Captain America: The First Avenger

[MacGuffin]

'Captain America' recruits director
Joe Johnston will helm the comic adaptation from Marvel
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Joe Johnston has inked a deal to direct "First Avenger: Captain America," Marvel Studios' take on its classic comic book character. Marvel's Kevin Feige is producing.

No writers are on board, but the studio, which is hearing pitches, expects to hire shortly.

Johnston first met with Marvel two years ago. When the two parties clicked, general talks turned into Captain America-specific meetings, with much of the project's current direction resulting from those early conversations.

"This is a guy who designed the vehicles for 'Star Wars,' who storyboarded the convoy action sequence for 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' " Feige said. "From 'Rocketeer' to 'October Sky' to 'The Wolfman,' you can look at pieces of his movies and see how they lead to this one."

Created in 1941 by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon for Timely Comics, Captain America is the heroic alter ego of Steve Rogers, who is rejected by the Army for being too sickly and undergoes an experiment that takes him to the pinnacle of human form. Paired with an indestructible shield, he became a symbol of the war effort, in and out of comics.

The character disappeared in the 1950s but was revived during the early era of Marvel Comics. He was reintroduced as part of the Avengers, the absence explained by having him being in a state of suspended animation during a war mission until found by the superteam.

Kicking off with "Iron Man," Marvel Studios' slate of movies --including "Thor" and the "Iron Man" sequel -- is building toward an "Avengers" movie set for release in 2011, in which the characters from the films team for one big adventure. "Captain America" is scheduled for release May 6, 2011.

"Captain America" will be a World War II-set movie, and the character will appear in the modern day-set "Avengers." Executive producing on "Captain" are Louis D'Esposito, Stan Lee and Marvel Studios' chairman David Maisel.

The character's last live-action appearance was in 1990's "Captain America," a cheap production from 21st Century Films that ended up going to straight to video. The movie starred Matt Salinger as the hero, dethawed in modern times to fight his archnemesis, the Red Skull.

CAA-repped Johnston's credits include "Jurassic Park III" and "Hidalgo." He is in post on Universal's retelling of "The Wolfman," starring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins.

[Pozer]

i bet they go with an African American for the lead.

[Stefen]

i bet they go with an African American for the lead.

But a well spoken one. Not one of those rapping blacks.

[A Matter Of Chance]

Maybe Beyonce will settle for this.

[MacGuffin]

'Captain America' enlists two scribes
Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely in negotiations
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely are in negotiations to pen Marvel Studios' "First Avenger: Captain America." The dealmaking occurs about a week after Joe Johnston boarded the project as director.

Marvel's Kevin Feige is producing.

Created in 1941 by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon for Timely Comics, Captain America is the heroic alter ego of Steve Rogers, who is rejected by the Army for being too sickly and undergoes an experiment that takes him to the pinnacle of human form. Paired with an indestructible shield, he becomes a symbol of the war effort, fighting Nazis and villainous scientists like the Red Skull.

In modern times, the character starred in his own long-running comic series and also was a charter member of Marvel's superteam, the Avengers.

Kicking off with "Iron Man," Marvel Studios' slate of movies -- including "Thor" and the "Iron Man" sequel -- is building toward an "Avengers" movie set for release in 2011, in which the characters from the films team for one big adventure. "Captain America" is scheduled for release May 6, 2011.

Marvel's "Captain America" will be a World War II-set movie, and the character will appear in the modern day-set "Avengers."

Markus and McFeely, repped by UTA, worked on "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and its sequel, "Prince Caspian." The duo also wrote HBO's "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers."

[MacGuffin]

Captain America Start Date
Marvel lines up its next big-screen adventure.
Source: IGN

Hollywood has mostly gone quiet for the holidays, as have the IGN Movies offices, but there's one small tidbit of news floating around at the moment that certainly merits us getting off our butts and away from the leftovers for a minute so we can post it.

It seems that The First Avenger: Captain America will start shooting in June, meaning that, along with Thor, the Cap film will be one of two Marvel movies in production in 2010. Fangoria, of all places, has the scoop.

While talking to director Joe Johnston about his upcoming Wolfman remake, the horror mag got the word that the Jurassic Park III helmer is readying the film "for a June start." In fact, he spoke to Fango from the art department of Captain America.

This means that we can expect to start hearing casting news about the film fairly soon -- probably over the next couple of months -- and perhaps we'll even get some kind of preliminary look at the designs from the movie heading into Comic-Con this summer. Yes, we live in a world where Cap and Thor are both getting big-budget movies... which may actually rock.

[MacGuffin]

Captain America contenders: Krasinski, Crawford, Vogel, more
Source: Hollywood Reporter

John Krasinski as Captain America?

It could happen as Marvel conducts screen tests this week in its search for the actor to play Steve Rogers, the alter ego of the title character in its "Captain America" movie.

The company's latest superhero movie is being directed by Joe Johnston and tells the story of the young infirm man rejected from enlisting who becomes America's symbol of liberty during World War II and eventually a member of Marvel's superhero team the Avengers.

About seven actors have moved to the front of the super soldier serum testing line and have either tested or are expected to screen test this week and next at Marvel's Manhattan Beach headquarters.

Those known to be on the list with Krasinski include Michael Cassidy (who appeared in"Smallvile" and who tested for the Superman movie when McG was going to direct it), Patrick Flueger (one of the stars of "The 4400" who most recently appeared in the Tobey Maguire movie "Brothers"), Scott Porter (TV's "Friday Night Lights") and Mike Vogel ("Cloverfield").

