obviously the big question is who is going to play cap ..

i was reading this peice on the empire magazine website a few weeks back ..

[QUOTE]

This may be the geekiest thing Ive ever said, but if I could have a free webcam link-up with anywhere in the world right now, I wouldnt plump for the usual salubrious suspects (so, Rosario Dawson, you can breathe a sigh of relief now and go about your business), but instead Id choose to be connected to the office of Kevin Feige, President of Production at Marvel Studios.

Why? Because, whenever he has his back turned, Id be trying to sneak a peek at the documents on his desk. Because Im guessing that somewhere there, amidst the scripts, the detritus and half-filled coffee mugs, there might well be a piece of paper with a bunch of names on it. The names of the actors who could well fill the shoes of The First Avenger: Captain America.

Lets ignore that horrible title as Olly Richards so correctly pointed out in his story the other day, most people will just call the forthcoming movie Captain America, the same way as theyll refer to X-Men Origins: Wolverine as Wolverine or, in Helen OHaras case, My Happy Place. Lets focus on the positive: at long last, after many years of trying, Marvel has finally announced a concrete date for the big-screen debut of the last of its crown jewels a man so A-list he wears the damn letter on his forehead. And that date is May 6, 2011.

At first, you might think thats a long way away, so why bother about casting now? Well, a) because Captain America is such a big concern for Marvel that theyll be leaving nothing to chance, b) filming could start as early as 2010, maybe even 2009, so this things on the fast-track and c) Im bored.

First off, lets lay out a few ground rules here. Its entirely possible that Marvel and whichever director they appoint to the gig will end up casting an unknown. After all, this role is so iconic, so weighty and so potentially controversial (were not entirely convinced that Captain Americas going to play that well in, say, Iran. Or Syria. Or Russia) that its hard to imagine a big-name star taking the risk. And right now, the perfect Captain America blond, thirtysomething, built like a brick shithouse but not too ostentatiously, virtuous, noble, true and with a jaw that could cut diamonds could well be waiting on tables at a Beverly Hills restaurant by night, while slogging through auditions by day.

But Im not so sure. This, like I said, is the last of Marvels heavy hitters, and theyre going to go big with it. A-list director. A-list writer. And quite possibly, an A-list star. Or at least, someone weve heard of. So, without any further to-do, here are several names in no particular order - that I think could well or should well be on the piece of paper that may or may not be on Feiges desk right now. If only I could get this bloody webcam working, Id be able to find out

Matthew McConaughey
Not my first choice, by any stretch of the imagination, but already there are reports that suggest that McConaughey may be uppermost in the minds of the Marvel suits. And in a way, you can see why McConaughey does tick most of the boxes. Hes blond, for starters. This is not a dealbreaker, as a later choice will illustrate, but if Marvel are going to cast a traditional Cap, Id rather they went for a natural blond actor. It may be a minor quibble to some of you, but for me there are some dark-haired actors who just couldnt pull off the dye job.
Then, hes ripped. But not so ripped that we wouldnt initially believe him as weedy soldier Steve Rogers before hes transformed, via the super-soldier serum, into Hunk OThe Month, Steve Rogers (of course, this effect could be achieved via CG, as with Tobey Maguires emaciated look in Spider-Man).

Hes also roughly the right age. Captain America is a strange character in that Rogers needs to be young to convince as a grunt, but old enough so that he seems like a mans man, and also so hes convincing when he starts giving moralistic it used to be all fields round here-style lectures to people. So, while Rogers shouldnt be as lived-in as, say, Robert Downey Jr.s Tony Stark, neither should he be gambolling through fields like a newly-born lamb. McConaughey is 38, which just might be perfect. If theres a Cap movie every two or three years, hell still be mid-forties by the time the third one comes out. So wed avoid any nasty Roger Moore in A View To A Kill-type moments, when you fear that the hero might be struck down at any moment, not by an assassins bullet, but by cardiac arrest.

