After eight years and ten films, Chris Evans has defined Captain America for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (Two previous appearances as the Human Torch will likely be an asterisk on his superhero career.) Introducing a CGI-debuffed Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger, Evans took him from scrawny but good-hearted to an iconic inspiration that even other superheroes look up to.
But the sequel, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, deepened the character, sending him on the run from his former allies, unsure who to trust with the world at stake. One of the most complex and satisfying MCU fight scenes began his scramble, as the good captain fought off a horde of enemies in a crowded elevator. Unlike many of the Marvel fights, which can feel virtually weightless, like pixels moving through a video game, the elevator fight hits home as real
And it took a lot of training to get there, as fans have learned over the years. Some footage recently resurfaced via Reddit of Evans rehearsing the scene in a mock-off elevator with nearly a dozen well-armed bruisers. It’s a quick clip that we’ve seen before, but together with others we’ve seen over the years, it’s a reminder of just how much preparation went into the scene.
In a short clip Evans himself shared, he’s working through his moves solo, pacing out the choreography.
Elevator.... pic.twitter.com/f3qi6OBgG6
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) April 19, 2018
In another, he’s taking on a single foe, who comes at him from the front armed with what looks like a prop knife.
chris evans training (elevator fight scene) oh gosh ????#CaptainAmerica pic.twitter.com/BCF6TBPjbe
— ???? (@Emeely_ne) July 9, 2019
In another, he’s taking on a single foe, who comes at him from the front armed with what looks like a prop knife.
When the ever polite @ChrisEvans stops while doing the lift fight scene in The Winter Soldier because he hit someone with his elbow "Wait, sorry, you caught an elbow. That could not have felt good". #ChrisEvans pic.twitter.com/UOXMctFfIT
— Chris Evans Forum - FANSITE ???????? (@ChrisEvansForum) September 28, 2018
Taken together, you see how much work goes into making the scene look real. Hours of time go into making sure that when square-jawed Captain America asks, “Gentlemen, before we get started, does anyone want to get out?”—you know it’s on.
Via Men’s Health.
