Chris Evans has revealed why he finally felt ready to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Steve Rogers/Captain America in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ after more than five years away from the role. The 45-year-old actor, who last played the star-crossed hero in 2019’s ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ explained that he turned down multiple project pitches for eight years before the right combination of creative forces and returning stars lined up to bring him back into the fold.According to Entertainment Weekly, Chris Evans spoke with Gerrad Hall at San Diego Comic-Con about his journey back to the MCU. The actor revealed that Lou D’Esposito and Kevin Feige first approached him about continuing Steve Rogers’ story immediately after “Endgame” ended in 2018, with Marvel bosses proposing to explore the character as Nomad, an alternate identity that Steve Rogers adopted in the comic book canon.
Why Chris Evans Rejected Multiple Captain America Return Pitches
“When we finished Endgame in 2018, Lou and Kevin took me out to dinner and said, ‘We’d love to keep making movies with Steve Rogers as Nomad,'” Chris Evans recalled. “And I said, ‘Okay, well, what do you have?'”
Chris Evans revealed that after turning down multiple Marvel releases, the return of Robert Downey Jr. and the vision of the Russo brothers convinced him to reprise Steve Rogers. Image Credit (Instagram)
Marvel executives came prepared with creative concepts. “They showed me a pitch, and it was a great pitch, but for whatever reason, it didn’t feel right to me at the time,” Chris Evans said. “I wanted to keep it, but I just said, ‘Please keep pitching.'”Nomad represented an important chapter in the comic history of Steve Rogers, a moniker he adopted after dropping Captain America in a remarkable 1974 comic by writer Steve Englehart and artist Sal Buscema.
Chris Evans turned down ‘a dozen’ Marvel releases ahead of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
The studio did not relent in its efforts to get Chris Evans back. “Over the course of eight years, I probably listened to at least a dozen releases,” the actor said. “And they were all wonderful. It just never felt right. And you start to think that maybe this is the expiration, whatever it is, maybe it’s not right because it’s just not right.”Chris Evans was reluctant to return, not out of ill will against Marvel or the role itself, but because he didn’t want to tarnish the character’s legacy. His hesitation was a testament to his commitment to making sure any return would matter to the character and the larger story of the MCU, not just a cash-in or nostalgia trip.
Robert Downey Jr. The return secured the participation of Chris Evans in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
The turning point came when Chris Evans learned that Robert Downey Jr. was in talks to join the franchise. “I got a phone call from my team saying there’s a rumor that Robert Downey Jr. is talking to Marvel, and I was like, ‘Uh, oh. What does that mean?” said Chris Evans. “And all of a sudden it felt good.”
Chris Evans said that the return of Robert Downey Jr. in the Marvel Cinematic Universe played an important role in his decision to join ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. Image Credit (Instagram)
The prospect of reuniting with his longtime MCU co-star proved decisive. “Joe Russo gave me the pitch and Downey was buying. “All of a sudden it was like, ‘That’s it,'” Chris Evans explained, referring to the “Avengers: Doomsday” co-director.Robert Downey Jr. will star in ‘Doomsday’, albeit this time as the nefarious Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom instead of Tony Stark/Iron Man. The actor’s return in a villainous role added gravitas and star power to the project that finally convinced Chris Evans that the timing was right.
Chris Evans remains selective about future Captain America appearances
Chris Evans emphasized his commitment to only return for stories that justify Steve Rogers’ continued presence in the MCU. “I guess it’s a never-ever-ever, but he’s certainly not willing to jump back for anything because I think everyone here is valued for their role in the universe,” he explained. “These things have earned their place over a long period of time. You don’t want to mess with that.”Their protection comes from a general philosophy among legacy actors who must navigate the tricky business of extended universe storytelling, where too much exposure can cheapen iconic characters and carefully constructed story arcs.
How Sam Wilson became Captain America after Steve Rogers left the MCU
At the end of “Avengers: Endgame,” Steve Rogers passed the mantle of Captain America to his good friend Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie. Steve then traveled back in time to be with his romantic interest, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). Later, Sam Wilson co-headlined the Disney Plus series ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ before starring in his own Captain America film, ‘Brave New World’, released in 2025.Chris Evans isn’t the only actor returning to the MCU after a long hiatus. X-Men stars from the original Fox films, including Rebecca Romijn, Kelsey Grammer, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and James Marsden, also join ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ as their characters are finally integrated into the larger Marvel universe.‘Avengers: Doomsday’ opens in theaters on December 18.