Summary

• Chris Evans loved filming Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and didn't want to leave the set.
• The film's unique blend of elements like video games, alt music, and comedy made it a standout.
• The cast, including Evans, stayed connected through an email chain, and all reunited for the animated series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.

Chris Evans has a crucial role in Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim was a box office disappointment upon release, but it was an immediate critical hit, and it has only risen in estimation since then. Adapted from the graphic novel series of the same name by Bryan Lee O'Malley, Scott Pilgrim is a singular blend of video games, alt music, comedy, melodramatic acting, and Wright's unique filmmaking.

This is all best represented by the League of Evil Exes, a ridiculous but powerful legion of Ramona Flower's (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) former flames whom Scott (Michael Cera) must defeat to win Ramona's hand. The second evil ex is Hollywood action star and skateboarder, Lucas Lee (Chris Evans). Lucas is the stereotypical Hollywood "bro" who uses his army of stunt doubles to fight Scott. Scott gets the win over Lucas though when he taunts him into doing a skateboard grind to his destruction. Lucas Lee is a fantastic character, and Chris Evans was delighted to be on set.

Chris Evans Said Scott Pilgrim Was The "Most Fun" He's Ever Had On A Movie

Evans Did Not Want To Leave The Set After He Finished Filming

Chris Evans only has about 7–8 minutes of screen time, but he makes the most of it. If it were up to the actor, he would have stayed longer. In an interview with GQ, Evans talked about his time with Scott Pilgrim and how heartbroken he was leaving the set. About his casting, Evans got a bit of a backhanded compliment from Wright,

"The pitch for Scott Pilgrim was so strange. But [Edgar Wright] kind of said, 'Lucas Lee is this movie star, but he really doesn’t have much range, and he thinks he’s great but he’s actually terrible, and I think you’d be perfect.' I said, '…OK.'"

At that point in his career, Chris Evans had not yet become Captain America, but he had been Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four movies, so he fit the mold of Hollywood action star Wright was looking for, though Evans is quite a bit more talented (and nicer) than Lucas Lee.

Evans immediately fell in love with the film and production. He says,

"Mary’s [Elizabeth Winstead] in the corner working with swords and [Michael Cera] and Jason [Schwartzman] are over there doing this big action sequence. So you’re just happy to be a part of it. That’s probably the most fun I’ve had on a movie. Early in my career, 20s, but a big cast of people in the same place."

It was such a fun and exciting set that Evans describes how he wanted to hang around even after shooting was done,

"The cast was very connected. Leaving was heartbreaking. It was truly like the first I was like, 'I mean, I can just hang out guys if you need me.' You don’t want to miss a beat. Another film where there was a rehearsal period. That was more physical-based. A lot of people had action sequences. I had to learn how to skateboard. But the rehearsal was so fun, then you leave and come back for a month later to do your bit and you just have such horrible FOMO. You just, 'Well, what have you guys been doing? Have you been having fun. Send me pictures.'"

Just looking at the Scott Pilgrim bloopers, it's obvious that everyone was having a blast on set and was extremely comfortable with themselves and Wright.

Evans is perfect as Lucas Lee and fits right into the tone and style of Scott Pilgrim. Somehow, he manages to keep both his eyebrows perpetually arched into a Grinch-like point that never falters. He captures the smarmy villainy of the character and everything out of his mouth is funny. Lucas's own words about a text message wonderfully describe his scene, "Ahahaha. Ah, that's actually hilarious."

Evans & The Scott Pilgrim Cast Kept An Email Chain (Which May Have Led To The Animated Series)

Nearly Every Actor From The Movie Returned For The Animated Series

Evans and the rest of the cast and crew kept in touch with each other during and after Scott Pilgrim over an email chain. Bryan Lee O'Malley revealed to EW that the email chain had actually gone quiet for a few years until, out of nowhere, Michael Cera pinged it,

"Then, before this anime was even on the docket, Michael Cera responded to a meme someone had sent as if no time had ed. He just said, 'Oh, that's funny.' Chris Evans responded like, 'Michael, what the f--- are you doing responding to this email from nine years ago?' And then we all started chatting again."

The anime O'Malley refers to is Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, an animated series made for Netflix that was released in November 2023. Surprisingly, and perhaps as a result of the cast getting back in touch over that email chain, every actor from the film returned to voice their character in the series. That rarely happens in TV adaptations of movies, much less ones that come out 13 years after the film.

The series has a 96% on news about Scott Pilgrim Season 2, it's clear there's still a lot of love for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World from both fans and the cast — especially Chris Evans.