The Unforgettable Impact of Chris Evans as Captain America – Kevin Feige Reveals All!

Summary

Chris Evans' portrayal of Captain America was crucial to the success of the MCU, as Kevin Feige believes the franchise may not have succeeded without him.

Rewriting: Casting Captain America proved to be a difficult task because of the character's patriotic appearance and outdated personality. However, Evans managed to infuse the role with a captivating complexity and relatability.

Had Evans declined the opportunity, it could have severely impeded the MCU's forward momentum and potential course, considering Captain America's significance within the franchise.

All six of the original Avengers from the MCU played a crucial role in shaping the early years of the franchise. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige explains the significance of Chris Evans' portrayal of Captain America. Casting the first heroes for the MCU was a challenging and complex task for everyone involved. The decision to mostly rely on actors who weren't yet Hollywood A-listers or established action movie stars was a risky move, driven by the goal of creating an unmatched shared cinematic universe.

Looking back, it seems obvious that Chris Evans, with his experience in superhero movies and classic good looks, would excel as Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America. However, Kevin Feige recently revealed to GQ that the modern MCU might not have succeeded without Evans. According to the article, Evans initially had doubts about taking on the role of Captain America, fearing that he might end up doing something he didn't enjoy. Fortunately, it worked out with tremendous success, but Feige admits that he is uncertain about what would have happened in "the parallel world" where Evans had declined the opportunity.

The thought of the parallel world where he rejected it often crosses my mind. While Robert Downey Jr. rightfully receives immense recognition for being the cornerstone of this studio, it is important to acknowledge Chris Evans as another significant pillar without whom our enterprise would not have thrived.

Why Chris Evans' Captain America Is So Important To The MCU Even Now

Despite Steve Rogers now being a beloved pop-culture figure and having starred in some of the best MCU movies, it is important to remember that Captain America was not always widely admired within the Marvel universe. Although people were aware of his existence, Rogers' excessively patriotic appearance and his struggle to fit into modern times presented challenges in terms of modernizing his character in comics and other media. It was crucial to find an actor who could capture both the classic "boy-scout" demeanor for which Steve is known, while also portraying a complex and relatable human depth. Chris Evans successfully achieved this, but the success of the MCU could have been jeopardized if another actor had been chosen.

Robert Downey Jr. instantly became popular after the release of the first Iron Man movie, but a poorly received Captain America film, along with the divisive reception of The Incredible Hulk and the moderately successful first Thor movie, could have derailed the incredible momentum of Phase 1 of the MCU. This would have forced a significant shift in focus away from Steve Rogers in subsequent films such as The Avengers, Civil War, Infinity War, and more. Fortunately, that scenario was not the case, and Captain America continues to be an iconic character today.

Source: GQ