Chris Evans Reveals Why He Turned Down a Dozen Marvel Pitches Before ‘Avengers Doomsday’

Few Marvel exits felt as definitive as Steve Rogers’ farewell. When Chris Evans passed on his shield at the conclusion of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ and walked into the past with Peggy Carter, it seemed like a heartfelt goodbye rather than a setup for a return.

For years, Evans maintained that narrative. He made a brief return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Johnny Storm in a cameo for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ yet he consistently claimed his time as Captain America was over, even as co-stars like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Hemsworth were drawn back into the fold for the next Avengers installment.

At San Diego Comic Con, Evans disclosed just how many times Marvel attempted to persuade him to return. The actor revealed he received at least a dozen pitches to bring Steve Rogers back over the years, but none resonated with him until ‘Avengers Doomsday’ came into play.

According to Evans, the discussions began almost immediately after ‘Endgame’ concluded. Producers Lou D’Esposito and Kevin Feige took him out for dinner and expressed their desire to continue making films with Steve Rogers as Nomad, referencing one of the character’s alternate identities from the comics.

Evans mentioned that he encouraged them to keep the ideas flowing, and they did for years. He described himself as protective of the character during that time, stating he was “a little precious” about it and wanted to honor what Steve Rogers had already represented in the franchise instead of rushing back for the sake of it.

What ultimately swayed his decision was learning that Downey was making a return to the MCU, this time portraying the villain Doctor Doom. Once Evans caught wind of that development and received the pitch for ‘Doomsday’ from co-director Joe Russo, the choice became clear in a way none of the earlier proposals had.

The Nomad identity that Marvel kept presenting to Evans has deep comic book roots, originating from a 1970s storyline where Steve Rogers became disillusioned with the government and abandoned the Captain America title. Co-star Anthony Mackie has hinted that some variation of that arc could be what audiences witness in ‘Doomsday.’

This marks a significant change from Evans’ stance just last year. In a prior interview promoting his film ‘Materialists,’ he expressed the pain of watching his former co-stars reunite without him, admitting it was “sad to not be back with the band” and that viewing the completed film would likely amplify that absence, he told ScreenRant.

That absence is now a thing of the past. Evans is set to return alongside a star-studded ensemble that includes Downey, Hemsworth, Mackie, Sebastian Stan, and Paul Rudd, as well as the ‘Fantastic Four’ cast led by Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, when ‘Avengers Doomsday’ hits theaters on December 18, 2026.

For a character whose conclusion once seemed definitive, the journey back has proven to be much longer and more intentional than many fans realized. Do you think Nomad is the version of Steve Rogers we will actually see in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’? Share your thoughts in the comments.