Chris Evans To Hang Up Captain America's Shield After 'Avengers: Infinity War'
It's common to see actors milk every drop of their fame before fading into obscurity, but Chris Evans is not like any other celebrity.
Instead, the heart and soul of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is embracing the chance to walk away.
In a profile by New York Times, Evans shares his thoughts on leaving the role of a lifetime and venturing on to something new.
Of course, for Marvel fans, this means the next two Avengers films mark the end of one of the most beloved superheroes in the entire MCU.
An End To Chris Evans As 'Cap'
Evans picked up the mantle of the heroic Steve Rogers in 2011 for the first film in his trilogy, Captain America: The First Avenger.
The actor, along with the rest of the cast of the star-studded franchise, filmed the next two Avengers installments back-to-back. This counts the Avengers: Infinity War, which comes out this April, and an untitled sequel that's slated for release in 2019. According to Evans, these are the last Marvel films he plans to be in.
"You want to get off the train before they push you off," he explains, adding that reshoots in the coming fall will probably be his final moments as the noble and iconic Steve Rogers.
In the comic books, Captain America's shield gets passed on to a few characters — two of which are already in the MCU and close allies of the superhero. Rogers' best friend Bucky Barnes or the Winter Soldier, played by Sebastian Stan, picks up the mantle in the comics, and so does Falcon, played by Anthony Mackie.
Evans did not spoil anything in the upcoming Infinity War — Rogers may be dead, but he could just as easily be retired or going about his superhero duties outside the MCU films — but the people behind Avengers have previously revealed that the stakes are higher in their upcoming installments.
Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, implied to EW that major character deaths may be permanent this time, unlike in previous MCU movies.
"I would just say, yes," Feige responds when asked if deaths will be real in the next movie. "People need to be careful what they wish for."
Avengers: Infinity War hits theaters on April 27.
A Bright Future In Broadway
If or when the time is near that Evans has to step away from being Captain America, one can expect the actor not to look back. After all, he already has a new passion he can dive into completely post-Avengers.
The actor has his sights set in the bright lights of Broadway with a role in Kenneth Lonergan's Lobby Hero, which opens on March 26. His character, a narcissistic and manipulative cop, is worlds away from the squeaky-clean Avenger — but that could be the draw for the actor and director Trip Cullman is confident Evans could pull it off.
"I had this inkling that he may not have had the opportunity to show what he can really do as an actor," Cullman tells New York Times. "A lot of actors are afraid to play someone unlikable, but I think he really has an egoless desire to serve the work."
Evans may not even prioritize acting in the future, explaining that when he thinks about a place where he's happiest, he doesn't think of a movie set. Apparently, he wants to keep his calendar limited to one film a year and his future plans revolve around directing and possibly making a family of his own.
"I've stopped thinking about my trajectory, or my oeuvre, or whatever pretentious word you want to use," Evans says. "I'm just following whatever I feel creatively hungry for."
