Chris Evansis one of the cinema’s most alluring andtalented leading men, with the celebrated actor having skyrocketed to superstardom when he tackled the legendary role of Captain America in the fan-favorite MCU and its many sensational films, sequels, and spin-offs. Evans was praised for his dazzling performance in the 2011 knockoutCaptain America: The First Avenger, becoming a beloved staple in the lucrative franchise and firmly establishing himself as a powerhouse figure in the entertainment industry.
From 2011 to 2019, Evans brilliantly captured the grace, strength, and perseverance of Steve Rogers, protecting humanity and the universe alongside his fellow Avengers and emerging as the voice of reason and a calming presence when faced with colossal hurdles and powerful adversaries. Evans emotionally say goodbye to Captain AmericainAvengers: Endgame,leaving passionate fans devastated as his exceptional time as the superhero came to a bittersweet end. Let’s take a look at what went into Evans' decision to leave Marvel and if there’s any hope he’ll once again pick up his iconic shield once again.
Chris Evans' Career-Defining Role as the Beloved MCU Hero
For nearly a decade, celebrated leading man Chris Evans dazzled and delighted audiences with his charismatic performance as Steve Rogers A.K.A. Captain America in the MCU, beginning his enduring tenure as the legendary superhero in 2011’sCaptain America: The First Avenger.Before signing on to portray Cap in a lucrative six-picture deal with Marvel, Evans declined the role three times until he consulted with Robert Downey Jr., who encouraged him to take the leap and sign on for the life-changing role. He went to a therapist to better prepare himself for all the fame that would come with the project, reflecting on his initial fearsto Entertainment Weekly:
“At the time, I remember telling a buddy of mine, ‘If the movie bombs, I’m f—-ed [sic]. If the movie hits, I’m f—-ed!’ I was just scared. I realized my whole decision-making process was fear-based, and you never want to make a decision out of fear. I can’t believe I was almost too chicken to play Captain America.”
Evans had previously appeared in films likeNot Another Teen Movie, Scott Pilgrim vs. the Word,andThe Losersand had notably portrayed the Human Torch in 2005’sFantastic Fourand its subsequent sequel, but the role of Captain America would further skyrocket the actor to superstardom. The six-picture contracted locked Evans in as the admirable and courageous Steve Rogers for countless exciting years, as he led bothCaptain America: The Winter SoldierandCaptain America: Civil Warwhile also starring inThe Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron,andAvengers: Infinity Warwhile making appearances in other Marvel projects.
The 2019 blockbuster juggernautAvengers: Endgamemarked Evans' last appearance as Rogers, with the beloved hero receiving a heartwarming send-off that both honored his legacy and paved the way for a new iteration of Captain America, passing his shield toAnthony Mackie’s Sam Wilsonin the final scenes of the groundbreaking hit. Fans were left emotional by the MCU staple’s bittersweet departure from the franchise, and his decision to do so stemmed from multiple factors, both personal and business related.
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While fans may have been blindsided when Chris Evans ultimately hung up his uniform and passed the shield onto Sam Wilson, 2018’sInfinity Waractually marked the final film in his Marvel contract. He came back forEndgameto both help conclude both Steve Rogers' enduring character arc and final chapter in The Infinity Saga. The fourth sequel raked in a whopping $2.799 billion worldwide, and for nearly two years, it was the highest-grossing film of all time. When filming ofEndgamewas completed in October 2018, Evans was left emotional and reflective over his time as Cap, with the actortelling Men’s Journalin 2020:
“For the last month of filming I was letting myself go to work every day and be a little overwhelmed and a little nostalgic and grateful. By the last day, I was bawling. I cry pretty easy, but I was definitely bawling.”
Though Evans opted not to sign on for any additional films as Captain America, his contract expiring wasn’t the only reason he bid adieu to the franchise and superhero, as bothhis social anxiety and desire to pursue new projects also played a heavy hand in his decision to walk away. As Evans' fame spectacularly grew with each movie he did in the MCU, so did his anxiety and he eventually became overwhelmed by his Hollywood superstardom, prompting him to even debate quitting acting altogether as a result and leading him to leave Los Angeles and move back home to Boston. Evanspondered his careerin 2023:
“I could just make furniture for nobody and be happy. I don’t want to waste too much time in this industry, but that doesn’t really feel…. That doesn’t sound correct. I don’t want to occupy too much space in an industry that I’ve already poured 20 years into… Sometimes reading a script is the last thing I want to do.”
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Since leaving Marvel and Captain America behind in 2019, Evans has kept himself quite busy and has appeared in movies likeLightyear, The Gray Man, Deadpool & Wolverine,andRed One.However, he hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility of a return, tellingGQ in 2023"never say never." Still, it’ssomething he’s very “precious” about and would never be a “cash grab” if he decided to reprise the legendary role.
“I’ll never say never, just because it was such a wonderful experience. But I’m also very precious with it. It’s something that I am very proud of. And like I said, sometimes I can’t believe it even happened. And I wouldn’t want the black eye if it felt like a cash grab or if it didn’t live up to expectations or if it just felt like it wasn’t connected to that original thing.
So, while Evans' return to the Captain America franchise seems like it would be a while down the road, if ever, there is still some hope that he might, one day, pick up the shield again. That said, it sounds like two conditions would have to be met: it can’t feel like a cash grab, and the story has to be right. As protective as Evans is over the role, it sounds like he wouldn’t want to tarnish the character’s legacy by returning for an easy paycheck. Though there has beenspeculation Evans may show upin the highly mysteriousAvengers: Secret Wars, only time will tell whether fans will see him back in action as the revered Steve Rogers.
