Walt Disney Studios Motion PicturesThe actor Chris Evans has shared an emotional farewell to Captain America, a character he’s been playing for nearly a decade, strongly suggesting it’s a role he won’t be reprising.
Evans took to Twitter yesterday, October 4, to reveal that shooting had officially wrapped on the upcoming fourth Avengers film.
Speculation surrounding the film has been high ever since the ending of Avengers: Infinity War threw up some surprises and sudden departures.
And while it seems some cast members have bid a fond farewell to their characters, others involved in the project are far from hanging up their hats.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney CEO Bob Iger said:
We meet on a regular basis with our Marvel team, and we’ve plotted out Marvel movies that will take us well into the next decade. I’m guessing we will try our hand at what I’ll call a new franchise beyond Avengers, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t see more Avengers down the road. We just haven’t made any announcements about that.
Given the popularity of the characters and given the popularity of the franchise, I don’t think people should conclude there will never be another Avengers movie.
Evans has suggested, however, that the next time we see Captain America, in Avengers 4, may well be the last time.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote:
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.
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.
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) October 4, 2018
Ryan Reynolds, aka Deadpool, couldn’t help but reply:
I’m not crying. I’m weeping. There’s a difference.
I’m not crying. I’m weeping. There’s a difference.
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) October 4, 2018
Evans first starred as the heroic Captain America in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, quickly followed by 2012’s The Avengers, 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, 2015’s Avenger’s: Age of Ultron, 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, and 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, as well as cameos in countless other Marvel films.
Speaking to ET earlier this year, the actor confirmed his contract with the franchise was over, and that he’ll be sad to leave the character behind.
He said:
[I’ll miss] everything [about Captain America]. I mean, it’s not just the character, it’s the people, the experience, such good movies, such wonderful memories. I’ll miss a lot.
However, it seems Evans isn’t planning to take the role back any time soon either. In an interview with the New York Times, the actor remarked ‘You want to get off the train before they push you off’.
He added:
I’ve stopped thinking about my trajectory, or my oeuvre, or whatever pretentious word you want to use. I’m just following whatever I feel creatively hungry for.
I’m not afraid to take my foot off the gas. If someone said tomorrow, ‘You’re done, you can’t do anything else,’ I’d be OK.
Is Captain America hanging up his shield once and for all? Guess we’ll find out next year.
Avengers 4 will be in UK cinemas April 26, 2019
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Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.