USA TODAY International Edition
‘ NOTHING LASTS FOREVER’
CHRIS EVANS TALKS THE END OF CAPTAIN AMERICA
Visualize a Marvel LOS ANGELES Cinematic Universe without Chris Evans as Captain America.
Evans, who perfectly embodies the upright superhero, reaches the end of his contract after he completes Avengers: Infinity War ( in theaters May 4, 2018) and
Avengers 4 ( May 3, 2019). It’s a long way off, and Evans acknowledges that Marvel executives are too busy with the complicated Avengers universe at present to even discuss the possibility of re- upping his contract.
But for gosh sakes, when Evans does make the inevitable departure after Avengers 4 ( or beyond), there are going to be some saddened fans.
“Bless those people. My mother will be leading that fan base,” says Evans while promoting his critically well- received role in
Gifted, which opens in some cities Friday. He plays the embattled guardian of a genius niece.
The ever- gracious Evans acknowledges he will have a tough time seeing another actor don the supersuit he’s worn in three Cap
tain America blockbusters and two ( so far) Avengers films.
“I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t be hard for me,” says Evans. “But the passing of time and the passing of torches is part of the experience. Nothing lasts forever. There’s a beauty in that depar- ture, even if it can be sad at times. It’s also joyful.”
Given that his superhero received a super- soldier serum that slows the aging process dramatically, Evans will have to step down eventually. He’s OK with that.
“I’ve had a great run. Superheroes are reinventable entities, like Batman or even James Bond. These movies find new incarnations and new ways to tell the story. I am all for it,” says Evans.
“However they want to proceed after
Avengers 4, it’s really up to them. I walk away with no regrets and endlessly thankful.”
Nor has Evans spoken to his co- stars Tom Hiddleston, who has discussed the end of his villain Loki, or franchise behemoth Robert Downey Jr., who plays Iron Man/ Tony Stark.
“Downey is far closer to reaching that point where he may walk away. And I don’t know how you replace Downey as Tony Stark,” says Evans.
“I don’t know who else can touch that.”
One thing Evans won’t miss: the intense workouts required to get to Captain America buff. He’s just started working out for
Avengers and is feeling it. “When you’re creeping on 36, working out is a little bit harder. Not impossible, but it just gets a little bit more daunting,” says Evans, who laughs about how he’ll look post- Captain America. “I’m just going to get fat. Potato chips, ice cream before bed. It’s like, ‘ Guess what, everyone!’ ” After promoting Captain
America: Civil War, Evans took the better part of a year off to spend time with family in Massachusetts. Besides Gifted, he’s ready to take on the just- announced Jekyll, playing the descendant of the famed Dr. Jekyll. But he isn’t trying to show off new acting muscles.
“It’s not like, ‘ OK, this role is going to let me flex,’ ” says Evans. “You just want to tell a story. The reason I like acting is that it’s enjoyable to get inside the head, or experience someone that’s dissimilar to my approach to my life.”