Cast the Captain America Movie

The First Avenger: Captain America will no doubt be one of the major summer blockbusters of 2011, and it’ll be followed in 2012 by The Avengers, a film that’ll bring together Marvel characters such as Cap, the Hulk, Iron Man and Thor. But casting the Captain America movie is still underway, and the fanboys have been working overtime when it comes to speculation. That’s why I’m challenging OGM readers to make their picks for the Captain America movie in this week’s installment of The Casting Couch.

I’ll list the roles that need to be cast, and then you play casting director and fill them. It’s that simple. Maybe your Captain America film is filled with middle-aged acting talent, or perhaps the emphasis is more on buff young bodies. It’s your choice. To participate, just list your selections in the comments section below the post.

And if you want to do a little research for your casting decisions, you can always visit Amazon and pick up some items featuring Captain America. We’ll get a small commission for sending you there, which will help us develop our own super-soldier formula to use against the Nazis. Here are a few recommended products:

• The Death of Captain America Omnibus
• Captain America Shield
• Captain America Golden Age Comics – Marvel Masterworks
• Ultimate Avengers – The Movie

Roles to Cast for The First Avenger: Captain America

The following section details a few of the characters who’ll make appearances in the Captain America movie. There will certainly be more by the time the film hits theaters, but these should all be a certainty. When you make your casting decisions, feel free to make any additions you want.

Steve Rogers aka Captain America – As America prepares to enter World War II, a brave-yet-scrawny soldier named Steve Rogers enlists in the Army. Wanting to get bigger and stronger in order to better fight the Nazis, Rogers volunteers to undergo a experimental process designed to create the perfect soldier. It works, but the Army brass decide to first use him as a public relations tool. It’s only when a Nazi plot is discovered that Captain America is finally able to do what he does best. The epitome of an American soldier, Cap is brave, loyal and willing to sacrifice his life for the cause of freedom. In addition to his unparalleled athletic ability, he also has a sidekick named Bucky and an indestructible shield. His adventures in the 1940s end with Captain America frozen in ice, and his later discovery leads to the formation of a modern superhero team known as The Avengers.

Johann Schmidt aka The Red Skull – The primary enemy of Captain America and Hitler’s right-hand man, The Red Skull, much like Cap, came from humble origins and rose to become a symbol of his country. He was so successful in spreading the Nazi message of fear, in fact, that the United States decided to counter by creating a living symbol of their own. Wearing a horrifying red skull mask, the man once known as Johann Schmidt specializes in terrorism and espionage.

James “Bucky” Barnes – After his father is accidentally killed in training, the teenage Bucky comes to live at U.S. Army Camp Lehigh and fill the role of a mascot. He befriends the clumsy Steve Rogers and eventually discovers that he is, in fact, Captain America. Wanting to join his pal in battling the Nazis, Bucky is given intense training and a costume of his own. Even though he’s only 15, his participation in the war is intended to rally the youth of America.

Peggy Carter – An American woman who was a freedom fighter with the French Resistance, Peggy Carter eventually became the wartime love of Captain America. Sadly, he was frozen in ice before the end of the war, and the two were never able to be together. Her niece, Sharon Carter, would grow up to be an agent of SHIELD and an eventual love of Captain America.

Human Torch aka Jim Hammond – An android with the ability to surround himself with flames and exert control over fire. He fought the Nazis as a member of the WWII superteam known as The Invaders. No relation to The Human Torch of The Fantastic Four.

Namor the Sub-Mariner – The son of a human sea captain and a princess of Atlantis, Namor has served as both a hero and villain in the Marvel Universe. During WWII, he was definitely one of the good guys, fighting the forces of Germany as a member of The Invaders. Years later, the long-lived Namor would go on to be a member of The Avengers, The Fantastic Four and The X-Men. Possesses superhuman strength and endurance, flight, the ability to live underwater, and much more.

Union Jack aka Lord James Montgomery Falsworth – An adventurer and agent for the British government, Union Jack served in much the same capacity as Captain America. A member of the British aristocracy, he fought the powers of the Axis alongside other members of The Invaders.

My Picks for the Captain America Movie Cast

Now that we’ve nailed down the roles, let’s dive right into the casting process.

Chris Evans as Captain America – While he excels at smartass roles, Chris Evans certainly has the kind of all-American good looks required to play the ultimate U.S. super-soldier, and acting patriotic and dedicated isn‘t exactly an acting challenge. He’s also an old hand at starring in comic book adaptations, having taken roles in TMNT, The Losers, and Fantastic Four (where he played Johnny Storm). Other genre work includes roles in Sunshine and Push.

He’s not going to have an easy road to the part, however. Each of the following has been rumored to be interested in the part at one time or another: Ryan Phillippe, John Krasinski, Chace Crawford, Scott Porter, Mike Vogel, Dane Cook, Michael Cassidy, Channing Tatum, Wilson Bethel and Garrett Hedlund.

Guy Pearce as The Red Skull – Even without the Red Skull mask, Pearce’s angular face projects a certain intensity. Memento showed how crazy he can get on-screen, and the versatile Aussie has played everything from ambitious cops (L.A. Confidential) to drag queens (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert). If you want a well-rounded choice who want let you down, it’s gonna be hard to beat Guy Pearce. As of this writing, it looks as though Pearce’s co-star in Priscilla, Hugo Weaving, may be close to nailing down the role.

Lucas Black as Bucky – Lucas Black won’t pass for 15, but what’s the harm in making Cap’s sidekick a little older? With his Southern accent, there’s no mistaking him for anything other than American, and that’s perfect for this role. Plus, Black is all kinds of buff, allowing him to seem almost an equal to Cap. This isn’t the same guy who once had his laundry bag carried by Billy Bob Thornton.

Adrianne Palicki as Peggy Carter – Like most Hollywood movies, I’m guessing the female lead will be the least fleshed out. She’ll need to look courageous in the face of the Nazi menace and be able to generate chemistry with her on-screen love interest. The 5’11” Palicki should be more than able to hold her own during the battle scenes, and her blonde-haired good looks should make her appealing to both sexes. Plus, she and Lucas Black can hang out on the set and talk about what went wrong with Legion. In real life, the names being mentioned the most for this role include Emily Blunt, Keira Knightley and Alice Eve.

Hugo Weaving as the voice of the Human Torch – I’m assuming The Invaders won’t have huge roles, so my version of the Human Torch is a CGI generated pillar of fire on two legs. He will need a voice, though, and who better to provide it than Hugo Weaving? Blessed with a memorable voice and excellent diction, Weaving can make any line of dialogue sound as though it’s the most important thing in the world.

Manu Bennett as Namor – The crown prince of Atlantic is dark and brooding, and Bennett certainly has the looks to pull that off. He’s also got the physique necessary to play someone with superhuman strength, and anyone who’s watched Spartacus: Blood and Sand knows he’s more than ready if the filmmakers decide to give Namor some scenes with full-frontal nudity.

Richard Armitage as Union Jack – Union Jack probably won’t be shown without his mask, so the talents of Richard Armitage would likely be wasted in the role. Still, I’ve got to cast someone as Britain’s top wartime operative, so why not this versatile actor who’s played an MI5 officer on the BBC series Spooks and Robin Hood’s villainous Guy of Gisborne?

So there you have it – my casting selections for the 2011 Captain America movie. Be sure to visit our comments section below and submit your own or bitch about mine. And more Casting Couch goodness, you can also check out the following:

• Cast the Tiger Woods Movie
• A Star Is Born Remake – Choose Your Cast
• Cast the King Arthur Movie
• Cast the Gilligan’s Island Movie

 

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