The last time someone tried to make a movie version of Captain America, the world was gifted with a 1990 straight-to-video masterpiece starring Matt Salinger, with loving supporting turns from Ronny Cox (Cohaagen!) and Ned Beatty. Since then, Marvel has spent years trying to give the character a proper big screen treatment. And now, the pieces finally appear to be settling into place.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision blog reports today that Marvel and director Joe Johnston (“Jumanji”) have settled on actor Hugo Weaving to play villain Red Skull, who you know is evil because his skull is red. Weaving is huge fanboy favorite, given his turns in “The Matrix,” “The Lord of the Rings,” and “V for Vendetta”. So that makes for a promising turn of events.
As for casting the lead character? Well, there we get into a bit messier territory. My initial suggestion of Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin strapped together for the role was rejected by the studio. Instead, it was presumed that “Office” actor John Krasinski would play Captain America. But Nikki Finke now says Krasinski is out, and a couple others may be in:
Marvel has slightly expanded its search — adding actors that I’m told include Chris Evans, who already logged Marvel Comics superhero time as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in two Fantastic Four films. Of the original contenders, two are still in serious contention: Mike Vogel (Cloverfield) and Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy)
Evans has already been in one rather lame superhero franchise and starred in the goofy sci-fi castoff “Push,” so casting him would give this movie something of a retread feel. No matter who Marvel picks, they’d best hurry up and decide. “Captain America” has a release date of July 22, 2011. YOU’RE GONNA NEED A SUPERHERO TO GET THIS FILM DONE IN TIME, PEOPLE!
