Chris Evans is a familiar name to Marvel fans as well as global audiences thanks to his long-standing role as Captain America for nearly a decade. Along with Robert Downey Jr., the actor has become a legendary icon of the MCU and will always hold a special place in the hearts of fans, even though Cap has officially hung up his shield in the finale of Avengers: Endgame.
However, few know that a humorous and sociable Chris Evans almost rejected the role of Captain America simply out of fear that he wouldn’t be able to live comfortably if he “accidentally” became famous. When he received the invitation from Marvel (without an audition), Chris initially declined to participate. However, after a conversation with his mother, followed by his mentor Robert Downey Jr., he was able to clear his mind and completely change his thoughts.
In a recent interview with Esquire, Lisa Evans, the mother of the 38-year-old actor, personally spoke out: “Chris’s biggest fear is losing his freedom and the somewhat anonymous life he has. He once told me: ‘I have a good career, a job that I love. I can walk my dog every day without anyone bothering me. No one wants to talk to me. I can go wherever I want without worrying about overzealous fans. I’m really afraid of losing a life like that.’”
Before joining the MCU in Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011, Chris Evans had also participated in many film and television projects, including Fantastic Four and its sequel Rise of the Silver Surfer as Human Torch. However, it was only when he became Captain America that his fame truly became widespread around the world, making him one of the most beloved actors of Marvel Studios. It’s hard to imagine what the landscape of the film industry would look like without Chris, and what the Cap character would be like if he had “disobeyed his mother” and refused to join Marvel.
Ms. Lisa stated that at that time, no one could guarantee that Captain America would be a successful gamble for Marvel. As of 2010, the studio had only released the first two installments of Iron Man, the second of which did not receive high ratings; and The Incredible Hulk, which is perhaps one of the most forgettable films of the MCU. If the first standalone film of Captain America could “make a splash,” it would definitely be a great stepping stone for Chris Evans to advance further in his career.
Recalling when she received a phone call from her son asking for advice, Ms. Lisa said: “I told him: ‘If you want to be a professional actor and have a great career, you should accept this offer. It will provide you with a very good opportunity. You won’t have to worry about rent and a ton of bills every month. The role of Captain America will not affect your personal life; on the contrary, it will help you have even more worthwhile experiences.’”
With such enthusiastic encouragement from his mother, followed by Robert Downey Jr. personally advising him, Chris Evans reconsidered and accepted the offer from Marvel Studios. And the rest has become history: He won the hearts of global fans with his portrayal of a steadfast, honest, and strong Captain America; continuously appearing in many subsequent MCU films; and finally having a beautiful, fitting conclusion in Endgame. His elderly image at the end of the film even moved Ms. Lisa to tears, as he resembled her late grandfather.
Recently, the name Captain America once again stirred up Twitter in a viral video capturing the moment the entire theater erupted when he lifted Mjolnir in Endgame to take on Thanos. It is known that this video was created on the first day of the blockbuster’s release (in April 2019), and suddenly gained renewed interest as many people had to self-isolate at home to avoid Covid-19.
Fans who love Cap will have the opportunity to see Chris Evans again on April 24 in Netflix’s mini-series Defending Jacob.
According to Comicbook