As is the way of the run-up to every eagerly awaited blockbuster – especially sequels to previously eagerly-awaited blockbusters – even the most tenuous scraps of information about production can feel like feasts in times of famine. This is especially true of the “Phase 2” run of Marvel Studios films, as we come off the monumental success of The Avengers.
In the case of the sequel to Captain America, titled Captain America: The Winter Soldier, every tidbit of casting news has added to a veritable blizzard of plot speculation and rumors. After weeks of conflicting reports, various sources are reporting that British actress Jessica Brown Findlay is the current casting favorite for Sharon Carter – S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, possible Cap love interest, and niece of the original film’s Peggy Carter.
According to Express UK, Jessica Brown Findlay is currently beating out a swiftly narrowing field of possible actresses for Captain America: The Winter Soldier‘s lead female role. If she does indeed land the role of Sharon Carter, Findlay will be beat out a range of actresses that has been rumored to include Emelia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Imogen Poots (Fright Night), Anna Kendrick (End of Watch), Felicity Jones (Like Crazy), and Alison Brie (Community).
Jessica Brown Findlay is best known for her work on the ITV-produced smash-hit Downton Abbey. She has also played roles on other British series Misfits and Black Mirror—both of which make her no stranger to genre pieces. However, Downton Abbey’s immense popularity on both sides of the Atlantic may be the deciding factor in the casting. Wide audiences’ familiarity with Findlay (and, of course, her well-liked performance) may tilt the odds in the actress’s favor.
In the Marvel Comics universe, Sharon Carter has been portrayed as a globetrotting, gun-toting Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D and general badass. If the character will be portrayed anything like she is in the comic books (and given Marvel’s previous faithfulness to its source material), Carter will definitely be participating in her fair share of action scenes. This raises a significant question: although Jessica Brown Findlay will almost certainly be a match for Chris Evans as a romantic foil, will she be effective as a heroic one?
By all accounts, Findlay has proven her chops as a romantic and dramatic actress. However, does she have what it takes to bring the full physicality and forcefulness necessary to properly portray a secret agent as direct as Sharon Carter? Actors and actresses unfamiliar with action movie rigors have sometimes been known to attempt the transition and come off looking rough, inexperienced, and flat-out unconvincing. Though I’m admittedly unfamiliar with her work on Misfits and Black Mirror, Findlay isn’t exactly leaping through the air while firing two pistols during Downton Abbey (though there’s always Season 4 to look forward to…).
All that said, it’s not as if many of the other possible actresses for the role have had extensive action experience, either. Furthermore, pre-production for films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier almost always involves extensive training for any actors featured in physical sequences. As such, even someone completely inexperienced in the ways of guns, brawls, and explosions can look like an expert by the time the cameras start rolling.
Actresses in the running for Sharon Carter
Of course, without any official casting announcement these reports are but wind and ghosts. While Express seems certain that Jessica Brown Findlay is a lock for Carter, previous news stories have leaned heavily towards others in the running. Until Marvel releases a press release confirming the casting, we will have to continue to speculate and imagine just how well Findlay will fill out the familiar S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier will be in theaters on April 14, 2014.
Sources: Express.co.uk (via MTV Splash Page)
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They should just rename this movie Captain America and his Amazing Friends. What with all of these characters in this like Captain America, Winter Soldier, maybe Arnim Zola, Sharon Carter, Falcon, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Nick Fury, and Maria Hill. I’m glad these characters are in it but I’m not too sure that the Russo bros. are experienced enough to handle this.
Zola and Hawkeye’s inclusion are just rumors, and for all we know, Black Widow, Maria Hill, and Nick Fury will have cameos or small roles. Audiences are already familiar with Cap and Bucky, so the only new characters that will take away time are Sharon and Falcon, both of whom are characters important to the Cap mythos.
I can’t comment on the Russos, but Marvel wouldn’t have hired them if they didn’t think they had a bad vision. Plus, they’re fans, so they’ve got that.
