Seven Chris Evans Roles We’d Like to See on the Big Screen

Kaity
Kaity - Co-Director
10 Min Read
Image courtesy of Apple TV+

It’s been almost three years since Chris Evans hung up the shield in Avengers: Endgame, and fans are ready to see what roles he takes on next. So far, he’s played the repugnant villain Hugh “Ransom” Drysdale in Rian Johnson’s Oscar-nominated Knives Out and the broken family man Andy Barber in Apple TV+’s limited series Defending Jacob. With nothing but time and choices before him now, I thought it was a perfect time to roll out a wishlist of roles to see one of Hollywood’s best in.

So, here are seven roles that we hope Chris Evans considers.

1. Star Wars

Come on, this is a no-brainer. Chris Evans himself has said many times he’d love to be in the Star Wars universe, so let’s make it happen. Whether he’s a Jedi, a Sith, a Mandalorian, or a smuggler with a great sense of wit, he’d fit right in. Plus, what’s a better way to add to the Hollywood Chris confusion than Evans joining Star Wars with his commonly-mistaken-for fellow Chris’, Hemsworth and Pine, in Star Trek. It’s perfect.

We can officially call on three people Evans has worked with previously to help make this shared dream a reality: Jon Favreau, Taika Waititi, and Rian Johnson, all of whom have projects in the universe already or in the works. With connections to all three of them, it has to happen at some point soon, right?

(I’ve already told great tales of Chris Evans and Baby Yoda, so a stint on The Mandalorian in season 3 will do.)

2. An Edgar Wright Comedy

Evans started in comedy with roles in films like The Perfect Score and The Nanny Diaries but hasn’t hit the screens in the genre since the rom-com Playing It Cool in 2014. It’s time for a triumphant return, because whether he wants to admit it or not, Evans is funny.

I’ve narrowed it down to two forms of comedy that I personally would like to see Evans star in, and one is a collaboration with Edgar Wright, with who he’s already worked with on the 2010 film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Edgar Wright is a master of visual comedy; no one does it like him. Where other filmmakers need dialogue, Wright can show whatever small detail needs conveyed and make that action extremely funny. It’s this kind of high-quality comedy I want to see Evans stretch those comedic muscles in and excel.

3. An Evans Bros. Comedy

A comedy starring Chris and Scott Evans is long overdue. We know these two are funny together. We’ve seen it on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon more than once. Their “scare wars” on Instagram have also provided tons of entertainment throughout the years.

Both of them are hilarious in their own rights, and together they’d be an unstoppable force. Plus, the best projects come from collaborations between people who trust each other, and that goes without saying with these two. It would be the most incredible buddy/bro comedy to ever exist; I already know it. It should definitely involve some kind of elaborate scheme and a lot of pranks.

The dream? An Evans Bros. comedy directed by Edgar Wright.

4. A Period Piece

Chris Evans has yet to really be transported back in time. Sure, he’s gone back to the 20s in The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond and the 40s for Captain America: The First Avenger, but when I say a period piece, I mean … take us back multiple periods.

There’s nothing like a good period piece, but as much as I love Jane Austen, I don’t think Evans is the next Mr. Darcy. However, take us back a little further to Medieval times or so, and I think we’ll have a real winner. He has a very royal way about him, doesn’t he? Perhaps a knight?

Also, am I saying cast him as a live-action Hercules in a Disney remake? Maybe I am. I know that historically those don’t go over very well, but it’s fine; this one will.

5. A Musical

This is supposed to be happening … but I’m listing it up because, as of right now, the status of the project is still unknown. In early 2020 (right before the you-know-what started), Evans was cast as the dentist Orin Scrivello in a remake of the cult classic Little Shop of Horrors. However, it seems the pandemic may have derailed this train, so this is still on the list.

We know Evans can sing, he’s said he can, and we’ve gotten brief snippets of that secret talent in press junkets, in the 2011 rom-com What’s Your Number where he gives stunning renditions of “Three Times a Lady” and “Just What I Needed,” and more comedically in 2010’s The Losers with “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

The world is ready, Chris Evans is ready, so honestly, let’s go.

6. Broadway

Speaking of musicals, if a film studio won’t have him sing for us, perhaps Broadway will.

Evans has already had one massively successful stint on Broadway in Kenneth Lonergan’s Lobby Hero that ran in 2018. Yeah, the mustache was fine, not taking questions on that. The play was nominated for Best Revival of a Play at the 2018 Tony Awards, and audiences and critics responded well to the performances.

Personally, I’d love to see Evans on the stage again, whether it be a musical or a play that gets him there.

7. Director

Chris Evans in Before We Go

Finally, out of all of the things on this list, this is the one I’d like to see the most.

Evans directed his first project back in 2014 with the indie romance film Before We Go starring himself and Alice Eve. While critics may not have loved it, audiences did. Evans has always been a little tepid when it comes to how he feels his film came out, but for fans of slower-paced films that take the time to explore the depths of human emotions and small moments, this story hit the mark. Between his performance, to the cutaway scenes of the city streets, the story of Nick and Brooke was raw and honest.

He has said he’d like to get back behind the camera when the perfect script arrives, and we’re completely behind this endeavor. Hopefully that story comes around sooner rather than later.

While these are seven roles we want to see Evans play, we have to mention the boxes about to be checked. Evans will play the antagonist Lloyd Hansen in the upcoming Netflix film from AGBO and the Russo Brothers, The Gray Man. A spy-thriller, based on the book of the same name, the Russos have promised quite the wild ride for Evans and his story. The film finished filming over the summer. The Gray Man will release on Netflix sometime next year.

Then, his (and our) Disney Pixar dreams are coming true when Lightyear releases next summer. Lightyear follows the tale of the real-life astronaut the famous Buzz Lightyear toy was designed after. Evans will be voicing the titular character, and the film is reportedly in post-production.

Take a look back at some of Evans’ other past projects in our 2019 roundup (Knives Out and Defending Jacob released afterward, but watch those, too). Along with his two confirmed projects, you can check out his civic engagement website, A Starting Point. Evans logged weeks of time in Washington, D.C. interviewing elected officials to compile information in an easy-to-use resource for citizens. The site features short answers from the public servants, as well as fast, easily digestible debates on some of today’s hottest topics.

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By Kaity Co-Director
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Kaity started with Harry Potter in second grade and it’s been a losing battle ever since, or maybe a winning one ... She lives in New England with a small herd of cats, two dogs, three chinchillas, and one daughter. You can definitely find her either watching anime, reading manga, or playing the same five video games over and over again. Contact: kaity@nerdsandbeyond.com
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