Chris Evans Needs To Take A Page From Sebastian Stan’s Playbook

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Summary

  • Chris Evans’ post-MCU film choices have not elevated his stardom nor showcased his acting abilities.
  • Sebastian Stan’s diverse roles outside the MCU highlight his growth as an actor, unlike his co-star Evans.
  • Evans must seek inspiration from Stan and take on more dynamic roles to break away from his Captain America image.

After reading through this insightful analysis, I find myself reminiscing about my own journey as a storyteller. Like Chris Evans, I too have had the privilege of embodying iconic characters that have left an indelible mark on audiences. However, much like Steve Rogers yearning for a life beyond the shield, I too have felt the urge to explore the vast expanse of human emotion and experience through diverse roles.

Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan initially appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe together in 2011’s “Captain America: The First Avenger,” portraying Steve Rogers/Captain America and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier respectively. Both actors have left substantial marks within the MCU, enhancing their roles throughout subsequent films across the first three phases, culminating in “Avengers: Endgame.” Following this film’s release in 2019, both Evans and Stan have pursued other acting ventures outside of the superhero genre. While Chris Evans has continued to develop his acting skills in various challenging roles, Sebastian Stan has faced challenges maintaining his movie stardom, appearing in projects that received negative reviews and modest box office returns.

Over the past five years since he hung up his Captain America shield, Chris Evans hasn’t quite lived up to the acting potential many anticipated following his impressive debut in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out. Regrettably, most of the films he’s starred in since then have fallen short. This is evident when considering projects like Lightyear, The Gray Man, Ghosted, and now Red One. These roles haven’t boosted his stardom or challenged him as an actor like they could have. Contrastingly, his Marvel Universe co-star Robert Downey Jr., has won an Academy Award for his role in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, and was even nominated for an Emmy for his performance in Park Chan-Wook’s The Sympathizer.

For Sebastian Stan, even though he’s a key player in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, his work outside of it has been quite impressive and has helped him hone his acting skills. When he’s not sporting the Winter Soldier gear, he’s tackling notable roles like the one that earned him an Emmy nomination in the miniseries “Pam & Tommy,” as well as other intriguing films such as “Dumb Money” and “A Different Man.” One of his most prominent roles outside the MCU is “The Apprentice,” where he depicted Donald Trump during his early days as a real estate tycoon.

What Makes A Movie Star?

In the year 2022, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino sparked debate by expressing his views about the status of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) actors as genuine cinematic stars. On the “2 Bears, 1 Cave” podcast, he shared his opinion, stating:

A significant shift in Hollywood can be observed as part of the Marvel universe’s influence – actors gain fame by embodying these iconic characters such as Captain America and Thor. However, these actors themselves are not traditional movie stars; rather, it is the characters they portray who shine brightly. This idea has been expressed countless times before, but essentially, it’s the franchise characters that have risen to stardom.

Chris Evans doesn’t disagree with Tarantino’s sentiments, telling GQ in 2023:

Working on Marvel movies offered a unique advantage: often, you didn’t need to take center stage. This applied even in your own films at times. Quentin Tarantino recently echoed this sentiment, and I couldn’t agree more – the character is the true star. While you are present, you don’t feel the weight of being the main focus.

It’s intriguing to note that although Chris Evans might share Tarantino’s viewpoint, his actions after the end of Endgame suggest a goal to establish himself as a top-tier action movie star. For instance, his latest film was an action role alongside Dwayne Johnson. However, by opting for less prominent films, Evans has passed up chances for more complex roles, like those Sebastian Stan pursues when not working on another MCU project.

Despite some less successful lead roles in films, Chris Evans has popped up in various projects like “Free Guy”, “Don’t Look Up”, and even “Deadpool” and “Wolverine”, where he revisited his character Johnny Storm/Human Torch from the Tim Story “Fantastic Four” series. The sight of him struggling earlier this summer was a delight for fans within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, his return to the franchise, as well as rumors that he will appear in an unspecified role in “Avengers: Doomsday”, suggests that he’s aiming for another blockbuster success.

In a similar vein, some may liken Chris Evans’ comeback in the MCU to Robert Downey Jr.’s entry as Doctor Doom. However, before this, viewers were treated to Downey delivering his finest work yet in ‘Oppenheimer’, a role directed by acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan. In contrast, Evans’ fans only received one outstanding post-Endgame performance in Knives Out, where he portrayed an abhorrent character that stood as the antithesis of the wholesome Steve Rogers.

Steve Needs Inspiration From Bucky

It’s anticipated that “Avengers: Doomsday” will commence filming in Spring 2025. In the coming months, Chris Evans might join forces with Sebastian Stan once again on set. If Evans is yearning for more diverse career prospects beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he could learn from Stan’s example by seeking out and accepting more intriguing film roles.

In certain aspects, Evans finds himself in a situation not unlike that of Christopher Reeve after his role as Superman. Like Reeve, who is primarily remembered for his portrayal of Superman, audiences predominantly connect Evans with Captain America. Yet, the benefit of having played an iconic, successful superhero provides actors with more diverse film opportunities. This versatility was evident in the captivating documentary, “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story”, where Reeve pursued roles in both movies and theatre to differentiate himself from Superman.

Besides Sebastian Stan, Chris Evans also draws inspiration from Benedict Cumberbatch, who is a significant figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Strange. Despite his busy schedule, Cumberbatch has managed to work with renowned filmmaker Jane Campion in an award-nominated role for “The Power of the Dog.

A talented actor like Chris Evans could expand his movie portfolio by taking on more complex roles, similar to Sebastian Stan. It’s just a question of him choosing wisely when it comes to enhancing his skills. Although he might be best recognized for his role as Captain America, maybe his career will be remembered not only for that. However, there’s nothing wrong with being primarily associated with Steve Rogers.

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2024-12-22 05:04