Chris Evans almost lost the Captian America role? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Imagine almost missing out on Captain America because of heartbreak. Yep, Chris Evans, the star who donned the shield in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, nearly lost his lifetime role because of his connection to another Marvel gig—the Human Torch in Fantastic Four.

Evans admitted that playing Johnny Storm in the mid-2000s was a career-defining moment. “I think I had just been dumped. I needed a win,” he said during an episode of THR’s podcast. Landing the part in Fantastic Four was a big deal. Superhero movies were just gaining traction—thanks to Spider-Man and X-Men—and this was Evans’ ticket into the club.

The Fantastic Four films weren’t precisely box-office juggernauts. Critics weren’t kind, and the audience wasn’t sold either. But for Evans, the role was a silver lining during a rough patch.