Captain America star Chris Evans has said he isn’t returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Avengers Doomsday or any other film, despite reports to the contrary.
Evans told Esquire that a report from Deadline, which claimed he will return alongside the already confirmed and fellow original Avenger Robert Downey Jr., is simply “not true.”
This came after Anthony Mackie, who took the Captain America mantel after Evans retired from the MCU alongside his character in Avengers Endgame, told Esquire that he hasn’t seen a script for the upcoming film but was told by his manager that Evans would return.
Mackie was told otherwise by the man himself though. “I talked to Chris a few weeks ago and it wasn’t on the table then,” he said. “At least, he didn’t tell me it was on the table, because I asked him. I was like, ‘You know, they said they’re bringing everyone back for the movie. Are you coming back?’ He goes, ‘Oh, you know, I’m happily retired’.”
When Esquire took this conflicting information to Evans directly, he shut it down immediately. “That’s not true, though,” he said of the report claiming he would return. “This always happens. I mean, it happens every couple years, ever since Endgame. I’ve just stopped responding to it. Yeah, no. Happily retired.”
Evans did already return to the MCU somewhat though, as he played his old Fox character Johnny Storm in Deadpool & Wolverine. This was definitely more of a comedic side role compared to his main MCU campaign as Captain America though.
The status of the MCU is otherwise a touch up in the air due to Jonathan Majors being cut from the franchise after he was found guilty of assault and harassment. Majors played Kang across a handful of projects ahead of his full blown emergence as what was essentially going to be the new Thanos, but his firing seemingly put Marvel in a tale spin.
It’s since announced Doctor Doom to be the new big bad, played by none other than Iron Man star Downey Jr. It’s this that sparked theories about other original Avengers returning, though nothing else has been confirmed officially as of yet.
Doctor Strange actor Benedict Cumberbatch has said his character is skipping the next big team up in Avengers Doomsday but will play a “central role” in its sequel Avengers Secret Wars, however. Former Avengers directors the Russo Brothers are leading the film, and it will seemingly continue the multiverse shenanigans with Hayley Atwell’s Agent Carter also reportedly set to appear.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