However, there are cons to McConaughey or McCons, if you will. Namely, that the guy has become something of a self-parody of late, appearing in endless waves of dreck, from Sahara to Fools Gold to Failure To flippin Launch, seemingly content to coast by on his toothy smile, considerable charm and ability to take his shirt off, no matter what the demands of the scene. And while he has proved in the past that he can act when he wants to see Frailty or even We Are Marshall for proof of this it might be hard to escape his stoner-slacker persona and take him seriously as Cap.

So Id have to give him a 6/10.

Will Smith
To paraphrase the Consulate Envoy in Lethal Weapon 2, but, but, hes black! Well, yes, Will Smith is black. No denying that. And Captain America is so very, very white. Theres also no denying that. And it would be a huge thing an enormous page-one rewrite of the character for a black actor to play the symbol of America, the flag-bearer of the most powerful country on the planet.

But if anyone can do it, Smith can. In fact, when I interviewed Smith for I, Robot back in 2004, I told him that I saw him playing Captain America one day. He smiled, and looked intrigued by the possibility. Id like to think that maybe I set him to thinking about it, set him on a collision course with destiny. Of course, he might have simply been pressing the silent alarm button under his desk, but a guy can dream, right?

Smith has proved repeatedly that hes a fine actor who can dispense with the jocularity and one-liners when he wants to. Captain America would give him a chance to firm his jaw, embody an icon and deliver a career-defining performance. Theres always a danger with Cap that he can be rather stiff and two-dimensional, a cipher rather than a character, but Smith has become more grizzled and interesting over the last few years, and I firmly believe he would have the charm and the credentials to pull it off.

Of course, there are obstacles in the way. Traditionalists wouldnt stand for it, despite the fact that several Marvel characters have changed race on the big screen, from Michael Clarke Duncans Kingpin in Mark Steven Johnsons Daredevil to *MINOR SPOILER* Samuel L. Jacksons Nick Fury (if youre wondering what Im talking about, watch Iron Man and stick around for the very, very end) *MINOR SPOILER OVER*. But you could easily argue that Captain America was created in the 1940s, a time when the future was so white you had to wear shades, so it made sense for Cap to be caucasian. But now, why not have Captain America reflect a more modern and multi-cultural time? After all, theres a great chance that, by the time Captain America opens in theatres, America will be under the leadership of its first black President, Barack Obama. Is it really too great a leap to make Captain America an African-American?

And, of course, Marvel has explored this idea before with the alternative universe tale, Truth: Red, White & Black, in which a black soldier, Isaiah Bradley, briefly became Captain America.

9/10

Brad Pitt
The A-lister who fits the job description to a tee. Or, at least, he did a couple of years ago. Now, William Bradley Pitt may be just a little too old 47 by the time the first Cap movie came out, mid-50s by part three (if there is one). And while he takes good care of himself, so the Roger Moore Syndrome neednt be a factor, we think that might just be a little too much. Also, we cant really see Pitt committing to a three-picture deal, or wanting to squeeze himself into Caps red-and-white tights. OK, red, white and blue tights, but that didnt rhyme.

However, you never know if Marvel can persuade, ooh, David Fincher to direct, then hes a shoo-in. With Edward Norton as The Red Skull?

8/10

Jason Lewis
Most of you will be saying, Jason who?, but Sex And The City fans will be screaming with delight right now. Am I right, ladies? High five! (I should explain I bought my girlfriend a SATC box-set a couple of Christmases back and am fully versed in the show; its pretty good, actually. And I still have all my testicles.)

Anyway, Lewis played Smith on the show the stud muffin boyfriend of Kim Cattralls Samantha. And in all respects, hes pretty much perfect for the role, apart from the fact that he doesnt show up on any A-lists right now. But hes tall, blond, athletic, handsome, blue-eyed, and a fine actor. Marvel could do a lot worse. And we could always combine his Cap with a SATC sequel, which features Carrie Bradshaw wittering on about self-fulfilment, before shes rudely interrupted by the Red Skull, who dropkicks her head off.

