Earlier this year, Deadline reported that Chris Evans was set to return as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that's starting to look less and less likely.
The Knives Out star was said to be in talks to reprise the role of Steve Rogers for an undisclosed number of appearances in the MCU (big screen and Disney+ projects were reportedly both possibilities), but the character was not expected to be the main focus of any more solo adventures.
However, despite several trades appearing to confirm the original story, Evans followed up with a Tweet which certainly seemed to cast some doubt on the news, and Kevin Feige has now responded.
"I rarely answer no to anything anymore because things are always surprising me with what happens, but that rumor, I think, was dispelled rather quickly by the man himself," the Marvel Boss told EW during an interview to promote The Falcon and the Winter Solder.
Sebastian Stan (Bucky) also weighed in, but he sounds a little more optimistic.
"Anything is possible, right?" he says. "I saw he tweeted something about it. So, I don't know. I feel like usually he knows what to say in those things, so I didn't know what to make of it. And I truly don't have any intel on that. I feel like you can't ever think of the words 'Captain America' without thinking about Chris Evans. He's done such an amazing job with it, and I feel like he's always going to have this presence. And he has a presence in our show."
Sam Wilson actor Anthony Mackie, meanwhile, says he has "no idea" what the future holds for Evans' take on the iconic hero.
"I was actually fishing [when the report came out]. When I came back in to get some shrimp, the dude at the dock was like, 'Hey, man! Did you see this s---?!'" Mackie recalls. "I've been going to the same guy to get my bait for like 20 years and all of a sudden now he's a fan. He had no idea who I was. Now he's a fan."
"Marvel's so secretive, and it's so ridiculous about what we know and what we don't know," he adds. "I have no idea. The dude at the dock selling me shrimp knows more about what's going on with Marvel than I do."
It's always possible that Feige and co. are simply trying to throw fans off the scent after the trades got hold of some info Marvel didn't want going public when it did, but for now, we're just going to have to take them at their word.
Would you guys like to see Chris Evans wield the shield in the MCU again?