Chace Crawford is also in talks to screen test, though no deal has been made.

Garret Hedlund, already starring in Disney's "Tron," was also on the list to test but has fallen off, at least for now, because of scheduling conflicts. Insiders say he may still make the testing round. Jensen Ackles is another actor who had scheduling conflicts.

The studio has put the actors on 30-day holds during the testing process.

Sources on both sides caution that an actor may not be found from the tests, which happened during Marvel's search for the man who would be "Thor." For that movie, currently shooting in Manhattan Beach, the studio conducted several rounds of testing but found its star, Chris Hemsworth, out of left field.

[MacGuffin]

First look: The official story of the Captain America film!
Source" SciFi Wire

We may have our first look at the story for The First Avenger: Captain America, the movie adaptation of the iconic Marvel Comics hero, and it's encouraging to fans of the franchise.

A casting notice posted on Feature Film Casting reveals that the movie is in preproduction for a June 28 start, with a release date of July 22, 2011. Here's the story summary (spoilers!):

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-Soldier 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.

The story, of course, is just preliminary and subject to change and doesn't include crucial information such as the film's villain. Still, it's something.

[72teeth]

that kind of makes me want to see it. i hope the director changes though...

[polkablues]

That synopsis only contains spoilers for people who have literally never heard of the character Captain America before.

[modage]

How does he travel through time to meetup with the other Avengers.

[MacGuffin]

Hugo Weaving in talks to play 'Cap Am' villain Red Skull (exclusive)
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Marvel Studios has zeroed in on Hugo Weaving to play the villainous Red Skull in "Captain America."

Joe Johnston is directing the movie, which remains in search of the actor to play Steve Rogers, Captain America's alter ego.

In the Marvel comics, Red Skull has been Captain America's archenemy since 1941, when he engaged in espionage and sabotage as Hitler's right-hand man. In his final battle with the superhero, he was buried under the rubble of a bombed building but — as would occur later with Captain America — fell into a state of suspended animation. Both were revived in modern times.

The character was the villain in the low-budget 1990 "Captain America" movie.

The dealmaking with Weaving is in a delicate stage that will play out in the next day or so. Agencies grouse that Marvel plays hardball in the negotiating process and also demands multi-movie commitments, though the latter usually applies to actors playing its heroes. 

If a deal happens, it would reunite the actor with Johnston, with whom he worked in the recent horror thriller "The Wolfman." The CAA-repped Weaving already is known to genre fans as bad guy Agent Smith of the "Matrix" movies and elf ruler Elrond of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

[MacGuffin]

Chris Evans offered role of Captain America (exclusive)
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Chris Evans is one step closer to the role of Captain America.

Sources tell us the actor, who once donned superhero garb in two "Fantastic Four" movies, has been offered the role of Captain America.

Marvel has not confirmed the development and CAA, which reps the actor, declined to comment.

Evans' offer would include starring in up to three "America" movies plus "The Avengers" movies and appearances in several other Marvel movies. While an offer to star in "America" may seem like something you don't have to mull over too long, one possible complication is that Evans is committed to co-starring in the Anna Faris romantic comedy "What's Your Number?" Both are scheduled to shoot this summer.

The role of Captain America and his alter ego Steve Rogers has been one of the most heavily scrutinized parts by the industry, the media and the comic book fandom in recent memory.

Evans wasn't in the initial round of actors being considered, which for the most part leaned to the newcomer side. Michael Cassidy, Patrick Flueger, Scott Porter, Wilson Blethel and Mike Vogel, on top of John Krasinski and Chace Crawford, were those testing and reading. Garrett Hedlund was also someone Marvel was interested in.

Evans, who did not screen test, already has a relationship with Marvel, having starred as Johnny Storm, the fire-covered superhero in the two "Fantastic Four" movies that Fox released in 2005 and 2007. There is some question whether fans would be accepting of an actor who already played a Marvel superhero just a few years ago, but given that the movies were not well embraced, with no one faulting the actors, Evans might have a clean slate with moviegoers.

Joe Johnston is directing "America," which shoots in England.

Evans, also repped by 3 Arts Entertainment, has the DC Comics adaptation "The Losers" in the can and also appears in "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," Edgar Wright's adaptation of the popular Oni Press graphic novel series.

[matt35mm]

Chris Evans offered role of Captain America (exclusive)

Boringest choice I can imagine right now.

Joe Johnston is directing "America," which shoots in England.

BLASPHEMY!

[MacGuffin]

Chris Evans accepts 'Captain America' mantle (exclusive)
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Chris Evans will play Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America.

Sources tell us the actor has not only accepted Marvel's offer, first detailed on Friday, but that the dealmaking moved so fast it's now all about dotting the i's and crossing the t's.

Marvel would not comment on the development, and CAA, which reps the actor, declined comment.

Evans was offered the role in Marvel Studios' production last week, but there was some question of whether he would accept. Factoring in to the choice was the fact that Evans played Johnny Storm, the flame-covered superhero known as the Human Torch in Fox's "Fantastic Four" movies. Was he ready to play another superhero and take on the trappings that come with such a high-profile part?

Evans took a few days to think it over, and once he decided he was willing to wield the shield, negotiations moved quickly over the weekend.