Visual effects are always a complicated process in films and for Chris Evans, turning into Old Man Captain America for Avengers: Endgame was a lot more involved more than you might think.
In a new video from WIRED, Marvel Visual Effects Producer, Jen Underdahl, broke down many of Avengers: Endgame‘s more complicated visual effects involving the actors. This included Josh Brolin’s Thanos, Mark Ruffalo’s Incredible Hulk, and Chris Evans’ version of Old Man Captain America. According to Underdahl, they cast a skin double who was roughly the same age of older cap with a similar face. The older actor would give the same lines and emulate Chris Evan’s performance in the same lighting conditions in order to keep the effects work to a minimum:
We then started casting for a skin double, looking around for an old guy who approximates the same face and age of Cap, or what Cap would be. We shot in the same lighting conditions right after Chris performs. He gives the same lines, he tries to emulate Chris’ performance as much as possible so it doesn’t take a whole lot of hammering when you put it on Chris’ face.”
They then had to give Chris Evans’ Captain America an older man’s body:
“In addition to the skin double, you also need to give him an older man’s body, an older man’s sort of overall profile. To do so, we’ll do an overall warp on his body and literally squish him down so he fits in the plate as this character.”
Such effects were also used for the smaller version of Chris Evans for Captain America: The First Avenger:
“We did the same sort of thing though not with as heavy a hand with old Cap. They took some neck off of him, so he wasn’t quite as beefy here, and we shrunk his shoulders to give him that 106-year-old super soldier look.”
You can see the full video that breaks down turning Chris Evans into Old Man Captain America for Avengers: Endgame below:
Chris Evans’ Captain America, of course, had one of Avengers: Endgame‘s more surprising conclusions. The big prediction among many fans was that Captain America would be the one to sacrifice himself in order to take down Thanos. Instead, it was Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man who made the ultimate sacrifice in order to save his fellow Avengers. Chris Evans’ Captain America would ultimately remain in the past and live out his life with Peggy Carter before passing on the mantle of Captain America to Anthony Mackie’s Falcon in the present. But apparently, a lot of work went into making this happy ending possible.
What did you all think of Captain America’s ending in Avengers: Endgame? Do you think we will see Chris Evans in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier? Let us know in the comments below!
Here is the official synopsis for Avengers: Endgame:
The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films, “Avengers: Endgame.”
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Endgame stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Benedict Wong, Jon Favreau, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Josh Brolin.
Avengers: Endgame is now available on Digital HD, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD.
Source: WIRED
