to meet with Peggy Carter and recover the Space Stone before it can fall into the hands of Thanos. With Captain America and Black Widow’s knowledge of the Space Stone, it’s possible they can assemble the Infinity Gauntlet before Thanos and defeat him in a preemptive strike.
Ant-Man might not be the key to time travel though. We know Peggy Carter was heavily involved at everything at S.H.I.E.L.D. She knew about Hank Pym and his shrinking technology. It’s possible she knew about the Quantum Realm, and had other people working on potential time traveling technology. She might be the key that allows the Avengers to avenge their fallen friends and bring justice to Thanos.
However, it’s also possible Captain America is just reminiscing about Peggy Carter as he faces a tough challenge head on.
Captain America’s Compass
Captain America has a long history with his compass featuring Peggy Carter’s photo. The compass was clearly seen as he defeated Red Skull and flew the Hydra plane into the icy waters of the north Atlantic on a mission that would most likely end in his death.
The compass would show up again in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as Captain America discovered he had been frozen and decades had passed. He realized Peggy had gotten married and he was planning on visiting her.
The compass definitely has significant meaning to Captain America as he looks to draw strength from Peggy Carter to take on dangerous missions. However, we didn’t see the compass show up in Captain America: Civil War as Steve began his romance with Sharon and paid his respects to Peggy following her death.
As for the possibility of Hayley Atwell reprising her role as Peggy Carter, she was coy about the prospect back in April.
“Because it’s a genre-specific superhero piece, I’m sure anything could happen. It’s such a huge world. I do think there’s something in the completion of the fact that they’re doing their back-to-back Avengers at the moment, which will complete an era, so I can’t see how that would be. But that’s what’s remarkable about Marvel is they keep going. Each film tends to further what they’re doing, so I wouldn’t rule it out.”
What do you think Peggy Carter’s role in Avengers: End Game will be? Could we see a cameo? Could she play a significant role with time travel involved? Or will it just be her photograph giving Captain America the courage he needs to face death once again.
Avengers: End Game comes to theaters on April 26, 2019.