Chris Evans retired from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and played Captain America in 2019, but Red is making his return seem more likely. After landing the transformative role of Steve Rogers and making his MCU debut in 2011, he enjoyed an acclaimed career as a Marvel icon for eight years, culminating with Avengers: Endgameis ending. The conclusion of Steve’s story was meant to free Evans to explore more projects beyond the sprawling franchise, which had demanded much of his time over the previous decade.
This gave the actor endless possibilities and potential to participate in exciting projects of all scales. On the surface, Evans doing a Christmas action movie with The Rock looked great. Red it was even considered a potential big hit for him, possibly even a franchise starter away from the MCU. This becomes harder to imagine with RedThe Rotten Tomatoes score debuts at 32% with critics and how the film continues to be a rough patch for Evans. Instead of this being a new franchise to help replace the MCU, it could be what helps bring him back as Captain America.
Chris Evans has had a very dark movie run since leaving the MCU
Red One is another rotten film for Evans
The harsh reality for Chris Evans is that he has had little luck and success away from the MCU since leaving. RedThe Rotten Tomatoes soundtrack is the latest example of a disappointing trend for the actor over the past five years. Evans has starred in four consecutive films that received poor scores from the critics at Rotten Tomatoes. This is the longest period of his career since before joining the MCU. Evans rarely found success with critics before playing Captain America, and although his time as a superhero drastically changed his fortunes, Red proves that it was not a permanent change.
Overall, Evans has been in more bad movies than fresh movies, according to the review aggregator site since Avengers: Endgame. He achieved early success with Knives outwhich was considered a sign of what viewers could expect from Evans in his post-MCU career. Knives out Still Evans’ best on Rotten Tomatoes with a rating of 97%. Light year is the only other film he had a significant role in after 2019 that brought positive reviews, although the Pixar animated film’s 74% Tomatometer score is quite generous. Red gives him his fifth rotten post-MCU film.
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Chris Evans’ post-MCU films |
|
|---|---|
|
Film |
Rotten Tomatoes score |
|
The Red Sea Dive Report (2019) |
28% |
|
Knives out (2019) |
97% |
|
Light year (2022) |
74% |
|
The Gray Man (2022) |
45% |
|
Ghost (2023) |
25% |
|
Pain dealers (2023) |
23% |
|
Deadpool and Wolverine (2024) |
78% |
|
Red (2024) |
32% |
It’s important to note that the only bright spot in Chris Evans’ filmography during this difficult period is his return to the MCU, albeit as the Human Torch. He had a cameo in the multiverse Deadpool and Wolverine as Johnny Storm, giving him a role in a film with a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This is a discouraging sign for Evans, as reinforces the idea that he is the best in the MCUshowing how difficult it has been for him to succeed elsewhere. He has done this occasionally since playing Captain America with Snowpiercer or Knives outbut these examples are few and far between.
Red One shows the biggest problem in Chris Evans’ post-MCU career
Evans is following a formula that isn’t working
Chris Evans’ Rotten Tomatoes String of Rotten Movies Is Bad, But Red it’s worse than just being part of this trend. The idea that he would be in bad movies that critics don’t like is not new to him; there are more than a dozen examples of this before and during his tenure in the MCU. The problem that Red represents is that Chris Evans is falling into a formula that simply isn’t working. Instead of taking on challenging projects that are interesting but didn’t work out as well as he had hoped his recent films are all generic big-budget titles made for streaming services that feel hollow.
Red join Pain dealers, Ghostand The Gray Man as titles that fit this generic description, even if they are technically released in theaters first. Amazon MGM originally developed the film as an exclusive streaming release for Prime Video before moving it to theaters after delays. Each of these films follows the same formula, where Evans co-stars in a big-budget film with another recognizable star – The Rock for RedEmily Blunt by Pain dealersAna de Armas for Ghostand Ryan Gosling for The Gray Man – in a typically action-packed adventure.
Although Evans’ roles in each of these films are not identical and the films themselves vary in their subgenres, none fully escape the feeling of films made for audiences to mindlessly watch on a streaming service because they have well-known actors, simple plots and are widely available. Instead of Evans choosing projects that are must-see titles, whether for their franchise connections, bold original stories, or notable auteur creations, his post-MCU career has been filled with films that are as easily forgettable as they are convenient to watch.
Chris Evans Returning to the MCU as Captain America Is Your Best Bet – and Plausible Right Now
The path has been set for his return to the MCU
With Red Continuing this rotten period in Chris Evans’ career, a return as Captain America in the MCU is a clear solution to his problems. He needs a movie or two to put him back on the map as a box office and critical success figure, and Marvel Studios has the perfect two projects coming: Avengers: Judgment Day and Avengers: Secret Wars. These films are guaranteed to make multi-billion dollars at the box office, which could give it some much-needed commercial success.
Evans was getting better and better in his portrayal of Captain America
Most importantly, the MCU’s track record on Rotten Tomatoes – especially with Avengers films – means your return to one or both films can also help you with criticism. Evans was getting better and better at his portrayal of Captain America, and with the Russo Brothers at the helm of Judgment Day and Secret Warsthey could once again get a strong performance from him. Returning to the MCU to Play Captain America in the Next Two Avengers movies are Evans’ best bet to fix his recent problems and make the public forget this negative point in his career.
On some level, Chris Evans’ MCU returns as Captain America in Avengers: Judgment Day and Avengers: Secret Wars It’s totally expected. These films aim to bring the Multiverse Saga to a close, possibly even closing the door on the main MCU continuity as audiences know it. And with Robert Downey Jr. leading the films as Doctor Doom, Marvel and Evans would leave a huge amount of money on the table by not having Captain America return to confront him – or even join him. Red Continuing the actor’s dark trajectory could help convince him to play Captain America again.
What Chris Evans and Kevin Feige said about their return to the MCU
Neither of them ruled out the return of Captain America
Although Avengers: Endgame gave Steve Rogers a fitting conclusion, the years since have still been filled with questions for Chris Evans and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige about whether an MCU reunion is in the cards. Evans has been quite firm in his stance that he doesn’t want to ruin End of the gameis ending and that it would take a special story and the right circumstances to lure him back. He understands the pressures associated with trying to top what is now his final MCU appearance as Captain America and doesn’t want to tarnish the experience for himself or fans.
Kevin Feige’s stance on Chris Evans’ return as Captain America was balanced and veiled in secrecy, as usual. Ahead of Evans Deadpool and Wolverine cameo, Feige said his return as Captain America “it can be done – if great care is taken.” This is far from confirmation that it will happen, but Feige and Evans continue to leave the door open to some extent. Now that Marvel Studios has gotten the Russos and Downey back for the next two Avengers films, Evans could be next. It could be the perfect time for him too, based on RedFront desk.