Chris Evans Finally Sheds Some Light On Why He Almost Turned Down Captain America:The First Avenger

Chris Evans Finally Sheds Some Light On Why He Almost Turned Down Captain America:The First Avenger

After almost a year, Chris Evans finally expands on his initial reluctance to take the role of a lifetime as Captain America:The First Avenger . Anxiety was a factor.

By Hawksblueyes - Apr 16, 2011 07:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Captain America
Source: USA Weekend



I'm sure many of you reading this will remember last year when Chris Evans was announced as the man who would portray Steve Rogers aka Captain America in Marvel Studios upcoming film. A short while after the initial announcement, Evans made some comments that many had a difficult time understanding, to the effect that he was happy with the roles he had been playing and was hesitant to step into such a large pair of film shoes.

On May 2nd of last year our own Josh Wilding reported the following...

"It was a couple of weeks weighing all the options. There was certainly a period where I was shying away from the movie. It's intimidating. It's pretty daunting. There's certainly a life-changing role there and that was part of the process."

"Did I want to take this on? I like supporting roles, I like the way my life is now and I have the best of both worlds. This would potentially change that. But you know what? This could be a good thing."


At the time, many were left scratching their heads as to why an actor would have to give an opportunity like this, so much thought. Well, two days ago Evans talked with USA Weekend and though some of what he had to say was already posted here, the answer to that curious statement from a year ago, was not.


From USA Weekend...

Did having two Fantastic Four movies under your belt help in knowing at least the fervent, comics-loving fanboys you’d have to deal with?

Sure. It’s great to get an experience of the press tour and the craziness and the workload after filming. Filming is one thing, but all movies are relatively similar. The work comes in the form of press. You go all over the world and you don’t sleep and it’s just answering a lot of the same questions thousands of times and trying to promote this thing you’ve worked on so hard. But the good thing about Fantastic Four is everyone wanted to talk to Jessica [Alba]. No one wanted to talk to me! [Laugh] It was great! I got to sit in the background and be there, but not have to really carry the load. This is obviously different. It’s nice to have had a little taste but yeah, it’s gonna be nothing close to this.

Do you enjoy that extra responsibility?

No! My God, I hate it! [Laughs] I almost didn’t do this movie because I hate that so much. It’s just not for me. I don’t know, it’s a strange thing to talk about yourself. You have to look at it as a job, you have to look at it as work. If all of a sudden you stop – at least if I stop — in the middle of an interview and look at myself, I become very uncomfortable, very nervous. It just feels strange. I feel false, it doesn’t feel right. This movie is a lot of that – it’s gonna be a lot of press. I have a little bit of an anxiety issue. I wasn’t making whatever movie I wanted to make – you still have to struggle — but I was very happy, very content, with what I was doing. I’d make a movie every now and then and I’ve made a good living and I got to do what I loved and I managed to stay out of the public eye, and I was very happy. This was one of those things where it was like, “Alright, if you do this, there’s really no off switch. There’s no rewind. You’ve got to make sure you’re ready and that you really, really want this.” A lot of times, people only see the good part and they forget how tricky it can be. For some reason, I only saw the bad. [Laughs] When I first got offered the movie, I just only saw the negatives and ran from it.

What changed your mind?

The fact that I was scared. I said to someone close to me, “I was offered this movie and I think I’m going to say no.” And she said, “No, you’re not. You’re going to do this movie.” I said, “Why?” And she said, “Because you can’t live your life based on fear.” That’s a really good point: I think I’d end up having more regret if I didn’t do it because I was scared than if I did it, and whatever comes, comes. At least I wasn’t a coward.

Hawksblueyes: I for one, couldn't be more happy with his final decision to accept the role.

