Chris Evans revealed why he felt ready to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Steve Rogers / Captain America in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ more than five years after leaving the role. The 45-year-old actor, who played the superhero in 2019’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’, explained that he turned down several projects over eight years due to the right combination of creative energy and returning stars who agreed to bring him back into the fold.According to Entertainment Weekly, Chris Evans spoke with Gerrad Hall at San Diego Comic-Con about his return to the MCU. The actor revealed that Lou D’Esposito and Kevin Feige first talked to him about continuing the story of Steve Rogers right after ‘Endgame’ wrapped up in 2018, when Marvel bosses wanted to explore him as Nomad, Steve Rogers who was taken from the comic book.
Why Chris Evans turned down several Captain America comebacks
“After we finished Endgame in 2018, Lou and Kevin took me out to dinner, and they were like, ‘We want to keep doing movies with Steve Rogers as Nomad,'” Chris Evans recalled. “And I said, ‘Well, what do you have?’
Chris Evans revealed that after turning down several Marvel offers, the return of Robert Downey Jr. and the vision of the Russo brothers led to the return of Steve Rogers. Photo credit (Instagram)
Marvel executives came prepared with creative ideas. “They showed me the pitch, and it was a good pitch, but for whatever reason, it didn’t feel right at the time,” Chris Evans said. “I wanted to keep it. But I just said, ‘Please keep singing.’Nomad represented an important chapter in the history of the books of Steve Rogers, a moniker he adopted after throwing on the mantle of Captain America in the famous 1974 book from writer Steve Englehart and artist Sal Buscema.
Chris Evans rejected ‘twelve episodes’ of Marvel before ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
The studio did not stop trying to bring Chris Evans. “Over the course of eight years, I probably heard a few songs,” the actor said. “And they were all amazing. It just didn’t feel right. And you start thinking that maybe it’s the end, whatever it is, maybe it’s not good because it’s not good.”Chris Evans didn’t want to return, not because of Marvel’s interest or the role itself, but because he didn’t want to ruin the character’s legacy. His skepticism was a testament to his commitment to making sure that each return would be important to a character and the main story of the MCU, and not just a trip to get money or nose.
Robert Downey Jr. ‘The Return confirmed the participation of Chris Evans in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
A change happened when Chris Evans heard that Robert Downey Jr. “I got a call from my team that there was a rumor that Robert Downey Jr. was talking to Marvel, and I was like, ‘Uh, oh. What does that mean?’ “Chris Evans said. “And suddenly it made sense.”
Chris Evans said the return of Robert Downey Jr. in the Marvel Cinematic Universe greatly contributed to his decision to join “Avengers: Doomsday”. Photo credit (Instagram)
The prospect of reuniting with his old MCU costar became a certainty. “Joe Russo gave me the pitch, and Downey was buying it. All of a sudden it was like, ‘This is it,'” Chris Evans explained, referring to his “Avengers: Doomsday” co-director.Robert Downey Jr. will play in ‘Doomsday’, although this time as Victor Von Doom / Doctor Doom and not Tony Stark / Iron Man. The return of the actor in the negative role added gravitas and star power to the project that finally convinced Chris Evans that the time was right.
Chris Evans is still deciding the future of Captain America
Chris Evans has emphasized his commitment to return to stories that ensure Steve Rogers’ continued presence in the MCU. “I think it goes without saying, but I don’t want to just jump for anything because I think everyone here is valuable and their role in nature,” he said. “These things, they’ve had their place for a long time. You don’t want to mess this up.”Its defense comes from the common sense of actors who have to navigate the tricky business of global storytelling, where too much exposure can bring down well-known characters and carefully scripted arcs.
How Sam Wilson Became Captain America After Leaving Steve Rogers in the MCU
At the end of “Avengers: Endgame,” Steve Rogers handed over the mantle of Captain America to his best friend Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie. Steve then retreats to be with his love interest, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). Sam Wilson later directed the Disney Plus series ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ before his Captain America film, ‘Brave New World’, which was released in 2025.Chris Evans isn’t the only actor returning to the MCU after a long hiatus. The cast of X-Men from the original Fox movies, including Rebecca Romijn, Kelsey Grammer, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and James Marsden, will also be joining ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ as their characters are reintegrated into the larger Marvel universe.‘Avengers: Doomsday’ will be released in theaters on December 18.