Chris Evans breaks down his most iconic roles in, 'Fantastic Four,' 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier,' 'Avengers: Endgame,' 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,' 'Not Another Teen Movie,' 'Knives Out,' 'Snowpiercer,' 'Sunshine,' 'Puncture' and 'Pain Hustlers.'SAG-AFTRA members are currently on strike; as part of the strike, union actors are not promoting their film and TV projects. This interview was conducted prior to the strike.Director: Robert MillerDirector of Photography: Josh HerzogEditor: Graham MooneyCreative Producer: Jean-Luc LukunkuTalent Booker: Dana MathewsCamera Operator: AlfonsoGaffer: Niklas MollerSound Recordist: Rehanna ChandanProduction Assistant: Erica PalmieriPost Production Supervisor: Rachael KnightPost Production Coordinator: Ian BryantSupervising Editor: Rob LombardiAssistant Editor: Billy Ward
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00 Put on the suit. Let's go a few rounds.
00:03 [laughing]
00:04 Who do you think is stronger, Captain America or Iron Man?
00:06 Oh, well I'm biased, so I'm going to say Cap.
00:10 But who's smarter? Who's richer? I'll give those to Tony.
00:14 [music]
00:20 Fantastic Four.
00:21 [snaps]
00:22 [snaps]
00:24 Now picture that.
00:27 Butt everywhere.
00:28 I wasn't a big comic book reader. I mean, I've read a lot now.
00:32 But at the time, aside from the 80s and early 90s, Batman, Superman, things like that,
00:37 that new wave of superhero films, the Spider-Man, the X-Men, they had just begun.
00:43 So it was really exciting.
00:45 Marvel hadn't even kind of taken back their name yet, so that film was a fox.
00:50 It was one of the bigger movies I had done up until that point, so I was ecstatic.
00:54 And it was a fun role to play.
00:55 He was full of life, and he reacted the way I probably would have reacted if I was given superpowers.
01:00 I'm so close to flying, guys, I can taste it.
01:03 You can't fly.
01:04 Yet.
01:05 Johnny, can you put that napkin out?
01:07 Oh, Jesus.
01:08 Well, it was the first time doing those big, action-y stunts.
01:11 You show up on a set that's two blocks long and these giant cables and explosions and green screens,
01:17 and it's the stuff you see in the making ofs on other films.
01:22 And it's kind of like, "Wow, I make movies. This is great."
01:25 And just having a good time with the cast.
01:27 We had a lot of fun.
01:28 This was in the early 2000s.
01:30 This is before social media.
01:32 I think everyone probably had a Nokia flip phone.
01:34 So it still was a time where in between takes, everyone's not buried in their phone.
01:40 You're conversing, and at night you're socializing.
01:43 Yeah, it was my early 20s.
01:44 It was a good time.
01:45 [music]
01:48 Captain America.
01:49 [music]
02:01 You knew that Marvel had big plans, that the goal was to create this tapestry
02:06 and integrate these worlds in a way that really hadn't been done prior.
02:09 And I knew what the comic books offered me, you know, just about the character.
02:13 Like most comics, there's a number of different writers who are writing for that character
02:18 and a number of different storylines.
02:21 So you're not quite sure which one they're going to follow.
02:23 Yeah, it wasn't a whole lot about where the character was going to end up.
02:26 It was more about, you know, the burden of trying to create this universe.
02:32 But that didn't really fall in my lap.
02:34 That was other people's responsibility.
02:36 And we had Downey driving the show, you know what I mean?
02:38 Like, he had already done so well with Iron Man,
02:41 but it was such a phenomenon that you kind of felt like, "Okay, this is--we're off on the right foot."
02:46 Before we get started, does anyone want to get out?
02:50 [music]
02:59 You want to see how the fans see him, you know what I mean?
03:02 Anytime I've heard about movies that are being made or remade,
03:04 something that's dear to me, you realize how protective and possessive you are over that role.
