By Phillipa Anamaoh-
Hard core fans of Chris Evans are still reeling from his departure from Captain America, following the expiration of his contract. They overwhelmingly want his contract renewed, but the star has already expressed an interest to become a director. After playing the beloved Marvel Superhero for almost a decade Chris Evans finally announced last Thursday that he is hanging up the shield. He tweeted:
“Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day to say the least. Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor. To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful,”
Evans’ tweet was met by an outpouring of emotional reactions, with some of Hollywood’s biggest film stars grieving the end of the iconic character.”I’m not crying. I’m weeping. There’s a difference,” Dead pool actor Ryan Reynolds tweeted.
“What a run you had brother. Congrats on breathing life into such an iconic character. Keep on keepin’ on,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson tweeted.
This closing announcement was inevitable, as it is widely known throughout the fan-base that his eight year contract with Marvel Studios officially ends in 2019. Yet this disappointing fact is the very reason why so many fans have been left distraught, they would rather have him stay on and on in his known role. Several fans are calling for the star to renew his contract. Actors like Chris Evans dedicate years of their lives to a film franchise, audience members spend a substantial amount of their lives watching these characters. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe expands and matures with new special effects, characters and story lines, we grow up alongside it.
The final edition of Evans role in 2019 brings ends an era for Marvel Studios, which has released 20 films over the past decade with a mythology and box office success that stands out n its own right. The star’s career also makes him the ultimate symbol of this era of comic book films in Hollywood. When the fourth Avengers movie is released, Evans will have appeared in a staggering total of 16 films based on comic books.
Despite the fact that Captain America has appeared in pop culture for almost 80 years, starting with his first comic appearance in 1940, (one year before Japan’s attack on pearl Harbour) actors simply cannot outlive the life of their characters. Sadly this now rings true for Chris Evans, who had hinted his retirement last March in an interview with the New York Times and was quoted saying, “You want to get off the train before they push you off.”
The 37-year-old first took on the role as Steve Rogers in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, where he played a small-statured young guy from Brooklyn who becomes a super-soldier with the help of a US Army serum. In the following year Evans would star alongside other adored Superheroes such as Iron Man and Thor in 2012’s The Avengers Assemble before staring in a fan favourite Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014.
Since The Winter Soldier’s staggering box office success, Evans reprised his role in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and Avengers: Infinity War (2018), as well as cameo in a number of other Marvel films. From being cast in 2010, fans we’re hesitant to accept the actor as the popular character who had been appearing in Marvel comics for almost eighty years. This was mostly due to Evan’s previous role as DC comic character Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four franchise released in 2005 and 2007. Evans was also hesitant not only due to fan reactions but also due to scheduling conflicts with a rom-com starring Anna Farris entitled ‘What’s Your Number’.
Fortunately Evan’s accepted the role, beating many other candidates in the process. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confessed in an interview that it was Evan’s mother who convinced him to accept the role. This is just one classic example of how mothers are always right, since although the film wasn’t a breakthrough hit, it established Evans as a leading Marvel Star and a Hollywood giant.
Although many people were unaware of Captain America’s comic book history, Evan’s brought the character to life whilst simultaneously establishing him as the “First Avenger” as his character was written twenty years prior to the other superheroes such as Thor and Iron Man.
First taking place in World War II, Evan’s not only performed the superhero as a good-willed, strong and just superhero, but also as a gentleman, incorporating traits of chivalry, good manners and humbleness. His positive traits later became humorous in the future marvel set in present day as Cap famously scolds Iron man in the middle of a battle scene for using ‘bad language’. Countless MCU lovers became supporters of “Team Cap” during the Iron Man vs. Captain America story line in Avengers Civil War (2016). Not only was Chris Evan’s role famous for kick starting the entirety of the Avengers franchise but also he was also known for making the role extremely relatable.
Unlike Iron Man and Thor, Captain America did not start off as the son of a billionaire nor a god, he was a measly soldier who wanted to serve his country. Captain America was a real, run of the mill person who was taking on real enemies i.e. Nazi’s in real places. The character was built on history, truth and justice and that’s exactly what Evan’s brought to the role.
Currently MCU fans are raising questions as to whether Captain America meets an untimely end in Avenger’s 4 or whether another incarnation of Captain America will emerge in films to come. In the Marvel comics, other prominent superheroes such as Bucky Barnes (the Winter Soldier) and Sam Wilson (the Falcon) Captain America replace Captain America. Although fans have pleaded with Evans to renegotiate his contract it is understandable that the actor should want to explore more pathways within his career. Any true fan would and must respect that, whilst welcoming the new Captain America incarnation with open arms.
Evans will make his last appearance as Captain America in the currently untitled Avengers 4, with hopefully more screen time and an exit which won’t leave the fans in tears.