There’s something special about sugary-sweet romantic comedies — you can watch and rewatch these because we long for a happy-ever-after. Ghosted is one of those films. Streaming on Apple TV+, the Chris Evans and Ana de Armas film goes from meet-cute to love on the run, literally. Chris Evans plays the role of a simple, on-the-lookout-forlove farmer named Cole, who accidentally meets Ana de Armas’s Sadie. What can go wrong in this bowl of mush? Sadie is a spy on a mission. So when Cole’s 11 text messages go unanswered, he turns up for an answer. In love, Captain America talk won’t help. So how does Cole get back Sadie? We spoke to Chris Evans and Ana de Armas about the Apple TV+ film.

Aside from the spies and assassins that we see in this film, does the relatability of the script come from that core premise of going on a first date and then allowing it to take an unexpected turn?

Chris Evans: Yeah, the original premise was even more basic than that. Imagine having the best time of your life. Just that. To me that was the most appealing part. You meet someone unexpectedly and it goes from grabbing a cup of coffee to a 24-hour date. That alone to me is fantastic cinema. That alone is something we can all relate to. Then to have it take a hard right turn is all the more satisfying. What really was the kernel of the idea that I was interested in was just that amazing first date, where you just can’t wait to rush home and tell everyone that you just had the best experience of your life.

Ana de Armas: There’s also this part of these two characters where they have everything figured out and have made the right decisions. Supposedly, they’re living the life they want to live, and nothing is wrong. They’re perfect. Then, in the end, it turns out that they’re both missing something; they both are so afraid of doing what they really want to do. She’s afraid of loving someone and losing this person because she has lost other people in the past. She has based her entire life on her career. That’s her excuse. And he is a farmer helping his dad because he’s afraid of writing a book, travelling the world and being judged for it. That’s what he’s afraid of. Getting out of the comfort zone is something that is uncomfortable for everyone. We can all relate to that. When these two people meet and the circumstances of the mission (come to the fore)… they’re arguing all the time and pushing each other’s buttons. It feels like they are also pushing each other to grow up, speak the truth and stop with the excuses and justify everything. It was something that spoke to me a lot.

Why does the reversal of traditional roles matter, like Sadie being a person of action while Cole needs to be saved?

Chris: I don’t know if it’s necessarily connected to 2023. I think at any time a movie like this is fun and refreshing. When you have a kind of role reversal of what we expect of him… (in terms of) film norms or social norms… that reversal provides something that’s unique and fun to watch.

What did you want to come across the most while filming?

Chris: The ability to rewatch. To me, a movie like this is something you can watch 100 times and never get tired of it. It comes down to the fun the actors had making it, and the fun the director had bringing it to life. There are certain movies that have a stamp on them… that feel good (element) to watch time and time again. So that was kind of the North Star when I went into this.

Ana: I was very excited to have the chance to be an executive producer because I got involved in the project early on. I had the chance to be involved in the conversation around the script, the characters, dialogues… the creative process was a great insight for me. Just to see Chris and Dexter (Fletcher) and the writers on a Zoom call, sharing notes… it was just very exciting. I was just happy to help and to have a voice in the conversation

(l-r) Ana de Armas plays Sadie, a spy, Chris Evans, who is known for playing Captain America, is a farmer in love in the Apple TV+ film

The movie seems to say that love is the ultimate superpower.

Chris: Yeah, that makes sense. It’s certainly the thing we’re all looking for. Cole obviously is on the hunt for it. But Sadie being someone that seems to be complete without it, is still left feeling a little empty; she’s still looking for it as well. The toughest of us who seem the most independent still need that missing piece.

Ana: Love is what makes you question everything. At what point do we put the other person before everything? What are our priorities? You only find that part of yourself when you fall in love. It’s a good choice to fall in love.

Ana, you’re very athletic on screen. What about in real life?

Ana: Maybe I am now. I am definitely improving. It’s kind of a process… more you learn and the more you’re into it, the more you start liking it. You see the results and you find yourself like… it’s very empowering to learn all these things and to be able to do it yourself. Of course, you do have a stunt double there next to you but to be able to actually do this stuff and pull it off is pretty cool.

In the film, Cole is seen leaving 11 messages for Sadie. Is it a different way to show men and their feelings?

Chris: That was one of the appealing parts of the movie to be able to play a character that wasn’t the hero who didn’t know what he was doing. I think that’s really fun. It was nice to play someone who was human, grounded and kind of represented what I think most of us would do in the audience, which is panic. It was certainly relatable based on the fact that I think most people, man or woman, would react… the way Cole reacted in those circumstances. Would I send 11 text messages? Maybe.

What would be the perfect story or genre for Team Ana and Chris to tackle next?

Ana: A musical maybe. He sings. I dance. I don’t know what else we can do.

Chris: Or maybe horror.

Ana: I would love to work with Chris again. And I hope that happens at some point in the future. To actually get to work with the same person twice is great. Three times is just bananas. And more than that, we’re just doing it to ourselves.

Chris: I’ve come from obviously the Marvel world where you keep going back to films with people you know. But there’s something really lovely about coming back to what’s familiar and who you like to work with. It feels like summer camp and if you’ve had a good experience with someone, why not revisit and the beauty of acting is that we are chameleons. We like to try different things, different characters, different genres. If you had a good experience with someone, why not try and explore all the avenues that film-making offers?

In a way, the cactus becomes an integral part of the film. What do you think of the cactus in real life?

Ana: I have a cactus. And actually, they do need water. I think they’re beautiful. They’re lovely.

Was there like a storyline or personality trait that resonated with you?

Chris: There was a level of fun to it when the writers first pitched the idea. I’ve played characters for so long who are very capable action heroes. It was nice to play someone who is very human, someone who reacts in a very unsure… incapable way and as a backdrop there is romance or so you think. I thought it was all the more clever and exciting.

Ana: I was very excited to work with Chris again, working with Dexter Fletcher, who is a very talented director. Talking to them I could imagine my next three months at work, what they would look like, and then that sounded pretty good to me. I couldn’t have timed it better. The time with Blonde was over and this came at a great time.