Chris Evans On How The Russos Made Playing Gray Man’s Villain More Fun

Chris Evans explains how working with directors Joe and Anthony Russo on The Gray Man made playing a villain more fun. Evans and the Russo brothers’ working relationship began in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Following the success of that film, the Russos went on to helm some of Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame – all of which starred Evans as the Avengers’ star-spangled leader, Steve Rogers. 

The Russos began to adapt Mark Greaney’s The Gray Man while working on their first MCU project. Releasing in theaters this week and on Netflix on July 22, The Gray Man sees Evans play Lloyd Hansen, the sociopath who leads the manhunt for CIA mercenary Court Gentry/Sierra Six (Ryan Gosling) after the latter uncovers incriminating agency secrets. In addition to Evans and Gosling, the cast includes Ana de Armas, Alfre Woodard, Billy Bob Thornton, and Regé-Jean Page.

Now, Evans opens up about how his familiarity with the Russos facilitated his villainous turn, which was planned since The Winter Soldier. During a press conference attended by Screen Rant, Evans recalls his time working on The Gray Man. Although playing the villain is “always a little more fun,” Evans found it even more enjoyable thanks to his rapport with the Russos. His trust in them as filmmakers gave Evans the confidence to take risks with his portrayal. Read the full quote below:

Playing a villain is always a little more fun. You have a little bit more freedom, you get a lot more jokes – but working with the Russos is what gives that sense of trust and freedom. When you trust the filmmakers, you’re more willing to take risks, and certainly a character like this demands risks. Without the Russos and the relationship and rapport we have, I don’t know if I would have had such a rewarding experience.

Much has been made of Evans’ tongue-in-cheek, mustached hitman in The Gray Man‘s promotional material. After years of playing the MCU’s most righteous character, Evans has avoided being typecast by playing antagonists in 2019’s Knives Out and, now, The Gray Man. Following the success of Rian Johnson’s whodunnit film, there’s even more interest in seeing Evans break bad. His latest ego-driven character is essentially the polar opposite of Captain America. So much so, that the Russos previously joked they turned Evans from “America’s Ass to America’s a—hole,” referencing a Captain America joke from Avengers: Endgame.

The Russos oversaw Steve Rogers’ character development and awarded him Endgame’s beautiful bookend. It seems poetic that they’re the filmmakers to help Evans embrace his unsavory side in The Gray Man – which shares many similarities with The Winter Soldier. With early reviews for the film being mixed, it remains to be seen the fun Evans had sporting a mustache will leave as lasting of an impression as his time wearing a mighty shield or Knives Out‘s cable-knit sweater.