By: TwitterButtons.com

By TwitterButtons.com
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Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 4/16/2011, 7:25 AM
;P
HaroldOfGalactus
HaroldOfGalactus - 4/16/2011, 7:49 AM
just further proof that he is the perfect actor for the job. I envision a meeting at marvel studios where they are talking Cap's upcoming movie, with Joey Q telling a board who and what cap is and stands for, and who is as a person before he is a superhero, then all of a sudden this polite humble all around nice guy walks in. you can literally hear the cha-ching the all heard in their heads.
Indestruktible
Indestruktible - 4/16/2011, 7:50 AM
"because you can't live your life based on fear". Man, this sounds like Hal Jordan!
DaenerysTargaryen
DaenerysTargaryen - 4/16/2011, 7:56 AM
Cannot wait to see the movie! I really hope *and think* Evans is gunna do great :D
SmokinIndo
SmokinIndo - 4/16/2011, 7:57 AM
For someone who hates doing interviews and press, he sure is good at it!
MissMystique
MissMystique - 4/16/2011, 8:03 AM
I do not understand, I see nothing special about this guy. He does not impress me but I hope he makes the movie good.

I know this is late but I can not see him as the real cap, he also speaks very strange.
Well I hope that this movie will be good...
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 4/16/2011, 8:18 AM
Straight-forward honesty. Gotta love it!
MissMystique
MissMystique - 4/16/2011, 8:19 AM
@ fsucsu, of course I have seen a lot of his movies such as Cellular, Scott Pilgrim, Losers, the FF movies, Push and so on... I have realised that he keeps himself too much to the CBMs and it gives me such a picture of him that he is an actor of just some kinds of movies.

I do not know, maybe it's just me who feels that this is strange. But I'll still see the movie, not because of Chris but because I love the history of Cappy.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 4/16/2011, 8:24 AM
MissMystique: If you really want to see what kind of an actor he is, watch London and Sunshine. His character in Sunshine is very Cappish for lack of a better word.
MissMystique
MissMystique - 4/16/2011, 8:27 AM
I have seen London (Love Jason Statham, he really had hair on his head in that movie LOL)

But I have never watched or heard about Sunshine, who directed it? It must be a drama or thriller movie or...
genesis609
genesis609 - 4/16/2011, 8:34 AM
sunshine was a AWESOME movie....
logunvadercap
logunvadercap - 4/16/2011, 8:40 AM
i can't believe i agree with Darkmatter on something. i need a drink!
Artemis
Artemis - 4/16/2011, 8:44 AM
Danny Boyle directed Sunshine and Chris' character is definitely very Capish in it.

Can't wait for this movie to come out. He's gonna be great.
DarkTalbot13
DarkTalbot13 - 4/16/2011, 8:47 AM
Danny Boyle directed Sunshine, (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting, 28 days later, 127 Hours) one of my personal favorite directors. It's a very underated movie saddly. I wish it would gotten more press than it did. Its a very beautifl space landscape movie. Chris Evans really takes charge in it. Really helps me see him as cap as well. I had issues when they first broke the news he playing cap, but I remembered Sunshine, and he really played it straight for once.
Duhdaduh
Duhdaduh - 4/16/2011, 8:48 AM
yeah check out sunshine its a pretty sick movie, the musical score in it is amazing too. evans def has a cap sense of duty in it
Duhdaduh
Duhdaduh - 4/16/2011, 8:52 AM
@kakarot evans doesnt even look the same as cap as he did as johnny storm, he looks and acts so differently and that is why he's such a great actor

as far as leading the avengers goes, im sure at first rdj will be the leader. but, just as i feel in the cartoon they are slowly transitioning cap to be the leader, i think they will over the course of the movie too
Matador
Matador - 4/16/2011, 9:06 AM
@ MissMystique - Chris nailed in Sunshine you have to watch that flick before Capt. A. Awesome movie.

Reading his interview sounds like Steve Rogers talking when he became Capt. America all the fears of becoming the symbol and leading troops into combat. Chris is leading the way and all eyes on him. That takes allot of nerve because his co-stars are relying on him now. In how he promotes this movie too.
Much respect for the guy.