Also Crossbones is rumored to be casted
Crossbones is confirmed.
I like the look of this girl never seen her kn anything though. My top choice of actresses runoured is still Anna Kendrick.
I have faith, with Joss Whedon overseeing these Phase 2 films, that CATWS will not disappoint.
Why not cast Hayley Atwell? If she’s supposed to be related to Peggy, the looks could easily be explained.
I like Brown-Findlay on Downton Abbey but I’d much rather see Hayley Atwell since she was great in 1st Capt. America movie!
She’s returning, but only as her character Peggy I think
a 90 yr old Peggy Carter**
Seeing Hayley Atwell return as Peggy AND Sharon Carter is my #1 choice.
In the comics Peggy and Sharon look almost exactly alike (according to Cap) except for their hair color.
Re-casting Atwell and having her play Sharon as a blonde is the best thing Marvel could do with the character IMO, but I doubt they’ll go for it.
I am truly happy that their are greting close annocing to play sharon carter but their annonce the actor to play crossbones in captain america 2 and their will soon that bucky will becoming the winter soldier in captain america 2.
Exactly!
Mary Elizabeth Winstead should be cast. I may be off here bc i havent had the privlege to watch Abbey. But I really like her for this part. shes sexy and she can act. If anyone can tell me this other chick has chops I’ll gladly be receptive. Cheers
Wow, how manny rumors and runner-ups are we going to get before we get a conformation?
My thoughts exactly, and hopefully this stick with this actress, she’s great in Downton Abbey.
Downton is an ITV production and Misfits/Black Mirror are Channel 4. Quality shows, but the BBC had nothing to do with them.
Highly approve of Jessica, btw. She’s been great in everything I’ve seen her in.
Thank you for the pointer, Abe. I’ve adjusted the article for accuracy – though I omitted other two broadcast networks for brevity. Nothing like showing off one’s ignorance of other countries’ television by basically acting like there’s only one network in town. Heh.
What about Mary Elizabeth Winstead?
Sharon Carter is a great actress, and Emilia Clarke or Mary Winstead would be great also.
Nice Post
To me it sounds like Atlas’s problem is it’s timing. It would of done way better in the winter season or in the summer.
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So Sharon Carter of SHIELD is what Black Widow was in IM2 for Captain America 2?
Movie sounds like a convoluted mess. Bucky’s importance to Cap’s psyche was already underplayed and the impact of his death as well as the scene glossed over, you think they would keep the focus on him w/o all this unnecessary sub plots. We are in store for an under developed Falcon. An under developed An underdeveloped Sharon Carter. An under developed CrossBones. And under developed Main Antagonist.
It would be wiser to save Bucky’s return for Cap 3 and develop a strong relationship between Falcon and Cap first. Then have Bucky return in full anger in vengeance mode. Or we can throw everything in the pot at once and call it gumbo.
You do not have to develop every single character. They are support roles.
Yes you absolutely do when you have characters like Bucky, Falcon, Crossbones, Sharon Carter and another Main Antagonist who are well developed character that each represent a part of Cap’s psyche. In order to tell a complete story they need to be developed.
Cap 2 is turning out to be Marvel’s next IM2. A mess in the making by two amateur Director’s who specialize in comedy.
I am glad they are getting closer to casting Sharon Carter. I am also glad they are casting more super powered hero’s than regular people. I do not get the argument that there are too many comic characters in this cast. Each comic book has a wide array of characters and most of them have a power or ability beyond the regular human. These are comic book movies after all. Casting an all regular cast around Cap and Bucky would be less to me. Why not cast the characters from the books? That is a better idea to me. Keep it up Marvel!
what if they just put all those women as agents,then pick one for Sharon Carter.
Have all the actresses fight to the death. The winner is best suited to the role. That’s just my opinion though.
The three actresses I’d like to see in the running for the part of Sharon Carter are Lydia Wilson, Aisling Loftus & Rachel Shenton.