03:10 And you want to make sure the person playing the character respects that perspective
03:14 and isn't just like, "Well, you know, I know they know the character, but this is my time.
03:17 I'm going to do my thing."
03:19 That's stumbling right out of the gate.
03:20 So first step, try to understand why other people like him and honor it as best you can.
03:26 [music]
03:31 Avengers!
03:33 [music]
03:38 Assemble.
03:39 There's a lot of fun moments in Endgame because it's a lot of moments that are servicing the fandom,
03:44 but for a lot of those prep montage where we're about to go back and get the stones,
03:49 it's kind of some of the original people and we just got to be in this room for weeks.
03:54 I obviously really like the scene where I pick up Mjolnir for the first time.
03:58 [music]
04:04 It just felt good.
04:05 Most of the scenes in Endgame, you're fully aware of what you got to be a part of.
04:11 You're really just kind of so grateful every day and just trying to absorb it all.
04:18 I think when you're in the middle of it, it's just always like, "Ah, there's another Marvel movie next year."
04:22 Not that you take it for granted, but it just doesn't resonate the same way when you know,
04:27 "Wow, we're wrapping in a couple weeks and I'm putting the shield down
04:31 and it's been such a big part of my life for a decade."
04:34 So most of Endgame was a really, really lovely experience.
04:39 How does it feel?
04:43 Like it's someone else's.
04:48 It isn't.
04:50 That last day was emotional. It's like graduating school.
04:53 I mean, you know the day's coming and then it's all of a sudden here
04:56 and you feel like it went by way too quick.
04:58 I mean, it's life changing. My life is forever not the same.
05:01 My family's life isn't. I mean, you know what I mean?
05:04 The ripple effect of signing up for that role is kind of immeasurable for me at least.
05:09 It was a beautiful time, full of gratitude.
05:11 [music]
05:14 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
05:16 You really don't know about the League?
05:19 The seven evil exes coming to kill you, controlling the future of Ramona's love life?
05:25 No.
05:27 Oh, well, hey, listen, man, don't worry about it.
05:29 Really?
05:30 Yeah. Let's go get a beer.
05:31 That's great.
05:32 Boom!
05:33 The pitch for Scott Pilgrim was so strange, but he kind of said, you know,
05:36 Lucas Lee is this movie star, but he really doesn't have much range,
05:40 and he thinks he's great, but he's actually terrible, and I think you'd be perfect.
05:44 And I said, okay.
05:47 [music]
05:58 They spent a lot of time trying to get me to look comfortable,
06:01 but at the end of the day I'm still hanging off of cables
06:04 and had a rig where my shoe was connected to the skateboard,
06:07 so when I try and ollie it comes up with me.
06:10 So, I mean, you know, but you dive in because you're in this big warehouse
06:14 and Mary's in the corner working with swords,
06:16 and Mike and Jason are over there doing this big action sequence,
06:19 so, you know, you're just happy to be a part of it.
06:21 That's probably the most fun I've had on a movie.
06:23 Again, early in my career, 20s, but a big cast of people in the same place.
06:27 I want to have his adopted babies.
06:29 The cast was very connected.
06:32 Hey! Hey! I'm not done with--
06:37 Oh!
06:39 Looks like you're seeing double.
06:42 [grunts]
06:44 He's good, right?
06:46 Leaving was heartbreaking.
06:48 It truly was the first time I was like, I mean, I can just hang out, guys,
06:51 if you need me to, you know, you don't want to miss a beat.
06:54 Another film where there was a rehearsal period.
06:57 That was more physical-based.
06:58 You know, a lot of people had action sequences.
07:00 I had to learn how to skateboard.
07:01 But the rehearsal was so fun,
07:03 and you leave and come back a month later to do your bit,
07:06 and you just have such horrible FOMO.
07:09 You just, you know, what have you guys been doing?
07:11 Have you been having fun? Send me pictures.
