How Many Superhero Movies Did Chris Evans Star in Before His Role as Captain America?
Chris Evans is best known to most movie fans around the world as Steve Rogers/Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). A beacon of truth, honor, justice, and the American Way, Captain America is one of the most beloved characters in the MCU and Evans is given a lot of the credit for making the film version of the character such a hit. However, Evans has actually been in the movie industry for a long time, and prior to being cast as Captain America, he appeared in several superhero movies that are still well-known to this day.
Chris Evans got his acting start appearing in teen comedies
Evans was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1981. Even as a teenager, Evans felt drawn to the entertainment industry, acting in school plays and developing his talents on a local level. After graduating from high school, Evans decided to make a career out of acting and moved to California in order to start auditioning for roles. Evans’ first few roles were in TV movies and film comedies, such as Not Another Teen Movie and She’s All That.
Evans gained a reputation for playing vain, athletic types, characters who were rarely the central love interest. Often relegated to the sidelines in his first few roles, Evans nonetheless stood out, and eagle-eyed fans who watch Evans in these early roles can catch a glimpse of the star that he would become, just a few short years later.
Chris Evans appeared in several superhero movies prior to his big breakthrough as Captain America
Many fans might believe that Evans’ first foray into superhero movies was as Captain America. However, the actor has a rather lengthy list of superhero movie credits, beginning with the 2005 flick Fantastic Four, in which Evans played Johnny Storm/Human Torch. The movie was panned by critics, and although it didn’t get a lot of love at the box office, Evans did eventually return to reprise the role in a 2007 sequel.
According to Vocal Media, Evans followed up his role in the Fantastic Four film with parts in the action movies Push, where he played a psychic who tries to prevent the government from controlling a group of superhumans, and The Losers, a 2010 film that tells the story of an elite black ops team who uncovers a government conspiracy. That same year, Evans landed a small but significant role in the cult-classic comic book movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, opposite Michael Cera. Notably, according to Screen Rant, Evans’ role in this film is the only time that the star has played a comic book villain. Evans has also lent his voice to an animated hero, in the 2007 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, TMNT.
Chris Evans became a star after being cast as Captain America
Everything changed for Evans in 2011, when he appeared for the first time as Captain America in the 2011 movie Captain America: The First Avenger. The actor earned renown for his sincere portrayal of the MCU hero, and in the years that followed, he would reprise the character of Captain America in seven films in a leading capacity. Additionally, Evans has made cameo appearances as “Cap” in other Marvel movies, including Spider-Man: Homecoming and Ant-Man.
These days, Evans has handed over the mantle of Captain America, after more than a decade of portraying the beloved figure. But for fans, he will always be a film and comic book icon, an actor who brought the character to life in a way that no other star could have.
