Chris Evans Responds To If He’d Return As Human Torch In MCU Multiverse

Chris Evans responds to whether he’d be open to returning as the Fantastic Four’s Human Torch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s multiverse. In 2005, Evans made his superhero debut as Johnny Storm a.k.a. the Human Torch in Fox’s first attempt at bringing Marvel’s First Family to the big screen. Fantastic Four and its follow-up, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), weren’t necessarily well-received but paved the way for bigger and better things.

Following Kevin Feige and company’s launch of the Marvel Studios and the MCU with 2008’s Iron Man, Evans proved to be the perfect actor to portray Steve Rogers in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. He went on to play the leader of the Avengers in The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019), the latter of which saw Cap pass his shield and mantle to Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson. Ever since, fans have wondered if Evans would ever make a return to the genre as a geriatric Rogers or a member of the Fantastic Four. With Phase 4’s multiverse in play, anything is possible.

In a recent interview with MTV News to promote Lightyear, Evans was asked whether he’d return to the MCU as Johnny Storm. “God, wouldn’t that be great? Wouldn’t that be great?” said Evans. “No, no one’s ever come to me about that. I mean, I don’t exactly look the same anymore. That was 15, almost 20 years ago. Oh my God, I’m old. But I really love that character, but I think… aren’t they doing something now with Fantastic Four?” When Josh Horowitz presented the popular idea of playing a variant outside of the new Fantastic Four, the actor said it’d be an easier sell than coming back as Cap. Read the full quote below:

“Yeah, I guess that’s true. I mean, I guess all bets are off. Yeah. Look, I would love it. I would love it. That would actually be an easier sell to me than coming back as Cap. You know what I mean? Cap is so precious to me. And you know, I almost don’t wanna disrupt what a beautiful experience that was. But Johnny Storm, I feel like he didn’t really get his day. That was before Marvel really found its footing. So, I loved that role and, you know, who knows.”

Before the MCU began to build its multiverse, Disney/Marvel Studios acquired Fox and all its properties. Leading up to the release of Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, many thought the film would feature a string of cameos from Fox’s Marvel catalog—from Deadpool and the X-Men to the Fantastic Four. Given that Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic is a part of the Marvel Comics’ Illuminati—which was confirmed to appear in the film—rumors persisted that Ioan Gruffudd and even Evans’ characters would cameo. While those rumors proved to be just that, Professor X and Mr. Fantastic variants did appear in the form of Patrick Stewart and popular fan casting John Krasinski, respectively.

As mentioned in the above interview, Marvel Studios does have a Fantastic Four movie in the works. Unless the film decides to go the Krasinski and Emily Blunt route, the reboot will likely see every member of Marvel’s First Family recast for a new generation. Regardless, having Evans cameo as a variant of the Human Torch would be a fun way to wink at the audience and give that character his day. Evans nearly refused the role of Captain America after his experience with the Fantastic Four. So, bringing back his Johnny Storm would be a nice way to bring things full circle following his success in the MCU.