CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER kicks off the first of a six-picture deal for Chris Evans as the super soldier Steve Rogers and he's mid-production on the follow up with The Avengers opposite Robert Downey, Jr., who he refers to as a real movie star.
Chris Evans didn't have much of a break between shooting the Joe Johnston-directed CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER and Joss Whedon's The Avengers starring A-listers Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlet Johansson, Thor's Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Paul Bettany, Mark Ruffalo and way too many more to name. Although CAPTAIN AMERICA wrapped in December of 2010, he returned for three weeks of reshoots in March and then immediately began production the next month for The Avengers.
Chris Evans originally hesitated taking the role of Steve Rogers because of the commitment to a nine-picture deal, which he found "scary."
"That's a crazy thing to think about. I don't know anybody who can make a decision for the next 10 years of your life."
Marvel Entertainment eventually dropped it down to a six-picture deal, but the actor was still nervous about a "potential life-style change." Evans enjoyed going out in public to baseball games and Disneyworld without many people recognizing him, he told CineMovie at a recent press day."I could still live my life with relative ease and complete anonymity. That movie can potentially change that and that's scary too."
Having moved beyond his "fear" of committment, he is currently shooting his second film The Avengers with Buffy the Vampire creator Joss Whedon. Working on both films has already proven a different experience when it came to his costumes. Evans found the CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIST AVENGER wardrobe "cumbersome, thick and bulky" which didn't allow for much movement during the fight sequences. His suit for the modern day Avenger proved "fantastic" for the range of motion, according to the Fantastic Four actor, however, the new hood/helmet was more difficult to get in and out of unlike his roomier helmet in Captain America.
His fellow Avenger Robert Downey, Jr. has made life on The Avengers set much easier for Chris Evans. The Captain America star calls the Iron Man actor "supportive" and "so positive" in addition to praising him as a generous actor.
"I had to do a scene the other day with him. I'm nervous. It was me and him. I was terrified. It's Robert Downey Jr. Every little take he gives you a little fist bump and a little thumbs up. It just changes your whole day. It probably means nothing in his mind but I go back to my trailer giddy. He really is something else."
Chris Evans also referred to his Avengers co-star as a true "movie star" because of his charisma and persona. According to Evans, "this guy is a movie star" as soon as he steps foot onto the set you feel his presence. Too bad we won't get to see that chemistry between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark until the The Avengers opens May 4, 2012 but we get a taste of Chris Evans as CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER when it opens Friday, July 22.
