Just over a week ago, the internet showed its sentimental side in response to a heartfelt tweet from actor Chris Evans that seemed to suggest he’ll be retiring from the role of Captain America after next year’s Avengers 4.
The post earned him tributes from countless fans – including Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne Johnson – and left many people speculating that Evans was hinting at his character’s death in the upcoming release. Speaking at ACE Comic Con, however, the actor downplayed the notion that his tweet implies his departure.
“I should clarify that I know I did tweet something that made a lot of people think that it was in someway a spoiler,” Evans said. “I should clarify that regardless of how Avengers 4 ends, I would have tweeted the exact same thing. That last day of filming was a very emotional day and it was the culmination of almost 10 years of filming and 22 movies, this unbelievable tapestry.
“You feel a lot more emotions than I think even I thought I’d feel. And I felt it was appropriate to share the gratitude. I know it had a ripple effect but I am neither confirming or denying anything.”
While Evans’ latest comments raise the possibility that Steve Rogers will have a continuing place in the MCU beyond the Avengers: Infinity War sequel, it’s unlikely that this statement will do too much to dissuade the popular predictions that Cap only has one movie left. And if he isn’t yet done with the franchise, then apparently all those emotional fan tweets sporting #ThankYouChrisEvans hashtags were based on little more than a simple misunderstanding.
In the words Evans himself, the upcoming Avengers 4 will serve as a “culmination of almost 10 years of filming and 22 movies,” implying that the film could well be a passing of the torch to the next generation of heroes. With that in mind, many fans have predicted exits – fatal or otherwise – for not just Evans but his Marvel Phase 1 co-stars Chris Hemsworth and especially Robert Downey Jr., with Tony Stark already suffering many a hypothetical death in the artwork and theories of online forums.
We’ll likely have a much better idea of who’ll still be around for Phase 4 though when Avengers 4 finally arrives on May 3rd, 2019.