Chris Evans, alias Captain America, who signed a six-movie deal in 2010 as mild-mannered Steve Rogers, has completed three films as the character, but now he wants to direct films.
He just directed his first feature, a $3 million love story tentatively called 1:30 Train. It revolves around a young woman (Alice Eve) who spends the night at Grand Central Terminal talking to a street musician (Evans).
Evans said, “I’ve known for a while I wanted to direct. But (time) never really opens up. There’s another movie to do, there’s another acting job. It just got to a point where I was like, you know what — I have to do this.” Evans added, “If I’m acting at all, it’s going to be under Marvel contract, or I’m going to be directing. I can’t see myself pursuing acting strictly outside of what I’m contractually obligated to do.”
Other superhero actors understand Evans’ desire to leave the mask behind. Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) said, “It can feel like a gilded cage at times. … It’s something that obviously allows you the opportunity to do things like go and direct your first feature and have a built-in audience for that.” She continued, “At the same time, at the end of the job, there’s always a super suit in your future.” Addressing the challenges involved, Johansson stated, “The movies take at least five or six months to release. Are you going to top the last one? Is your performance going to be as enigmatic? It’s a big risk.”
Evans acknowledged the power his role has given him, saying, “Without these movies, I wouldn’t be directing. They gave me enough overseas recognition to greenlight a movie. And if I’m speaking extremely candidly, it’s going to continue to do that for as long as the Marvel contract runs.”
Evans mused that he gave his all to 1:30 Train, but he knows he’ll get another shot no matter the reaction to his first film. “That’s not a luxury that most people are afforded,” he asserted.
Evans contemplated his future and when he would cease to portray the character Captain America. “That’s a good question. We can do this out loud. [Avengers 2] will shoot till August. I wouldn’t be surprised if for all of 2015, we didn’t do a movie. I bet by 2017, I’ll be done. That sounds so far away,” he said.
Evans did admit, however, that his perspective might change over time: “For all I know, in five years, I might say, ‘Shit, I miss acting.’ Right now, I just want to get behind the camera and make movies.”
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