Actor Chris Evans is retired from playing Captain America in the MCU, although he could easily come back at any point, which begs the question if he should (or shouldn't) return if the opportunity arose. Evans played Steve Rogers/Captain America for 12 MCU movies, including three solo films and four Avengers films. His last appearance as Captain America was in Avengers: Endgame, which saw him return the Infinity Stones to their correct place in time before returning to his own timeline as an old man. Evans went on to literally pass the shield to Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson/The Falcon, who became the new Captain America in the Disney+ series The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
Evans recently said that a return to play Captain America would have to be “perfect” and that making it happen would be a “tall order”. He's also been outspoken in his support for Mackie taking over the role, tweeting that "Sam Wilson is Captain America", as Captain America 4 is currently in the works with Julius Onah directing and Mackie set to reprise the role. Evans, meanwhile, has been low-key in his acting efforts since Avengers: Endgame, appearing in the Apple TV+ mini-series Defending Jacob, while providing the voice for Buzz Lightyear in Pixar's Lightyear, and showing up for cameos in Free Guy and Don't Look Up. His latest role is as the villain for his Endgame directors in Netflix's The Gray Man.
The ending of Avengers: Endgame set up the perfect return for Evans, as Steve Rogers's journey to put the Infinity Stones back leaves the door wide open to explore his adventures throughout various points in the MCU timeline, eventually leading to his reunion with Peggy Carter. Captain America will be linked to Evans for as long as he lives, as it's a decade-long role that put him on the map as a crucial part of the most successful film franchise in history. Evans is at the perfect age to continue in the role, which he could easily do for another decade or more, and there are plenty of stories to be told given the unseen events that led to his final appearance as an old Steve Rogers in Endgame. However, that legacy is also a good reason not to return to the role, as it was a near-perfect finish for the iconic character that could easily be upset by a poor follow-up.
Steve Rogers’ MCU Journey As Captain America Has Much More To Tell
While the MCU’s present-day Captain America is being set up as Sam Wilson, there’s plenty of room for both of them to exist, especially with the multiverse in full swing. There’s an endless supply of Steve Rogers/Captain America stories to be told (including WWII flashbacks) given the untold adventures he must've gone through in returning the Infinity Stones to their rightful place. That journey alone could be an entire trilogy or series in itself, as it's highly unlikely that Rogers simply showed up and placed the stones quietly back in their rightful place. It's the perfect playground to continue to tell Rogers' story, as it allows him to operate in multiple continuities and not be beholden to what's happening in the current timeline, allowing an immense amount of freedom in Chris Evan's Captain America's journey.
Chris Evans Is In The Perfect Age Range To Continue Captain America’s Story
Chris Evans is a perfect age (41) to continue to tell the story of Steve Rogers without missing the window completely. He could surely complete another Captain America trilogy (or perhaps a number of Disney+ shows), without missing a beat. The actor remains in physical shape to continue the role as well, which is an important aspect of inhabiting such an iconic part. Evans has defined Captain America as much with his physicality as his performance, setting a strong standard for the character in the MCU, which he could easily continue to maintain if the momentum is seized.
Captain America Will Forever Be Chris Evans’ “James Bond” Role
Whether he likes it or not, Evans will forever carry the weight of his role as Captain America, which will forever be his “James Bond”. Evans has expressed how precious he views his time as Captain America, which is ultimately a privilege that only a handful of actors get in their careers. Continuing that legacy while there's still time is something the actor should deeply consider. The MCU's Phase 4 slate of films and shows have been divisive enough already, all of which have been missing the presence of Evans' Captain America, who is sorely missed with each new passing project. While the franchise will eventually have to move on from Evans, that moment, arguably, hasn't arrived just yet. Evans should keep the legacy alive, while the iron is still hot or risk looking back with regret on a missed window.
Poor Execution And Reception Could Ruin Chris Evans’ Legacy As Cap
On the flip side, Evans could also run the risk of getting a creative team or story that doesn’t quite come together, thereby minimizing or ruining his already strong legacy as Captain America. Evans is right to treat Captain America's journey through The Infinity Saga as precious, seeing as it closed out his story to near perfection. Even with more stories left to be told it's a risk if all of the elements don't come together. Putting Rogers in the hands of less capable filmmakers or failing to capitalize on what makes Evans so great in the role could risk upsetting the legacy that's already been established with a lesser follow-up product.
Without The Old Avengers Team, Steve Rogers May Not Have The Same Appeal
It’s also possible that without Tony Stark, Thor Odinson, Black Widow, etc. that Evans' Steve Rogers may not shine as much as he did in MCU Phases 1-3. One of the most compelling aspects of Evans in the role throughout his tenure was the banter he shared with his fellow Avengers, all of which have been either killed off or scattered to the wind since Endgame. The relationship between him, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and the Avengers stands as one of the hallmarks of the entire MCU franchise. Now that Stark is dead and gone it's entirely possible that it could diminish the presence of Evans back in the red, white, and blue, making his appeal a lot less spectacular than before.
More Chris Evans Captain America Could Potentially Overstay His Welcome
Lastly, it’s possible that Evans' return as Captain America could end up being too much, overstaying his welcome and delaying the inevitability of the torch being passed, which is already happening anyway. It's been a shaky road for Sam Wilson becoming Captain America, but audiences may well warm up to the idea by the time Captain America 4 is released, causing Evans' to stick out like a sore thumb in the MCU. The character of Steve Rogers has always been "a man out of time" and perhaps bringing him back would only serve to confuse audiences as they attempt to adjust to MCU Phase 4 and beyond. As Vision says in Avengers: Age of Ultron, "A thing isn't beautiful because it lasts" and that may be the case with Evans as Captain America.
