Chris Evans’ first superhero role wasn’t Captain America, but he “really enjoyed playing…”

In case you missed it, Evans recently reprized his fiery role in Deadpool & Wolverine with one simple caveat: “I really loved playing that role,” Evans said. Once again as Johnny, no questions asked.

Evans is no stranger to Marvel films. His portrayal of Captain America for nearly a decade cemented his status as an MCU icon, but Fantastic Four was where it all began for him. Flashback to 2005, when Evans first appeared as Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, in a film that may not have had the critical acclaim of later Marvel projects, but still left its mark. A big one.

Almost 20 years later, Evans had the opportunity to revisit this “special chapter” of his career. His cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine was a big surprise, not only because we thought Cap was his last Marvel hurrah (thanks, Avengers: Endgame), but also because he appeared once again as the Human Torch.

This cameo is no small feat. Evans’ appearance marked the MCU’s first official dive into the Fox-Marvel properties, officially making characters from Fantastic Four and X-Men a part of the Marvel multiverse. But no one expected Evans to return as Johnny Storm (especially after a decade as Cap). Fans didn’t just get to hear the classic “Flame On!” – They concluded whether Evans would ever take on his first superhero role again.

And oh, what a wild return it was. In one of the film’s most jaw-dropping moments, Evans’ Human Torch takes on Pyro from Chaos for a last-second Hail Mary touchdown). Johnny’s powers are wiped out and he is literally torn apart. Even Deadpool was speechless.

Evans couldn’t resist the opportunity to dive back into the Marvel world. As he told Yahoo Entertainment, “Every time Ryan (Reynolds) calls you to do something, you know it’s going to be fun.” But Evans had one condition before throwing himself back into the fire: the closing monologue kept in the credits, which Reynolds wrote himself. According to director Shawn Levy, Evans was thrilled when he read this now-iconic scene. And after Evans nailed it in two takes (not in the book, mind you), it was clear why he remains a fan favorite.

Let’s not forget Evans’ love for the role of Johnny Storm. He has often spoken about how the character’s youthful energy touched him at the time. “He responded to superpowers the way I probably would. He was excited. He was having fun. He was a bit juvenile,” Evans reflected. At the time, Evans was just starting to make his way to Hollywood. Now he’s a bona fide superstar, thanks to Captain America and beyond.

But his love for more than just superhero roles comes through, especially his furry friend Dodger. Evans, an avid dog lover, adopted Dodger while filming Gifted in 2016, and the two have been inseparable ever since. “I’ve been in movies with movie dogs, and Dodger was better,” Evans joked. “When it came time to work, he was ready to go.” (Sounds like a professional athlete getting ready for game day, right?)

Evans has become a vocal supporter of rescue dogs, working with Jinx Dog Food, a company that supports both pet wellness and causes like the USO (fitting for someone who played a World War II-era hero). His love for dogs is as deep-rooted as his love for his superhero roles.

Even though Evans has hung up the shield, his heart still burns for Johnny Storm and Dodger. And for fans, this fiery comeback was just the right nostalgic nod we didn’t know we needed.

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