Half of the battle with this year’s mega successful IRON MAN was won in 2006, way before the film actually started shooting. The casting and the choice of the director, Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau were the absolute best men for the job and this May, it showed.
The movie earned over $570 million worldwide and should kick off the second wave of the Marvel franchise that should see them earn several billion dollars over the next 5 years.
The same can be said for BATMAN BEGINS, the battle was won back in 2003 and the huge results were seen this summer with one of the biggest movies of all time.
So for the sake of CAPTAIN AMERICA, for the sake of GREEN LANTERN, for the sake of THOR… that battle is being fought by Marvel and DC/WB right now… all three movies we expect to hit in the next few years but if they get the casting right now, much of the rest will speak for itself.
You only need to see this year’s THE INCREDIBLE HULK to see what a mis-casting of director and actor can do for a superhero project.
Today we will look at the first superhero period film…
THE FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA
We believe Nick Cassavetes, the director of THE NOTEBOOK and ALPHA DOG is the guy Marvel want to direct this picture after they flirted with offering the project to Jon Favreau but of course he is already busy with prepping IRON MAN 2 and will likely be the director of choice for THE AVENGERS, a movie due out just six weeks after this picture in the Summer of 2010.
Cassavetes is a solid dramatic helmer, great visuals, pacing and is estute at character development. He’s more of the Gavin Hood ilk, the guy they got to direct X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE.
Much of the success of THE FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA (titled so it can tie in with THE AVENGERS movie) will come down to his casting. We believe they will be looking for an actor in their early 30′s, a guy who has an “All American Look” who would work in both a 1940′s WWII setting as a super soldier but also wouldn’t look too much out of place in the modern day world.
He needs to carry the sense of nobality and true value. He is SUPERMAN but if he had worked hard from a working class background for the ability and stature of his powers to become a symbol of America.
Physically, he should have blonde hair and blue eyes. He MUST have a square jaw, he is the alpha male.
He must also be an actor of great stature. As Captain America is likely to be the leader of THE AVENGERS, he needs to carry a leadership quality and be an actor who we would believe Robert Downey Jr. would take orders from.
My first choice for the role would have been Daniel Craig. He has all the above qualities and then some and even though he’s English, he is a good enough actor to put on a great American accent. Sadly, and yes I know Christian Bale seems to be quite ok doing it with TERMINATOR and BATMAN… it’s really hard to see him being both CAPTAIN AMERICA and James Bond… two icons from two different nations.
Also, it would be difficult for an actor to be in two demanding franchises which will always be looking at quick turn around sequels.
Shame though, because Craig would have been the man. The pain behind those eyes, as if he has witnessed so many deaths and destruction in the second world war, the leadership, you could imagine men would jump into battle besides him, even though they knew it would mean certain death.
Matthew McConaughey certainly carries the look and I’ve said this before, he is the right age and if he could only act and carry a leadership quality, he would have won the role by now.
Ryan Gosling… this week rumored for THE GREEN LANTERN could be worth a shout. He also has a history with Cassavetes, after working with him on THE NOTEBOOK.
Brad Pitt can certainly carry the “All American Male” but he sucked as the leader of men in TROY and it would be extremely difficult to tie him down to a multi film comic book franchise. A massive stature of a name which would guarantee box office return but I can’t see it.
Ryan Reynolds who was desperate to play THE FLASH, seems to have settled instead on DEADPOOL over at Marvel. They wouldn’t cast him twice.
Scotsman Gerard Butler certainly has the stature and chin but there’s something about him that would put me off casting him here and I can’t quite put my finger on what that is.
My choice, after seeing the true value of Harvey Dent in THE DARK KNIGHT and how he was the true hearrt of that epic movie would be Aaron Eckhart.
He has the square jaw, the blue eyes, the leadership quality, the stature, the age requirement, the physicality, the look of a All American WW-II solider and the undoubted acting chops!
And who cares if he has played Dent, I think it could work. Sure, I’ve said many a time you shouldn’t cast two actors in two different comic book roles (like they did with James Marsden in X-MEN and SUPERMAN) but when a casting choice is this perfect, how could you not?
I believe in Aaron Eckhart. I believe in Aaron Eckhart. I believe in Aaron Eckhart.
Who do you believe in?
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31 Comments
Aaron Eckhart would be perfect, and the cool thing is… he has already gone on record saying that he would gladly play the good Captain, plus you just know that guy wouldn’t have a problem doing the Avengers.
He’s perfect.
Aaron Eckhart is too old for he role, you guys are not thinking ahead in terms of future sequels.
my vote is for Jensen Ackles
Good choice imo.
woah, i don;t like ANY of those choices AT ALL. Except for maybe gosling, who i think would make a better donald blake.
how can you do this article without mentioning dicaprio/damon? i don’t mean advocating them as such, but saying why you don’t think they’d be good at least? their names have been bandied about and i’m sure you omitted them for a reason. maybe do a who shouldn’t play cap companion piece.
I was giving this one some thought, and Channing Tatum would be a great candidate for this one. He has the youth, the facial structure and body build for Captain America, and even though he is in “GI Joe”, he is not attached to a superhero film.
Shouldn’t the actor look like someone in their mid-twenties?
How about Viggo Mortensen,
He definately has the leadership qualities, the physique and acting skills to pull it off. I can definately see him doing well in a period war setting.
He may be a little too old and it may be challenging shaking off his Aragorn image, however he definately has the depth to make it an interesting movie.
Viggo is way too old for Capt. America. I would love it if he could do it though. Guy is a great actor. I personally would like to see Ryan Gosling get the part, but unfortunately Hollywood is governed by money and Gosling is not a big enough name to be Captain America.
