When Chris Evans thinks back on his role as Johnny Storm in the 2005 Marvel movie Fantastic Four, he recalls it as a “special chapter in my life.” It was six years before the actor skyrocketed to Captain America fame and became one of the in-demand “Hollywood Chrises.”
Nearly 20 years later, with multiple superhero movies under his belt, Evans suits up again as Storm, this time in the summer blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
“Any time you get a call from Ryan to do something, you know it’s going to be fun, and you know it’s going to work, because he’s a real mastermind,” Evans told Yahoo Entertainment. “So the fact that it actually let me revisit a role that is very dear to my heart was a thrill. I jumped at the chance.”
Coming full circle as Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, Evans said that his 2005 self would be “in a little bit of disbelief” at his career and that he’d be reprising his role in a cameo for the multiverse anti-hero hit.
“I really loved playing this role back then. I mean, not only was it a big turning point for my career, but it was a character that resonated with me,” he said. “He reacted to superpowers the way I probably would. He was excited. He had fun. He was a little juvenile. I was too at the time. So it was a real special chapter in my life.”
Another star-making cameo from the film that’s been gaining traction is Dogpool, Deadpool’s dog in the movie played by a pup named Peggy.
“Oh God, Peggy. She was incredible,” Evans said. “God bless Ryan for putting her in that suit and giving her such a spotlight. She deserves it.”
Evans is a famous canine lover himself. He adopted rescue dog Dodger while he was filming Gifted in 2016. The Knives Out actor has since become a vocal advocate for rescue pets and dog wellness, and has partnered with Jinx dog food — an especially apt collaboration given the company’s recent support for the USO and Evans’s role as World War II super-soldier Steve Rogers.
“I’m obviously a big dog lover, and the idea that dog nutrition can only be for rich dogs just didn’t sit right,” he said. “And Jinx not only had quality product, but the people involved — it was a lot of integrity and honesty and love for dogs, and it just felt like a marriage that made sense to me.”
As for whether Dodger has Hollywood aspirations of his own, Evans says the pup has gotten a taste of the celebrity life.
“He’s been on photo shoots now. He’s been on the cover of dog food boxes. And he’s actually incredible,” he said. “I’ve been on films with movie dogs, and Dodger was better — no disrespect to the dogs I’ve worked with, they were all pros. But I was a little worried because Dodger is such a social butterfly. He’s got a lot of energy. But he was dialed in, aside from wanting to say hello to every single person on the crew. When it came time to work, he was ready to go.”
With starring roles in movies inevitably come glittery red carpets, which have lately seen the likes of Twisters star Glen Powell and his rescue dog, Brisket, making appearances.
As far as Evans taking Dodger on the red carpet, he hesitated.
“He might be a little too excited,” he said. “I don’t want him to get an ego.”
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