Robert Downey Jr. Convinced Chris Evans to Sign on to Play Captain America and Evans Was Terrified

Looking back on the last 15 years of Marvel movie magic, we can definitely say that the MCU built a solid series of movies that told great stories and introduced beloved characters while entertaining the masses. It was no easy feat, but they pulled it off, and anyone who was lucky enough to get in on the ground floor was in the right place at the right time. But before the movies kicked into high gear, the actors who signed on were going in blind, and it was unknown whether these were going to be successful or a laughing stock. Robert Downey Jr., who played Iron Man in the franchise, seemed to know what he was getting into, and he convinced Captain America actor Chris Evans to come along.

In a recent article from Vanity Fair, it’s reported that Downey was the main reason Evans said yes to the role, but Evans was really nervous about gambling on a six-movie deal. He recalled what he was feeling when he signed his contract, saying:

"This is it. I just signed my death warrant; my life's over. I can't believe I did this. This isn't the career I wanted." Evans explained his emotions until he realized the Captain America movies were actually good. "The biggest thing I was worried about was making shitty fucking movies," he said. "I don't want to make shitty movies and be contractually obligated to make garbage."

I get the trepidation, but it all worked out for Evans and the rest of them, as they’ll all go down as playing some of the most beloved heroes in comic book movie history. And now Evans and Downey are free to star in other projects, having completed their contractual obligations. As for where or not we will see Evans return to the role of Steve Rogers, the future is unknown. When asked about it in a recent interview with GQ, Evans seemed a bit more enthusiastic about the prospect than he has in the past, saying, “Never say never.”

“Yeah, maybe. I’ll never say never, just because it was such a wonderful experience. But I’m also very precious with it. It’s something that I am very proud of. And like I said, sometimes I can’t believe it even happened. And I wouldn’t want the black eye if it felt like a cash grab or if it didn’t live up to expectations or if it just felt like it wasn’t connected to that original thing. So, no time soon.”

Would you like to see Chris Evans return to play Captain America one day? Are there any storylines you’d like to see play out with him in the role? Let us know below.