07:13 Yeah, to this day that email chain is still very active.
07:16 When I first saw it, after they finished the edit,
07:19 before it had been released, I saw it and was just like,
07:22 this movie is going to be huge, you know.
07:25 And then oddly it kind of came and went.
07:28 The moons that have to align for a movie to not just be good
07:32 but find success is a lot.
07:35 But it's nice to know that that one continues to find new audiences,
07:39 and it's kind of created a little bit of like a cult following.
07:42 That's why we're doing this animated series,
07:45 and I've just never been a part of something where all Edgar had to do
07:48 was say, hey, you guys want to do this?
07:50 And it was a race to jump in. Everyone, yes, of course, of course.
07:53 No brainer. So yeah, it's a little family.
07:56 [music]
07:59 Not another teen movie.
08:02 At that point I would have taken any movie.
08:04 But yeah, to be able to spoof some of those films that I grew up on was a treat.
08:08 Oh my God, it's Jake!
08:11 Hi, Stud. Hi, Jake.
08:14 I love when he does with his eyebrows.
08:16 There was Ferris Bueller elements.
08:18 My dad in the movie was Ferris' dad.
08:21 Just to be in any way somewhat adjacent to Ferris Bueller
08:24 was pretty exciting at the time.
08:27 ♪ Janie's got a gun ♪
08:30 ♪ Janie Briggs got a gun ♪
08:32 She's got a gun! Janie's got a gun!
08:35 [screaming]
08:38 ♪ Janie Briggs got a gun ♪
08:40 Comedy's more intimidating.
08:42 Keeping things fresh on a film set is the biggest challenge.
08:45 In drama you can always find something to make it feel honest.
08:48 Comedy, you know, when you tell a joke
08:51 or you know the comedic rhythm that's coming,
08:54 it's very easy to get stale.
08:56 You've got to be really nimble and just intrinsically funny,
08:59 which I don't know that I am.
09:01 So it's an uphill battle.
09:03 [music]
09:05 Knives out.
09:07 Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!
09:11 Huge rise deal.
09:14 Ransom, call me Ransom, it's my middle name.
09:17 I mean, I love a murder mystery, I love an ensemble,
09:20 I love the majority, I mean, that cast is just phenomenal.
09:23 And Ryan Johnson, again, another director who really knows what he wants.
09:27 It was a role that I felt confident in.
09:30 It was an intimidating role just because a lot of the characters are colorful
09:34 and you don't quite know how far to go
09:39 and how grounded do I make this.
09:41 And again, you let Ryan guide you, but it was just a dream job.
09:45 I had a blast.
09:46 With a good lawyer, which I have, I'll be out in no time.
09:50 And then you'll see just how much hell I can wreak on your life,
09:53 you vicious little bitch.
09:56 [gulping]
09:59 [vomiting]
10:00 Oh, that was a great scene.
10:02 I didn't love getting the puke in my face.
10:05 [vomiting]
10:08 What the shit?
10:10 That means she's lying!
10:12 Yeah, man, we know.
10:13 I have such a love for Michael Shannon.
10:15 I just think he's the funniest guy.
10:17 I don't think anyone realizes how--
10:19 he's so dry and so sharp, and he knows he's funny too.
10:23 He'll make these kind of quiet side comments
10:27 and just have the littlest smirk on his face.
10:30 So then we were doing that scene where he's shoving the cookies in my face
10:33 and just screaming.
10:35 How about some more cookies, you?
10:37 You want some more cookies?
10:39 Great.
10:40 Hey, maybe Harlan left you a cold glass of milk in his will, asshole.
10:45 Took all of me to not break.
10:47 He's just--he's very committed, absolutely hilarious,
10:50 so that might be my favorite scene.
10:52 [upbeat music]
10:54 Snowpiercer.
10:57 [thunder]
10:59 [sirens]
11:03 [crowd laughing]
11:06 When I first read the script, I didn't quite get it.
