Chris Evans's Broadway comeback dreams steal the spotlight at NY Comic-Con 2023

New York Comic-Con attendees were buzzing with excitement as Captain America star, Chris Evans, graced the event. Amidst an ongoing actors' strike now nearing its 94th day, the Captain America luminary opted to delight fans with insights into his personal life and career aspirations, rather than delving into contentious industry topics. Evans expressed his passion for holidays like Halloween and Christmas and, to the excitement of many, a yearning to return to the theatrical world of Broadway.

Broadway beckons Chris again

Evans acknowledged the commitment required in taking on a Broadway role, emphasizing that it has to be a project he's not just fond of, but one he's “ready to explore from different angles every single night for a very long time.” The actor reminisced about his 2018 stint in Lobby Hero, a Kenneth Lonergan masterpiece where he played a dominating cop. The play’s nocturnal setting in a Manhattan apartment foyer had resonated with many.

Also read: Marvel's Black Widow: Scarlett Johansson’s unexpected choices that defined the cinematic journey

Guardians of the Galaxy Stars spill behind-the-scenes secrets

On the lighter side of the convention, the Guardians of the Galaxy panel, featuring stars like Karen Gillan, Chukwudi Iwuji, Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn, and Pom Klementieff, provided amusement and insights. Gillan detailed the intensive transformation process for her role as Nebula, which demanded four dedicated hours in the makeup chair daily. She amusingly added how director James Gunn's peculiar reference to Marilyn Monroe and Clint Eastwood helped shape Nebula's voice.

Chukwudi Iwuji also touched upon his collaboration with James Gunn, revealing how he landed a coveted role in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 while working together on HBO Max’s Peacemaker. Iwuji recounted Gunn’s offer humorously, highlighting his disbelief that he wasn’t being replaced even on the first day of shooting.

Also read: Revisiting Captain America’s verdict: '90s Tech vs. CES Gadgets' 

SAG-AFTRA and the ongoing friction

The backdrop of NY Comic-Con was tinted with a shade of contention, as it came just three days post the collapse of contract talks between AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA. The guild has alleged studios of adopting intimidating strategies, reminiscent of tactics previously used against the WGA. The primary bones of contention remain SAG-AFTRA’s revenue-sharing proposition and the burgeoning challenge of AI in the entertainment sphere. SAG-AFTRA's Chief Negotiator, speaking at NYCC, applauded the interim agreement favoring Taylor Swift’s recent tour and took a swipe at Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos’ comments, terming the guild's profit-sharing pitch as an undue levy on subscribers.

Marvel Studios, meanwhile, clarified that they weren't involved in orchestrating the appearances of the Marvel stars at NYCC.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)