8/10

Aaron Eckhart
Again, the age thing is a factor Eckhart is 40. And of course, hes Two-Face in The Dark Knight (and very possibly a third Batman film), and might not want to take on another comic book movie role. But in every other respect, I cant shake the feeling that Aaron Eckhart is about as perfect a fit for a traditional Captain America as there can be. His jaw is so firm and jutting that you could build a condo on it. Hes a damn fine actor possibly the finest on this list. Any more blond, and hed be albino. And hes long, long overdue a shot at a hero role. It would seem that Eckhart naturally gravitates toward dark, twisted roles his only big-budget hero role to date is The Core, but I recall him being quite effective in that, and would love to see him in Caps outfit. And no, its not a sex thing.

9/10

Josh Duhamel
There is one rule Im not willing to bend for Captain America: the actor who plays him must must MUST be American. Which rules out the likes of Gerard Butler, Guy Pearce and Ryan Reynolds (hes Canadian). But on the blond-haired thing, Im prepared to be a little flexible, which opens the door for Duhamel.

The Transformers star has been on the cusp for a long time, without breaking into the A-list, but hes a known quantity, convincing at the action stuff and charming enough to carry the movie, as anyone who saw his turn in Win A Date With Tad Hamilton! will know.

There are doubts over his acting chops, as he hasnt really been put to the test on the big screen just yet (in fact, hes currently working on Mark Steven Johnsons comedy, When In Rome, which will be only his fifth movie), but certainly hes square-jawed enough, and at 35, might be absolutely the right age for the part.

A dark horse?

7/10

Josh Lucas
While discussing this blog yesterday, Helen OHara was insistent that I include Josh Lucas as an option for Cap. I really dont see it myself, but since Cap candidates are thin on the ground I was getting so desperate at one point, I started musing over James Van Der Beek hes in. And yes, hes blond, and yes, hes a fine actor, but Lucas is so obviously more comfortable with playing villains thanks to his slightly deranged glare, and his silky voice, which you can more easily imagine making ransom demands than inspirational speeches that I dont think hed cut the mustard as Cap. Youd be half-expecting him to team up with The Red Skull or Flag Smasher halfway through the movie and gun down a busload of innocent kids and thats never a good feeling to have about your hero.

4/10

Patrick Warburton
This is not a serious suggestion but he did play The Tick, and for that legendary performance alone, he should be considered for every role in every movie ever made.
11/10

Eric Close
When discussion of movie stars soon runs dry Matt Damon is too normal, Ben Affleck too tainted, George Clooney too old the talk turns to TV stars who deserve a breakthrough to the big time. But even then, the well soon runs dry. Losts Josh Holloway? Nope. Matthew Fox? Nope. How about that guy from Chuck? What, seriously?

But Eric Close shows promise. One of the stars of Without A Trace, hes been quietly impressive for 136 episodes now without ever breaking into movies. He fits the bill looks-wise, and might be worth considering. Wed certainly give him a screentest.

6/10

So, what do you think, readers? Can you see any of these actors filling Caps wing-tipped boots? Have I made any glaring omissions? Could Will Smith really become Captain America?[/QUOTE]

Id go with Channing Tatum

He can't appear in Marvel Heroes films. In his contract. Plus he's English...?

I think it would in the role of Cap'n Merica. I thikn he would need to be quintessentially American.

So David hasslehoff then

In news from Comic Con which actually shocked me. Here is the latest candidate which some sources would have you believe is already a done deal....

John Barrowman, the star of "Torchwood," was just asked moments ago at the San Diego Comic-Con panel if there was any possibility that he would be playing Captain America in the upcoming feature film.

He smiled and gave the stock answer that he'd love to play the character and that Captain America has always been his favorite comic book superhero. Clearly, though, the notion did not take him by surprise and he ended up admitting there had been discussions with his agents and meetings on that very issue.

What do you think? Though maybe not the star-power that the studio might be looking for, Barrowman certainly fits the bill. We'll bring you more news as it develops.

