In addition to playing the role as the legendary entertainer, the Captain America depicter in MCU will produce the project with Mark Kassen as well as Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman's T-Street Productions.
- Jan 5, 2022
AceShowbiz - Chris Evans is in talks to play legendary entertainer Gene Kelly in a currently untitled film. It is also reported that the upcoming project is based on an original idea conceived by the Captain America depicter in Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The film is about a 12-year-old boy who works on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lot in 1952 and begins to create an imagined friendship with the legendary movie star Gene while working on his next film, per Deadline. The outlet also stated that the film doesn't have a studio attached yet.
In addition to starring in the film, Chris reportedly will re-team with "Knives Out" producers Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman, who founded T-Street Productions, to co-produce the untitled project. Aside from Rian and Ram, the "Gifted" actor will team up with Mark Kassen and three-time Academy Award nominee John Logan, who also will write the script.
MGM was, in fact, the studio behind both of the silver screen legend's films released in 1952, "Singin' in the Rain" and "The Devil Makes Three". Chris, who is currently in talks to play the legendary actor known for his musical films, previously hinted that he wanted to "do musical so badly."
"I want to do a musical so badly, man. Someone told me they're [remaking] 'Little Shop of Horrors' and I was like, 'Oh, can I be down? Please? Can I be the dentist?' " Chris told The Hollywood Reporter back in 2019. "When I first came out here, early 2000s, there were rumblings about [Steven Spielberg] maybe doing 'West Side Story'. That's one of my favorite musicals. I did it when I was in high school. And obviously he's doing it now, and I called my team and they were like, 'Chris, maybe [Officer Krupke]. You can't. You're too old.' It's so hard to hear."
More recently, Chris is taking on another iconic role as animated character Buzz Lightyear in the upcoming Pixar film "Lightyear". The film tells the origin story of Buzz, a character first introduced in 1995's "Toy Story" and voiced by Tim Allen. "Lightyear", which is set to debut on June 17, features the character Buzz the toy is based on, rather than the actual toy featured in the original film. Chris said in last October that voicing Buzz "is a dream come true."
"Anyone who knows me knows that my love for animated films runs deep. I can't believe that I get to be a part of the Pixar family and work with these truly brilliant artists who tell stories unlike anyone else," Chris shared. The "Defending Jacob" actor gushed, "Watching them work is nothing short of magic. I pinch myself every day."