11:08 I was like, "So what's--"
11:10 You know, whenever it's a movie that's world-building,
11:14 you're creating a completely separate environment,
11:17 there's just kind of a conceit that you have to say,
11:20 "Okay, so everyone just accepts this, this is just how it is,
11:22 no one's kind of outraged that this is the structure,
11:25 that's just the normal kind."
11:27 You kind of have to decide what part of your brain
11:29 do you spend time wrapping your head around.
11:31 Do you go the intimate road and just kind of make it about the character?
11:35 Do you try and make it about what it took for that society
11:39 to level into that place?
11:41 It's a challenge, but you get to watch--
11:43 Tilda Swinton's in the movie, and you get to watch her approach
11:46 to this larger-than-life character.
11:48 Precisely 74% of you shall die.
11:51 [thunder]
11:53 [crowd laughing]
11:57 My friend, you suffer from the misplaced optimism of the doomed.
12:02 Again, we had some good rehearsal on that project as well,
12:04 and Director Bong is such a visionary.
12:06 When you're working with someone that knows exactly what they want,
12:10 even if it's not exactly the way you saw it, it breeds trust.
12:14 And as an actor, that's the most important thing,
12:17 to trust the director.
12:18 Otherwise, you're playing defense.
12:20 Otherwise, you're like, "All right, this first take I'll do this,
12:22 just so I can at least protect that.
12:24 Then I'll try this, but I don't want to try that
12:26 because I don't know if they know how to use that take,
12:28 and any take I give them could be used against me."
12:31 When you have a director who is so convinced of what their vision is,
12:36 that's when you say, "Great."
12:37 When you say, "Jump," I'll say, "How high?"
12:39 [music]
12:48 We had those cars on gimbals, these little--
12:50 they just do a subtle movement,
12:53 so a lot of boat legs at the end of the day.
12:56 You're kind of wobbly getting back to your hotel room.
12:59 Incredibly helpful, the tangible environment,
13:03 as opposed to Marvel where you're talking to green screens
13:06 and imaginary aliens.
13:08 Everything was right there for you to touch and react with.
13:13 [music]
13:16 Sunshine.
13:19 Do I have to spell it out for you?
13:22 We have a payload to deliver to the heart of our nearest star.
13:25 We're delivering that payload because that star is dying,
13:27 and if it dies, we die.
13:29 Everything dies.
13:31 So that is our mission.
13:32 There is nothing, literally nothing more important
13:34 than completing our mission.
13:35 He's very ossified in a lot of ways,
13:37 but he's kind of the engine, he's kind of the moral compass.
13:41 He prioritizes the mission first at the cost of people's feelings.
13:46 In a lot of ways, he's very clean.
13:48 He believes strongly in what he believes in,
13:50 for the most part, selfless.
13:52 There's a mission, and he's going to get it done,
13:56 and I like that.
13:57 I like those kind of roles.
13:59 We do not have enough oxygen reserves to get us
14:01 to our payload delivery point,
14:05 let alone to survive the return journey.
14:08 So cancel the ticker tape parade.
14:12 I was well aware of Danny Boyle.
14:14 I mean, he's a major talent.
14:15 He really comes from the theater world, too,
14:17 so to that end, the approach was very rehearsal-based.
14:21 In my short career at that point,
14:23 we certainly had never had a film that had that much prep time.
14:29 The whole cast got out there a couple weeks before.
14:31 Danny had us all live together in these little apartments
14:34 for a couple weeks, experience loss of space.
14:37 We did scuba lessons to experience weightlessness.
14:41 He would rent out theaters to watch these, you know,
14:44 Das Boot and all the right stuff,
14:46 just all these movies to put us in the right mindset.
14:49 We did tons of rehearsing, and it got to a point
14:52 where by the time you were filming,
14:54 you knew what you were doing.
14:55 So much of film, you show up for the first day,
14:57 and you're meeting the actor for the first time,
14:59 you're reading the words for the first time.
