Ryan Reynolds Addresses Chris Evans’ MCU Return In Deadpool & Wolverine: “An Old Friend Back From The Dead”

Ryan Reynolds has addressed Chris Evans’ Marvel Cinematic Universe return in Deadpool & Wolverine. Evans is one of the most important actors in the MCU, with the star having given life to Captain America in the franchise. For months, Evans had been rumored to be part of Deadpool & Wolverine‘s long list of surprise characters, which was confirmed by the film’s release, with a twist.

On Instagram, Chris Evans shared a Deadpool & Wolverine set photo to celebrate his return as Johnny Storm, and Ryan Reynolds has responded with heartfelt comments.

Reynolds called Evans’ return “the greatest show on Earth.” Evans played Johnny, aka the Human Torch, in two Fantastic Four movies in the 2000s. As the movie featured many returning characters from the Fox Marvel universe, it made sense that Evans came back as Johnny and not Captain America. The actor was the focus of Deadpool & Wolverine‘s post-credits scene, a hilarious moment even Reynolds says he could not keep a straight face for.

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In the post that Reynolds was responding to, Evans celebrated coming back as the Fantastic Four’s Johnny Storm in Deadpool & Wolverine after almost twenty years. Since leaving Captain America behind, the actor had always said that coming back as the Human Torch would be an easier thing for him to do than to play Steve Rogers again after his perfect MCU ending. After Reynolds personally reached out to Evans, that happened in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Evans has commented on his Deadpool & Wolverine role, revealing what role Reynolds played in the casting. The actor said he is friends with Reynolds and that he was ecstatic at the prospect of playing Johnny Storm after almost twenty years when Reynolds asked him over a text. The actor then claimed no one else could have gotten him to return to the MCU, saying, “Ryan might be the only guy that I would’ve done it for because he’s just got the Midas touch.”

The MCU’s first Captain America went on to describe what he meant, saying, “Ryan’s humor makes just about everything work,” and that led him to feel safe about reprising a role he had not played in a long time. Evans and Reynolds also have a bit of a camaraderie when it comes to cameos. Evans played himself in Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy’s previous movie with Reynolds, Free Guy, while the Deadpool star made a cameo as Ana de Armas’ ex in Evans’ Ghosted. That evolved into Evans’ hilarious Johnny Storm return in Deadpool & Wolverine.