Chris stays where he is

MANILA, Philippines - Forget all the news stories hinting that Chris Evans is retiring soon. The actor who gained worldwide fame portraying the most iconic and patriotic American superhero is not retiring from show business at all.

Want proof? He has an existing contract with Marvel and will likely star in a few more Avenger movies before we can all speculate about his future plans. But, then again, no actor ever retires — most specially, if one is a hot Hollywood superstar. The most they’d do is take a breather and return in no time.

But if you are a big fan and mighty worried that the handsome star is seriously considering a career outside of the movies, then you better head to the nearest cinema and catch him in Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, his most current movie — and one of the best-reviewed superhero movies since The Avengers.

This is Chris’ third outing as Captain America and he says he is proud of the success he’s had doing all the Avenger films. Chris played another superhero, Johnny Storm/Human Torch, in two mildly-successful Fantastic Four movies prior to donning the star-and-stripes cape and he naturally had fears of not being able to lure in Captain America fans to the cinemas.

“Had I not done the movies, it would have been the biggest mistake of my life,” Chris declared during a press conference two weeks ago in Los Angeles. “It really would have been the biggest regret to date and there are plenty.”

Three years ago, Chris had concerns about the multi-picture contract he signed with Marvel. He also thought that he might be typecast and would lose his treasured anonymity once the series becomes super successful. But, today, those are no longer his concerns.

“It’s changed everything for me. I mean not just what it’s enabled me to do outside of these movies, but it’s so comforting knowing that you’re making good movies. It would be a nightmare to be trapped in this contract and be making films that you’re not proud of but Marvel has the Midas Touch so every time you suit up, you know that you’re making something of quality. It’s rewarding on every level, so thank God I had the right people in my life pushing me to make the right decision.”

Captain America: The Winter Soldier picks up after the cataclysmic events in New York with The Avengers. In this installment, Steve Rogers (a.k.a. Captain America) is now living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world when a new threat surfaces.

S.H.I.E.L.D., the organization that he works for comes under attack and he has to team up with Natasha Romanoff (a.k.a. Black Widow) and Sam Wilson (a.k.a. Falcon) to uncover a political conspiracy that threatens the world order while also battling a new enemy known only as the Winter Soldier.

This new entry to the Marvel superhero saga is a refreshing take on the genre. It offers an intriguing political subtext and works like a suspense thriller. It features a star-studded line-up, including Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), Robert Redford and Samuel L. Jackson, who reprises his role as S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury.

The cast, with the exception of the great Robert Redford, was present at the press conference and all shared their excitement about the movie.

Anthony Mackie, who found fame as one of the embattled war vets in the Oscar-winning film The Hurt Locker, expressed the most direct endorsement of the movie and the whole Avenger franchise, for that matter, when he excitedly proclaimed that they are “quite busy making better (expletive) movies” in reference to a question to Marvel president, Kevin Feige, asking him how much influence he has on the two other superhero movies that are also opening in the next couple of months. (Kevin said the influence is very limited with the other studios.)

Samuel called out Anthony and Anthony was sorry after.

Anthony’s excitement was understandable. This is his first foray into blockbuster moviemaking and he makes a very good Falcon in the movie. His onscreen chemistry with Chris is also amazing!

“I’ve known Anthony for a while now,” Chris said. “This is our third movie together. When I first met Anthony, it actually wasn’t on a movie set. We got along very well. We’re very similar people. So, we hit it off very well… and so it was very easy having just kind of a repartee with him offset and I think that translates onset and it’s just, he’s — you can tell right now, the guy is life, he’s energy — you know, onset, in the press conference, that’s character. He just brings a certain type of spark that you need on film and you need off as well.”

Chris’ glowing description of Anthony drew a wild teasing from Scarlett, who just announced her pregnancy a few days prior to the press conference.

“Where did you meet, Chris?” she maliciously asked.

“(In) a library,” Chris quickly replied. And the room erupted in laughter.

Scarlett herself wasn’t spared from the “personal” questions. A journalist attempted to ask the stunning actress about her pregnancy before he was politely reminded to stick to the movie.

Here’s the full text of the exchange between the journalist and Scarlett — and also Chris.

Journalist: I have a question for Scarlett and Chris. Scarlett, back in September, you were on TV saying that your grandma called you because she read that you were pregnant…

Scarlett: Um-hmm. (A publicist quickly whispered into the ears of the embarrassed journalist.)

Journalist: And it wasn’t true! But I want to ask about the movie.

Scarlett: Yes.

Journalist: Do you picture — I mean both of you guys as a family, raising a little Captain America?

Scarlett: What a strange question! But I like your ability to think on your feet. 

Chris: No.

Scarlett: No!

Chris: Yeah. That was a contingency question. No, I don’t think that’s — that’s the dynamic of Cap and Black Widow.

Question dodged. Scarlett is currently dating a French journalist named Romain Dauriac.

And if Chris does decide to retire from the movies, it would most likely be due to questions like that.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is in theaters now.