15:02 That had very much a theater approach.
15:04 I think I was a little spoiled, actually, as a result.
15:07 Puncture.
15:12 So you're telling the jury the reason my client is fired
15:15 was because he falsified his resume,
15:17 not because you went above your head
15:18 and reported that trucks were not getting fixed
15:20 and people were dying as a result, correct?
15:23 Say yes.
15:25 Yes.
15:26 That was my first time playing a real person,
15:29 and he had passed away a few years prior,
15:31 so you have a-- there's a unique burden that comes with that.
15:35 We met his family, met his brother,
15:37 and, you know, you just-- you get personal stories
15:41 and socially relevant topic,
15:42 which I was excited to be a part of, and a really fun role.
15:46 A director, the Kasson brothers,
15:48 Mark Kasson, who is now my producing partner
15:51 and dear friend,
15:52 it was a really exciting time,
15:53 very creatively satisfying role, but also a really demanding one,
15:57 and that kind of coincided right when I got
16:00 the offer to do Captain America, you know,
16:02 and I had been coming off of Puncture
16:04 and was just so content with that type of filmmaking,
16:09 and Captain America just felt like a different universe,
16:12 and I just was really unsure if that's the world
16:15 I wanted to drift into,
16:17 so that's part of the reasons I kind of was so wary
16:20 and said no to Captain America a couple times
16:23 because of the experience I had on Puncture.
16:26 You know, I just wasn't sure which avenue to take.
16:29 In retrospect, you realize that nothing's binary.
16:32 You can kind of construct any sort of path you'd like,
16:36 but at the time, it just felt overwhelming.
16:38 Yeah, well, at least I have the courage
16:40 to lose for what's right!
16:42 Sometimes on big, big movies,
16:43 there's a hundred cooks in the kitchen,
16:45 every decision is filtered through, you know,
16:48 a billion teams of people,
16:50 and working on Puncture just feels like
16:52 a couple people with a camera.
16:54 You have a much more intimate, hands-on approach
16:56 to these aspects, and it just feels
16:59 maybe a little more protected.
17:00 I mean, I've been a part of films where you do your job,
17:04 and then there's so many steps.
17:05 That's the nature of filmmaking.
17:06 When you see the final product, you say,
17:08 "Wow, that is not what I thought this was going to be."
17:10 Such is the case with big, big movies.
17:12 Smaller movies, it almost feels like you can
17:15 guide them along a bit more,
17:16 because there's just less people involved.
17:19 Pain hustlers.
17:23 I play Pete Brenner.
17:25 He's a drug rep.
17:26 He's representative of a mentality
17:29 that's pretty ubiquitous in the field,
17:31 which is just like, "Hey, I'm just doing my job.
17:33 "Just doing my job. It's not my fault.
17:35 "I'm not the one writing the prescriptions.
17:37 "I'm not the one killing people.
17:38 "I'm just passing it from A to B."
17:40 So it's kind of this twisted perspective
17:43 that absolves anyone from responsibility
17:46 of this epidemic.
17:48 What specifically drew me was Emily.
17:51 You know, her and I are friendly,
17:52 and we've been looking for something to do together.
17:54 Pretty keen on joining regardless,
17:56 but the story ended up being very timely and important.
17:59 Anytime you can work with a certain caliber of people
18:03 on a project that's relevant and important
18:05 and moves the needle in social ways, you jump on board.
18:09 I think there's different motivating factors.
18:11 Creative appetites drift from one thing to the next.
18:13 One time you might just want something that's a comedy,
18:16 something that's, you know, fun or, you know,
18:19 or a horror or suspense.
18:20 But sometimes, you know, you might even stumble across
18:24 an issue that means something to you personally
18:26 and then actively go pursue a project
18:28 that reflects that issue.
18:29 It's a blessing, and I'm very creatively satisfied
18:35 and, you know, personally satisfied
18:37 that I get to do that from time to time.
18:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]