In a lengthy interview with the UK's Telegraph for the premiere of Gifted (which was released in the U.S. this past April but doesn't open in the UK until June 16), Chris Evans reveals the reason why he signed another contract to play Captain America again in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Evans' initial six-picture deal will be fulfilled with the movie he's currently filming, Avengers: Infinity War.
However, Marvel decided to make that film a two-parter and thus, the film studio needed to renegotiate a new deal with Evans, a linchpin of the MCU opposite Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark. Past sentiments from Evans have painted the picture of someone who's looking to step behind the camera and transition towards becoming a full-time director, leading many to believe that Evans wouldn't re-up with Marvel and that someone else would have to wield Cap's shield.
"I had six films in my Marvel contract, so I could have said after the third Avengers I was done, but they wanted to make the third and fourth Avengers films as a two-parter. They said they had so many other characters to fit in – Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange, Ant Man – and couldn’t get them all into one movie. [I agreed] because it made sense. It’s going to wrap everything up."
That last sentence certainly sounds like Evans' new contract was just for Avengers 4 and not more standalone Captain America films - though, who can say for sure. If Avengers 4 will truly mark his final onscreen appearance as the Sentinel of Liberty, do you want Falcon or Winter Soldier to assume the Captain America mantle? Or perhaps you think it's best the iconic boots and helmets remain empty?
Of course, this idea of Evans stepping away also leads to discussion of how Cap is written out - does he simply quit The Avengers and superheroics altogether (which he's done in the comics when adopts the identity of Nomad) or will Avengers 4 see Steve Rogers make the ultimate sacrifice?