While a six picture deal with Marvel Studios would make any actor fear being stuck doing nothing but playing the same character over and over, Chris Evans has managed to keep finding roles for himself outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since Captain America: The First Avenger's release we've seen him play a heroin addicted lawyer in the drama Puncture, the male romantic lead opposite Anna Faris in What's Your Number? and he will soon be seen as a killer's assistant in The Iceman and a man struggling to survive in a world that has been devoured by ice in Joon-ho Bong's Snow Piercer. And while he will be getting back in the red, white and blue come January when production starts on Captain America: The Winter Solider, he's now found yet another non-superhero role.
Deadline says that Evans and Michelle Monaghan have both signed on for the "anti-romantic comedy" A Many Splintered Thing. Described by the trade as a being in the vein of Amelie and (500) Days of Summer, the story follows a young man (Evans) who falls in love with an engaged woman (Monaghan) while pretending to be a philanthropist at a charity dinner. Not letting her beau stand in his way and encouraged by his friends, the man "feigns a platonic relationship in order to keep seeing her as he tries to conquer her heart."
Justin Reardon is attached to direct based on a much-buzzed about script by Chris Shafer and Paul Vicknair. In addition to taking a spot on last year's Black List (the annual list of the most popular unproduced screenplays in Hollywood), the screenplay was also a 2011 Nicholl Fellowship Finalist. Reardon is best known for his work in commercials and directed a Hungarian short titled Zoltan: The Hungarian Gangster of Love.
Evans will likely have The Iceman come out later this fall, as the movie has already premiered at the Venice Film Festival and it will be making its way to the Toronto International Film Festival next week. Monaghan, who last appeared in an uncredited role in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, recently completed the Joseph Ruben thriller Penthouse North with Michael Keaton.
