After wrapping up his Marvel Cinematic Universe character’s story in Avengers: Endgame, Chris Evans made a surprising return to the franchise in his previous superhero role, and his comments about his Deadpool & Wolverine cameo have me worried it’ll be difficult to get him back again. For nearly a decade, Evans played Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, in the MCU, becoming one of the franchise’s mainstay heroes and a founding member of the Avengers. However, the actor passed on Cap’s shield at the end of Avengers: Endgame, and retired to a life in his own time.

Since then, Evans has been asked many times whether he’d ever return to the MCU, whether as Captain America or another character, and he’s always been adamant that he wants to leave Steve’s story alone. Of course, that didn’t stop him from returning as a different Marvel superhero, Johnny Storm aka Human Torch, for a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine. In the weeks since Deadpool & Wolverine hit theaters, Evans has opened up about what it took to get him to return to the MCU, and all his comments have me concerned that it will be incredibly difficult to convince him to return to the franchise again.

Chris Evans Has Stressed Ryan Reynolds’ Involvement In His MCU Return

“Ryan [Reynolds] Might Be The Only Guy That I Would’ve Done It For”

I’ve noticed a trend in all of Chris Evans’ comments about his MCU return in Deadpool & Wolverine – the credit he gives to Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds. It’s no surprise that Evans would highlight Reynolds’ involvement in convincing him to return; the actors have traded cameos in quite a few of each other’s movies over the years, including Evans’ cameo in Free Guy and Reynolds’ in Ghosted. It’s clear that the actors have a wonderful friendship, and that was instrumental in Evans’ decision to appear in Deadpool & Wolverine.

While it’s been heartwarming to see how the actors talk about each other, I can’t ignore the implication of Evans’ comments. In his first interview about his Deadpool & Wolverine role, he told EW, “Honestly, Ryan might be the only guy that I would’ve done it for because he’s just got the Midas touch.” Then while talking to US Weekly, the actor again emphasized Reynolds’ role in getting him back in the MCU, saying, “I have a lot of love in my heart for Johnny Storm and so getting that call from Ryan [Reynolds] – I would do anything for Ryan – but getting to yell ‘Flame on’ again was just really special.”

Even in Evans’ own post about his Deadpool & Wolverine cameo, he made an effort to highlight Reynolds’ involvement in his return, writing, “Special thank you to Ryan for making it all happen.” Certainly, as a writer, producer and star of Deadpool & Wolverine, Reynolds undoubtedly had a major hand in talking to all the actors who returned for cameos in the MCU movie. But in his comments, Evans has continually stressed that Reynolds was the only one who could’ve brought him back – which makes me worried about whether Marvel Studios will be able to convince him to return again.

I’m Concerned Chris Evans Will Never Return To The MCU As Captain America

On Whether He Thinks About Returning As Cap, Evans Said, “No. No, not really.”

Listen, I know anything can happen in the MCU and Marvel’s golden rule (at least when it comes to the comics) is that nobody stays dead except Uncle Ben. But Chris Evans has me truly convinced nothing – except Ryan Reynolds – could get him back in another Marvel movie. The actor has said many times over the years, and repeated it in the wake of his Deadpool & Wolverine cameo, that he’s not interested in revisiting Steve Rogers’ story because the character’s ending is very special to him. Given Evans’ repeated insistence that he won’t be back, I’m inclined to believe him.

Of course, it’s entirely possible that Evans is less adamant than he seems, or there could be a way for Marvel Studios to convince him to come back. After all, his Captain America is one of the cornerstones of the MCU. Ever since the actor concluded his time in the franchise, there has been a desire to see him return. Audiences, myself included, are attached to the character of Steve Rogers, and even if he isn’t Captain America anymore, I’m sure I’m not alone in wondering what he’s up to. Considering the wildly positive response to Evans’ MCU return in Deadpool

Robert Downey Jr’s MCU Return Gives Me Hope Chris Evans Might Come Back

RDJ Will Play Doctor Doom In Avengers: Doomsday & Avengers: Secret Wars

Following Iron Man’s death in Avengers: Endgame, no one expected Robert Downey Jr. to return to the MCU, and I was one of many folks shocked when Marvel Studios announced RDJ will be playing Doctor Doom in the two upcoming Avengers movies, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Iron Man’s death was one of the most significant moments in the MCU, so the fact that Marvel Studios is willing to bring back RDJ means they’re willing to take some big swings for these two new Avengers movies. If they can pull off RDJ’s return, perhaps they can bring back Chris Evans as well.

Please, Ryan Reynolds, you’re my only hope of seeing Chris Evans in a Marvel movie again.

If Evans remains adamant about leaving Steve Rogers’ MCU story untouched, Marvel could bring him back as Johnny Storm, despite his death in Deadpool & Wolverine, or an alternate universe version of Captain America. It would make sense for Evans’ next MCU return to be a character from elsewhere in the multiverse, considering Marvel is currently in the midst of their Multiverse Saga. That would allow Evans to return in the cast of Avengers: Doomsday and/or Avengers: Secret Wars without impacting his previous MCU ending, or creating confusion about Sam Wilson being the MCU’s Captain America.

That said, I still think it might behoove Marvel Studios to recruit Ryan Reynolds to help them convince Evans to return to the MCU. The studio could no doubt try to win over the actor with a massive salary, like the ones given to RDJ for the upcoming Avengers movies, or a compelling storyline. But considering Reynolds was so instrumental in getting Evans back for Deadpool & Wolverine, it wouldn’t hurt to have him help convince the Captain America actor there’s more multiverse fun to be had in the MCU. Please, Ryan Reynolds, you’re my only hope of seeing Chris Evans in a Marvel movie again.