Marvel Studios has been incredibly open about the upcoming two ‘Avengers’ films marking the end of an era. While they’re definitely not closing up shop and stopping production of Marvel Cinematic Universe films after the untitled ‘Avengers 4’ hits theaters in 2019, they have been clear that the landscape of the MCU will be different than what fans have seen so far. One of those big changes has been the assumed departure of actor Chris Evans, aka Captain America.
In a new interview with the New York Times, Evans pretty much guarantees that’s the case. “You want to get off the train before they push you off,” he said. The report makes it brutally clear that he is speaking about the MCU, and his role in it, in particular. The article says Evans “expects that planned reshoots in the fall will mark the end of his tenure in the familiar red, white and blue super suit.”
Can’t get much more definitive than that.
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As mentioned above, this is something that fans have been expecting, but secretly hoping wasn’t true. Captain America has risen from a silly WWII-era character with a stupid costume to become the heart and soul of the MCU. This is, without a doubt, because of Evans’ performance as Steve Rogers. While Tony Stark gets all the funny lines, and the flashy suit of armor, Captain America, as played by Evans, is the perfect mix of “aw shucks” and badassness. He’s always been the real hero of the Marvel Universe.
Now, the real question is who takes over for Evans as the heart of the MCU? If Marvel Studios follows the comics, both Falcon, played by Anthony Mackie, and The Winter Soldier, played by Sebastian Stan, have picked up the shield and become Captain America. But perhaps that’s not Marvel’s plan at all.
With the emergence of “Black Panther” as a phenomenon, maybe the King from Wakanda will take the reins of the superhero universe. And with Brie Larson in “Captain Marvel” coming in 2019, maybe we don’t need a Captain America anymore. Maybe a Captain Marvel will do just fine.
For Evans, now the only issue is how everyone he meets will think of him as Captain America. For better or worse, this is the role that will no doubt shape his career. But apparently, he’s not worried about being mobbed on the streets for the rest of his life.
“People don’t recognize me at all,” he said. “I can look them right in the eye — it’s like I’m invisible.”