Without Captain America: The First Avenger, there would be no Before We Go.
When Chris Evans was offered the role of Steve Rogers in the 2011 Marvel Studios film, he initially turned it down. He relented, of course, and he has reprised his role as the comic book character several times since. What he didn't know at the time, of course, was that being involved in the blockbuster film franchise would allow him to pursue other creative endeavors—namely, directing.
"In retrospect, it was such a good decision," Evans told E! News' Maria Menounos while promoting Before We Go in Hollywood Wednesday, adding, "My brain has this amazing talent of focusing on the negative and magnifying it to insurmountable magnitudes. At the time, it just felt so daunting and so terrifying. Like I said, you focus on all the potential awful aspects of it. God, looking back now, had I said no, it would have been the worst decision of my life, because it really was the best. It's opened up so many doors and it's been wonderful. I love the films that Marvel makes. I'm incredibly proud to be part of them. Like I said, it's opened up a lot of avenues creatively. God...It just goes to show, don't make decisions based on fear."
Fear can be motivational, too, and that's part of the reason Evans was excited to make his directorial debut with Before We Go. He shot the film in between Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Avengers: Age of Ultron, casting himself and Alice Eve in the lead roles. The film tells the story of two strangers stuck in New York City for the night. Since its July 21 debut on cable and digital platforms, the romantic dramedy has earned $1.53 million prior to its 15-city domestic opening.
Regarding the themes of love and loss in the film, the actor-director told E! News, "What I liked about this character was that he was in love. He had everything he wanted and he lost it. I think that pain is far deeper. So, yeah, I certainly consider that I've felt some really good things in my life and had them change or evolve or grow. Sometimes you don't even have to lose it. Sometimes you can just shift."
Before We Go is in theaters Friday.