The First Avenger: Captain America is currently scheduled for a May 6, 2011 release.

 


I await MiB's complaining....

Uh oh, in the history of bad decisions for characters, I think this report from MTV may just be one of the worst. Although it states it is just a rumour a lot of sites are reporting it so I thought Id post it....

When Marvel announced that “Captain America” was making its way to the big-screen, fans everywhere began speculating who would be donning the famous red-white-and-blue tights. Nothing has been heard since, but during an MTV News interview regarding his role in “Miracle at St. Anna,” actor Derek Luke let slip that a very prominent - and surprising - face could be the star of Marvel Studios’ next blockbuster film.

“I heard they offered Will Smith ‘Captain America,’” said Luke, adding that the intriguing casting rumor “just shows you how times have changed.”

While this word through the Hollywood grapevine is nothing more than a rumor at this point, it should be noted that Marvel hasn’t shied away from changing up the race - and gender - of established characters in recent years. Upon kicking off his celebrated take on “The Ultimates” (Marvel’s re-imagining of their classic superteam The Avengers), Mark Millar changed S.H.I.E.L.D. head honcho Nick Fury from a crew-cut, cigar-chomping, middle-aged white man to, well… Sam Jackson.

The decision, though aggressively debated back when the series debuted, seemed to receive some validation earlier this year when Jackson made his post-credits cameo in “Iron Man” as Fury.

Smith himself is no stranger to the four-color world, having recently starred as a down-on-his-luck superhero in “Hancock.” Given the success of that film however, it seems almost a given that a sequel could be in the offing. That makes the prospect of Smith starring in yet another superhero franchise seem unlikely, especially given the subversive tone of “Hancock.”

Along with providing some fresh material for the “Captain America” rumor mill, Luke also mentioned an interest in jumping into the superhero movie scene himself, and offered up a few characters he’d like to bring to the big screen.

“I would love to jump into Green Lantern,” said Luke. “There are a lot of stories I’m into… [like] Black Panther.”

Its not so much hes black,its the fact Cap has always been white,not once ever in his entire history do i recall him of another race,and it would look pretty odd seein a Capt America film with Will as the title role of the hero,honestly its like making superman oriental or Wonder Woman a male,it just wouldnt seem right.As for John Barrowman being the cap...yeah right..I like John but he isnt what you would say a mans man,it needs a strong male in the lead role.

There's bound to be someone out there. Hollywood needs to remember the unknowns who could fit the role rather than sweating over the big names who are usually ill-fitting.

Who was Christopher Reeves before Superman?

Filmstalker has some plot details:


Since we heard that The First Avenger: Captain America would be set in World War II, we haven't heard much at all. All we've had has been casting rumours. Now a synopsis of the plot has been revealed.

It sounds like a potted history of Captain America, so maybe the plan is to set him up as The Avengers leader.

The First Avenger: Captain America is to be released in May 2011, just a couple of months before The Avengers film. And we already know that it will be set during World War II. Now have the full plot synopsis for the film, courtesy of Cinema Blend.


Born during the Great Depression, Steve Rogers grew up a frail youth in a poor family. Horrified by the newsreel footage of the Nazis in Europe,Rogers was inspired to enlist in the army. However, because of his frailty and sickness, he was rejected. Overhearing the boy's earnest plea,General Chester Phillips offered Rogers the opportunity to take part in a special experiment... Operation: Rebirth. After weeks of tests, Rogers was at last administered the Super-Solider Serum and bombarded by "vita-rays." Steve Rogers emerged from the treatment with a body as perfect as a body can be and still be human. Rogers was then put through an intensive physical and tactical training program. Three months later,he was given his first assignment as Captain America. Armed with his indestructible shield and battle savvy, Captain America has continued his war against evil both as a sentinel of liberty and as leader of the Avengers.


Sounds like an origins film of sorts, which would make sense. All we need now is a director, and a Captain America. Do you like the sound of this plot?