@ Kakorat - you sound like you had a hand in this movie but sound more like excrement. So STFU and get some Sunshine.
StrangerX
StrangerX - 4/16/2011, 9:16 AM
You guys are right on about Sunshine. When they mentioned Evans as Cap I was like WTF why this dude, and then everyone was like check out Sunshine. Never even heard of the movie. I watched it on syfy and was blown away by Evans performance.
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 4/16/2011, 9:19 AM
Ryan McPartlin would have been great Cap if Chris wouldnt have taked the role.
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 4/16/2011, 9:26 AM
He seems like a very cool guy. Aside from my main concern of wanting this to turn out well as a fan, I hope everything goes well for him.
logunvadercap
logunvadercap - 4/16/2011, 9:31 AM
@darkmatter- i'll show you more than intelligence while my balls are bouncing off your chin.
juggy4711
juggy4711 - 4/16/2011, 9:32 AM
Man we are really lucky. Growing up the best I could really hope for was decent comic cartoons. Now we get what 5 CBMs this summer alone? Thank God technology has made pace with imagination.
DaenerysTargaryen
DaenerysTargaryen - 4/16/2011, 9:33 AM
I've tried a couple times to post some vids from sunshine here but they keep not showing up. Oh well. Here's the link to them: http://www.vh1.com/video/movies/160384/sunshine-nothing-more-important-than-completing-our-mission.jhtml

gambgel
gambgel - 4/16/2011, 9:37 AM
I understand MissMystique perfectly.

Ive got familiar with Chris as Cap.

But his face is totally different from the Captain of the comics.

Of course all the actors that have played a superhero look different from their comic characters, but in this case, Ive always thought he wasnt the best option.

but anyway, it is what it is.

I suppose hell make a good job with the role, and with the years we'll all see him as Captain America.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 4/16/2011, 9:56 AM
Sorcerer123: I know what Waylon posted, thats why I acknowledge that a portion of this interview (none of this information) had already been posted. This information is without a doubt, the answer to many peoples questions stemming from his comments last year and I thought it was worth posting.

I don't feel like this article steps on anybody's toes in the slightest bit.

Starlight
Starlight - 4/16/2011, 10:04 AM
I can't stop watching the trailer, it's SO FRIKKING AWESOOOOME !!!
FrankGarret
FrankGarret - 4/16/2011, 10:17 AM
I agree with all the above that he's great in Sunshine. His character, Mace is indeed very much like Captain America; straight-laced, intelligent and selfless, a leader with a hint of military breeding.

I could point one one other major similarity to Cap, but that'd be a spoiler.
Rango
Rango - 4/16/2011, 10:33 AM
looking forward.
Duhdaduh
Duhdaduh - 4/16/2011, 10:55 AM
"reminds me of my loser classmates who post useless pics on facebook in effort to win "+1 likes" and woo gals"

haha so youre jealous of chris evans because he reminds you of the guys you go to school with who get more action than you
LordHuck
LordHuck - 4/16/2011, 11:11 AM
@ Kakarot

Cause no 20 year old military man ever thinks about women eh?

You do know that Steve Rogers has spent the 1st 2 decades of his life as a 97 pound dork right? Peggy Carter is the 1st woman that has ever paid any attention to him.

It’s pretty clear you don’t like the direction of the film or Evens. But all the reasons you give to justify your position are transparent hater bullshit. You just hate it for the sake of hating it and I don’t think you even know why.
MissMystique
MissMystique - 4/16/2011, 12:09 PM
Look sweet adorable guys :)

I know there are many who are upset but the only thing I'm worried about is that the film may have their ability to destroy such a patriotic, courageous and proudly history of Captain America

I have been a proud fan of this mighty character and if this Evans destroys this beautiful story, I will go out of the theater in tears

Im just saying my opinion and I truly hope that it does not upset you all

Besides I will watch Sunshine, I never knew that Danny Boyle made that movie. He is one skilled director so... In my checklist ===> Ive got to see Sunshine :)
soaponapope
soaponapope - 4/16/2011, 12:21 PM
he's gonna be great as cap. can't wait to hear him say... AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!
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