I don’t see Gosling in the role at all. I think Jensen Ackles would be good in the role. He looks young enough, is a good enough actor, and has a commanding voice.
I think that Josh Holloway would play captian america very well. He a strong performer and has all the things you need to play the role. he has the size the looks and the attitude to play the role and be the leader of the avengers
Also i think that hugo weaving would play the perfect Red Skull in the cap’n movie. And also on the subject of heros i think thor should be played by karl urban, my only concern is that he is to short to play a viking god but he fits, or maybe mike o’hearn and the perfect person to play loki is vinnie jones
hell yeah! i can so see aaron eckhart as captain america! i feel like there is no other choice, his age might be a factor, but he is absolutely perfect for the role!
If they go with a name then I say Matt Damon, he has the presense and his work on the Bourne movies proves he can do action well. His age might just be pushing it but I think he has time for at least two movies, plus with some added fitness training before hand I think he would be almost perfect..but that is if they decide to go with a name, otherwise I think some of these lesser known tv actors like Channing Tatum or Jensen Ackles.
[...] You’ve heard me discuss who or who should not be playing CAPTAIN AMERICA in what we believe will be Nick Cassavetes (THE NOTEBOOK, ALPHA DOG) directed and in theatres by June 4th 2010. It’s the next big Marvel superhero to make it out of the blocks and which will be followed shortly after by THOR. [...]
ryan gosling. i think he can really act.
Once the first X-men movie came out i began thinking about a captain america movie (being my fav superhero and all). I had seen eckheart way be4 his batman days in some movie cant remember the title and immediately thought he was the perfect captain america. As for age I dont believe he is anywhere close 2 being 2 old for the role, even when lookin ahead 4 sequels. Cap America himself has a older and aged looked in the later comics and i think eck could do the role 4 the next 10 years. If not another younger acter could be jason lewis
How about Justin Timberlake? He has done surprisingly well in the roles hes play thus far, I think he would be a great fit.
Casting a known star is not always the best decision,i.e Ben Afflex in the movie Daredevil, what a train wreck and ultimately a waste of a great superhero. I think I may have found the guy, his name is Taylor Sheridan. Sheridan, a relatively unknown name when it comes the the long list being suggested for the role of Capt. Sheridan is currently playing the role of Deputy Chief of Police in the tv series Sons of Anarchy. Sheridan seems to have the jaw line, the attitude, the physical build and he seems as though he can act; unlike Ben Affleck, Nick Cage etc… He may need a little peroxide but othe than that tell me what you think.
hes not your blond hire and blue eyes captain but Dywane Johnson also known as the Rock could pull it off. He fits the leadership and phisical quailities of the Captain.
john cena is the perfect captain america.captain america is a superhero a wimp turned into a perfect soldier.let him look like a superhero
I think that either one of the guys that play in super natural would be perfect for the role. Jensen Eckles is about 6’2 and could bulk up to meet the size, and the brother (not sure of his name) but he is about 6’4 and has a good build and could get bigger. They both are good actors and could carry a lead role. and they fit that all american look.
I think that either Neal McDonough or Mark Valley would be a good choice for the traditional Captain America, blonde haired and blue eyed he has the build and the look.For a black Cap. I think that Chiwetel Ejiofor would be my first choice he has the right look and although British he seemed to sound American enough.
ok, this is the cap. we have to remember that cap was not that young, and he would most likely be in his mid 30′s. i think that Aaron Eckhart would be the best for the role. who cares about age, the civil war comic series kills off cap, and has bucky take his place. let Eckhart get the role, he is a better actor, he has the look, and he has the wanting. he will out perform because of those three qualities. he will work his ASS off for this movie, and i think that is what matters in an actor for this role.
I’m all for Michael C. Hall in this part. The guy is an amazing actor, but hasn’t really gotten a chance to shine outside of his awesome work on Six Feet Under and, of course, DEXTER. Plus he’s got the butt-chinned good looks required for the role. The down side for studios is that he’s a bit of a no-name, but they’ve taken bigger risks before…
1. Josh Lucas
2. Jensen Eckles
3. Ryan Gosling
David Boreanaz also has the qualities needed for captanin america.
His role as angel will give him the edge of a super hero in agony because of the past.
I’m thinking of maybe Brad Pitt but I rally don’t think he would do it but you never know. He has a face that looks like it has seen battles.Eckhart just looks too clean.But someone old would fit the bill no one want Robin Leading batman in to battle do they.But want to get of subject and mention if they ever have a Dr.Strange movie I’m saying two words Johnny Depp.
MATT DAMON is the only choice for the role. he fits the bill on all counts. he could past of the pitiful rejected steve rogers pre-Cap look. we’ve seen him in world war II before (saving private ryan)he can hold his own against bigger sharks as he did in the ocean sequals.
to top that he has the apparent strength agility and command as in the Bourne movies. he is the perfect choice.
Also i agree with J.B. west the Karl Urdan should have played Thor and Hugo Weaving or Ralph Fiennes would make perfect candidates for the Red Skull.
Mark Valley.Graduate of West Point.Former U.S. Army Officer.Decorated Gulf War veteran.Blonde,blue-eyed,square jaw,fine actor.There is not one person walking the face of the earth better qualified to play the role of Captain America.All the others named are too feminine.No offense meant.It’s not secret that Hollywood has to reach out to the U.K. or Australia to find masculine actors.American actors all seem to be male models who took a diction class or two.It’s embarrassing.Time to have America’s hero played by an American Hero.It’s time to give the role to Mark Valley.
Matt Damon…period. No one else but Matt Damon.