It’s been nearly two months since Chris Evans posted a melodramatic tweet about Avengers 4, writing that he had officially wrapped his work on the future blockbuster. “It was an emotional day to say the least,” he wrote, a melancholic note that many fans assumed was Evans’s way of saying that his time playing Captain America had come to an end. He later had to double back and address fervent fan speculation after his message went viral: “I know it had a ripple effect, but I am neither confirming nor denying anything,” he said, cagily. So fan speculation resumed, with the popular consensus being that Evans would most likely put down Cap’s shield after Avengers 4.

But now, we have a wrench in the form of the film’s co-director Joe Russo, who has helmed the last two Captain America movies and Avengers: Infinity War with his brother, Anthony. In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Russo weighed in on Evans’s tweet. But instead of brushing it off or playing it down, he made the whole affair even more confusing.

“I think it was more emotional for him than us only because, you know, he’s not done yet,” Russo said, with a little laugh. In that small laugh is an entire universe of spoilery knowledge. O.K., but: how could the wrap-up of Avengers 4 be more emotional for the actor if Evans is not, in fact, finished with the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Naturally, Russo anticipated that query as well—so he continued: “I won’t explain what that means, but the audience will soon understand what I’m talking about.”

Well, that’s a beautiful pile of nothing. Soon, we will all be enlightened—but for now, Russo is going to enjoy playing little mind games.

The director also spoke a little bit about the upcoming film, saying that it’s halfway through the editing process and currently stands at about three hours long. He also talked a bit about Disney’s recent $52.4 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox, which now makes it possible for characters like Deadpool, which were owned by the rival studio, to pop up in the main Marvel movies, though that process might take some time. “It seems like—I haven’t talked directly to Kevin [Feige, Marvel Studios head] about it, so I don’t know what his plans are—but my guess would be that there’d be a little bit of time to integrate some of the other characters,” Russo said. Which is nice, because we will need more stars to fill up the space left behind by Captain America if, or when, or if he goes.

Chris Evans has played Captain America since the character received his own eponymous film in 2011. Although there’s some indication the actor might no longer play the hero following Avengers 4, Evans has explained what draws him to the First Avenger.

An interview with Evans appears in the upcoming book Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years. When asked why the role appeals to him, Evans responded, “Steve Rogers is a man who wants very much to do good and serve his country in World War II, but he’s been rejected from the Army for having asthma and other health challenges… Because of his good values and morals, Steve is chosen by a man named Dr. Erskine for an experiment to create a ‘Super Soldier.'”

“He is injected with a serum that turns him into Captain America – and Dr. Erskine knows Steve won’t take advantage of the gift of power and will always protect the weak,” he continues.

Ever since filming for Avengers: Infinity War and its sequel Avengers 4 began, rumors have abounded that the two films would serve as the final adventure for many of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s longest-serving heroes. While the future of many characters is still up in the air, Evans previously said that he wouldn’t be opposed to returning to play Captain America. After all, the actor’s contract with Marvel was up after Infinity War, but he extended it for Avengers 4, when it was decided to split the movie into two. However, Evans has also said he would not return to the role following the upcoming film, so it’s unclear exactly what will happen.

Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years will be released on Nov. 20.

The sequel to Avengers: Infinity War will release on May 3, 2019. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the film stars Robert Downey Jr., Josh Brolin, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Olsen, Sebastian Stan, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Bettany, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Benedict Wong, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff, Scarlett Johansson, Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Tom Holland and Anthony Mackie.

EXCLUSIVE: As one door seemingly closes, another looks to be opening. I understand from sources that Captain America star Chris Evans is joining Daniel Craig in Rian Johnson’s red-hot murder mystery movie Knives Out.

The casting bolsters the project’s status as one of the hottest in the works at the moment and follows MRC’s big money deal for it out of Toronto. As we previously broke, Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Johnson, who wrote the script and is producing with partner Ram Bergman, will make the movie before directing a new trilogy in the Star Wars universe.

Plot details on the film are largely being kept under wraps but the pic will likely shoot this year, meaning Craig will shoot it before Bond 25. It is understood to be a modern day murder mystery in the classic whodunit style.

The project is timely for Evans on the day that speculation is in overdrive about him hanging up his Captain America shield after playing the Marvel stalwart since 2011. Anthony and Joe Russo’s latest installment in the Avengers franchise will hit next year. The in-demand actor also has thriller The Red Sea Diving Resort coming up and he was set for Neill Blomkamp’s Greenland during Cannes. Knives Out is expected to be his next movie.

Evans is repped by CAA, 3 Arts and Meyer & Downs.

Chris Evans seems to be hanging up his shield and saying farewell to his role as Captain America.

Evans, who has played Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, since the 2011 movie “Captain America: The First Avenger,” tweeted an emotional message on Thursday about signing off from the upcoming “Avengers” movie.

“Officially wrapped on Avengers 4,” Evans tweeted. “It was an emotional day to say the least.”

“Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor,” he continued. “To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful.”

The 37-year-old Evans went on the play the character in “The Avengers,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Avengers: Infinity War.”

Evans has been hinting for years that “Avengers 4” would be his last appearance in the role.

“The passing of time and the passing of torches is part of the experience. Nothing lasts forever,” he told USA TODAY in 2017. “I’ve had a great run. … However they want to proceed after ‘Avengers 4,’ it’s really up to them. I walk away with no regrets and endlessly thankful.”

Earlier this year, Evans told USA TODAY that he’d be a part of reshoots for the next “Avengers” movie but revealed no plans for Cap beyond that.

Leaving the Marvel movies “is going to be one of the hardest things I’ve done,” he said while promoting “Avengers: Infinity War.” “It’s all those feelings of graduating high school or college or just the passage of time. (Like) when you leave an apartment that you’ve lived in for a long time.”

He anticipated that he would be “a little bit of a basket case” on the final day of filming. “It’s going to be really, really, really hard to know it’s the last time you’re putting the suit on.”

USA TODAY has reached out to Evans’ representatives for comment to confirm whether this is his final appearance as Captain America.

EXCLUSIVE: Christine and Simon Killer director Antonio Campos has set up his next film just in time to be a hot Toronto sales package. Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowska, Chris Evans and Tracy Letts are in talks to star in The Devil All the Time. The pic is an adaptation of Donald Ray Pollock’s 2011 novel that Campos and Paulo Campos penned. Antonio Campos will direct. The film will be produced by Randall Poster, and Jake Gyllenhaal and Riva Marker of Ninestories Productions. Production is set to get underway in February 2019.

The novel’s plot: In a place called Knockemstiff, Ohio, a forgotten backwoods of this country – a storm of faith, violence and redemption brews. Out of desperation to save his dying wife, our protagonist Willard Russell turns to prayer which succumbs to sacrifice. His son Arvin (Holland) is growing from a kid bullied at school into a man who knows when to take action. The cast of characters includes a serial killer couple, a faith-testing preacher and a corrupt local sheriff (Evans) in a story told across two decades.

The Devil All the Time now joins other film projects on the burner for Campos, who has signed on to rewrite and direct the Fox Searchlight horror film Splitfoot, and is aboard to direct a prequel to The Omen for 20th Century Fox.

Campos is coming off last year’s critical hit Christine, and has been busy on the TV side of late, directing and executive producing USA’s The Sinner starring Jessica Biel. As a producer, his credits include Martha Macy May Marlene, James White, The Eyes of My Mother and Piercing.

Endeavor Content is raising the financing and will broker distribution.