Hayley Atwell gives her honest opinion on Captain Carter’s performance in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. Agent Peggy Carter, played by Atwell, made her MCU debut in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and has since appeared in various more MCU films in cameo roles. Agent Carter, a television series based on the beloved character Peggy Carter, aired for two seasons (2015–2016) with a total of 18 episodes. Not until the 2021 Disney+ animated Marvel series What If…? did we see Atwell’s character in a new capacity; she was transformed from Agent Peggy Carter into Captain Carter, a British analog to Captain America, complete with a costume and shield with the Union Jack. Captain Carter made her first appearance as a live-action character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness when she was introduced as a founding member of the Illuminati in an alternate timeline.
In an interview with Digital Spy, Atwell revealed that her portrayal of Captain Carter in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness isn’t the path she envisions Peggy going. Captain Carter did not survive Wanda’s attack on the Illuminati. However, Atwell says there is still hope for Peggy’s return to the MCU since it is “amazing” to think that one character performed ten years ago still influences people today. See Atwell’s full observation down below:
“It was definitely not, you know, the trajectory that I see for Peggy. I would definitely like her to have more to do. It’s so funny because, you know, I did that 10 years ago, and I love her because I love the people, and you never know [if there could be more].”
Why Captain Carter in Doctor Strange 2 Is Not Like her Other portrayals in MCU
Peggy Carter is a fan-favorite character in the MCU, but her appearance in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness was very different from how she is usually portrayed. Captain Carter was a considerably harsher person than Agent Carter, with a stronger sense of devotion to the rules. Captain Carter was not as accommodating or sympathetic as Agent Carter when bending the laws for the greater good. Viewers didn’t get to see much of Captain Carter from the parallel reality because she was killed by being sliced in half by her own shield during Wanda’s massacre of the Illuminati.
Many opportunities remain for Peggy’s return to the MCU, even though Captain Carter has only ever appeared in What If…? and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. But whether Atwell prefers Captain Carter to Agent Carter is a different issue. While Atwell does want to see Peggy “have more to do,” she doesn’t think Captain Carter is the best way to take her character. On the other hand, reports of a live-action Captain Carter TV series appearing on Disney+ began in May.
Peggy should come back to the MCU.
Whether Peggy returns to the MCU as Captain Carter, she has already established herself as a pivotal character in the saga. Peggy has come a long way, from her first appearance in 2011 to becoming the fearless, savvy, and capable heroine she is now. Atwell’s portrayal of Peggy Carter in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness proves that the MCU still needs her, shield or no shield, even though a Captain Carter series is still a rumor at this point.
