Former Captain America star Chris Evans does not want to get in the way of Anthony Mackie's evolving storyline in the MCU.
Since his emotional sendoff in Avengers: Endgame, Evans has been dodging questions about a potential return as Steve Rogers. With Mackie's Sam Wilson/Falcon fully embracing his role as the new Captain America after the events of Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Evans explained to the D23 Inside Disney podcast that his potential return would be too "upsetting.
"I mean it was a really unbelievable ride and the character's just so dear to me and I'm just so precious with it," Evans said. "To return to the role, I mean the truth is, the role isn't even mine anymore. The role is Anthony Mackie's. So, you know, even if there was a different incarnation, not as Captain America, but you know for Steve Rogers, even that would feel… I'd be very cautious, just because I love that chapter of my life professionally, personally."
While Evans stood firm about passing Cap's shield to his fellow Avenger star, he still has not completely closed the door on Marvel. The actor repeated his interest in coming back to the MCU if a new Steve Rogers storyline gets pitched perfectly to him. But such a pitch has yet to happen. "I love what those movies accomplished and to revisit it and potentially have some weird extension to that legacy would be upsetting if it didn't land," Evans said. "So it would require a near-perfect recipe and it may just not be in the cards."
Until Evans' one demand gets met by Marvel Studios, Mackie's future as the new Captain America will be moving forward. The actor reached an agreement with Marvel to headline Captain America 4. Production will be set to begin after Mackie wraps up his latest role as John Doe in the Twisted Metal television series for Peacock. Evans previously expressed his confidence in Mackie carrying the new Cap film on his shoulders. "No one better to do it [than Mackie]," Evans said at the time. "He does it justice and I'm so proud of him. I can't wait to see what [Marvel Studios does] in the future with [the Captain America franchise]."
All six episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier are now streaming on Disney+. Captain America 4 does not yet have a release date.
Source: D23 Inside Disney, via ComicBook.com