Who Should Play Captain America?
Sep 22, 2009 by Kofi OutlawDoes Steve Rogers (aka Captain America) HAVE to be played by an American actor in the upcoming film? Here are some possibilities…
MADE IN AMERICA
People always wax fondly about the “All-American Hollywood Leading Man.” This mythical figure used to represent all that was good, strong and pure about American life, and has been extinct now some 4-5 decades, depending on whether it’s your grandpa or dad telling the tale. Right now, even as they read this, somebody who buys Senior Citizen tickets at the box office is probably grumbling about how it’s a shame that John Wayne isn’t still around to bestow honor upon the role of Captain America…
So we’re short one John Wayne, but who DO we have in terms of strong leading men who were made in the U.S.A.?
Well, I for one came to a realization the other night while watching the Primetime Emmy Awards – and apparently I wasn’t the only one. As comic book guru Rob Liefeld (Youngblood) tweeted to the world:
“Jon Hamm should play Captain America, IMHO.”
Truly, this is a good casting call. Mad Men star Jon Hamm is the epitome of old-school Hollywood – in fact, that very aura about him is what helped snag him the role of creative advertising genius Don Draper on Mad Men – tall, chiseled featured, could be a 50s football star or a WWII hero, easy. Hamm is also a great actor, often letting us (barely and briefly) glimpse the tormented interior of Don Draper through the tensing of his jaw, or a moment where his carved brow falls darkly over his flash-freeze blue eyes – but nothing more. No big breakdowns or weeping confessions (at least not yet) – Draper is a “man’s man” and Hamm carries himself just that way, without making the role overly misogynistic or off-putting.
That old-school breed of leading man is indeed rare in the era of Tony Soprano, where even the hardest guys seem to get reduced to sobbing messes of mommy issues. IMO, Hamm can deliver a Cap who feels the burden of war and death and loss and sacrifice, but somehow manages to carry that massive weight on his shoulders. And though it might bend him in his darkest moments, we somehow know from the way he clenches his jaw and faces bravely forward that the burden will never break him.
That’s America, baby, F-yeah!
More importantly, if you’ve ever watched Mad Men and seen Hamm interacting with the subordinates at his ad agency, you know he possess that universal big brother quality that is so subtle, yet crucial, to the character of Cap. Combine that all-American good guy nature with Hamm’s aforementioned ability to portray manly torment, and we have the makings of a Captain America who will come across as truly human – a good man trying to rise to a nation’s (and world’s) need for a hero in its darkest hour – rather than some hollow allegory or cheesy “American cowboy” stereotype.
So, as far as American actors playing Cap, I’m going with Hamm. But It’s always good to have a Plan B, so here are some runners up for the part:
Fringe and Human Target star Mark Valley.
Supernatural star Jensen Ackles (if you want a younger Cap).
Not to be unfair to our foreign readers, here are some other actors foreign actors who might be good for the role:
The Mentalist star Simon Baker.
Eureka star Colin Ferguson (who we nominated back when).
Underworld star Scott Speedman.
That does it for our Captain America picks – Do you agree? Or do you see somebody else representing Marvel (and America) as The First Avenger: Captain America?
Who Should Play Captain America?
- None of the above (20%)
- Jensen Ackles (13%)
- Jon Hamm (13%)
- Brad Pitt (12%)
- Alexander Skarsgård (11%)
- Will Smith (8%)
- Mark Valley (6%)
- Scott Speedman (6%)
- Leonardo DiCaprio (4%)
- Colin Ferguson (4%)
- Simon Baker (3%)
Total Votes: 2,146
Loading ...The film is slated to hit theaters on July 22, 2011 – although, with the recent shakeups at Disney, and the impending lawsuit against Marvel by the estate of Captain America creator Jack Kirby, Is The First Avenger in danger of never making it to the screen at all?
Around the web:
Mark Valley is truly the best choice.West Point graduate. U.S. Army officer. Decorated Gulf War veteran.He looks EXACTLY like Steve Rogers and is a good actor.America's hero would be portrayed by an American hero.(They could even put that on the movie poster:-)But if you wanted to go with a “big name”.Matt Damon could do the role justice.He is physically huge in Invictus and we all know he can handle action scenes.he has the gravitas to hold his own against Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel Jackson.But I will be disapointed if he gets the role.Mark Valley has command presence and would be convincing as the leader of the Avengers.Too old??? My reply,is C-G-I:-)Seriously check out Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button or Ray Winstone in Beowulf and you can see how a little CGI could erase a few critical years from Mr. Valley's physical age.He would be a perfect Captain America.
By the way,just to show how easily the ball is dropped…
Not too long ago there was a huge controversy about Terence Howard being replaced by Don Cheadle for Ironman 2. Originally it was envisioned that after Ironman,eventually Howard would be spun off into his own franchise featuring James “Rhodey” Rhodes as War Machine.Part of this was predicated on Robert Downey's then status as a Hollywood has-been.That is why Howard was actually paid more than Downey for the first Ironman film.(That can be verfied easily.Check it out.) But Ironman became a hit beyond expectation and Downey became an A-lister.Howard soon found himself fired from the sequel.The powers that be claimed all kinds of reasons,but tipped their hand by replacing him with Don Cheadle.Instead of a tall,handsome,ladies' man/leading man type as Jim Rhodes is depicted in the comics,we get a short,unattractive,character actor who could never be a credible action hero,but is a perfect sidekick and foil.That is why Terence Howard was not replaced with Michael Ealy,Vin Diesel,Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Tyrese Gibson. Will Smith has been mentioned(wrongly) as a viable option to play Cap.No one has mentioned he would have been a pretty good James Rhodes.I am not a fan of Will Smith.But the Philadelphian might have jumped at the chance to play one of the few black superheros,and a superhero who also hails from the City of Brotherly Love,and he would have done well.
Check out this headline:
“Clive Owen Replaces Paul Walker in PROTECTION”
It goes on to say… “While Production Weekly tweeted about it yesterday afternoon, Empire Online confirms that Clive Owen will replace Paul Walker in the action-thriller, Protection.”
Maybe Paul Walker got selected, and choose not to do this movie???
John Cena should play Captain America!!!!!!!!
Cena,Cena,Cena!!! HELL YEAH BROTHER
Scott Porter IS Captain America! No one would work harder, or portray this character with more honesty.
Scott Porter IS Captain America. No one would work harder to bring an honest portrayal of this character.
kellan lutz or taylor lautner should play captin america
Why are all the Super Heroes White Dudes? America IS a melting pot you know. There is no time like the present to have an Ethnic Super Hero. There are none that I know of. Now is just a good a time as ever and my choice would be Xzibit. Its time he played a cool role. Provide the opportunity for other cultures to prove that they too have heroes among. Black President- Black Super Hero. Now digest that.
Thomas Lane should play Captian America.
Thomas Lane should play Captian America.
Hey, Champion,
Guess you never heard of:
The Black Panther
Luke Cage (aka Power Man)
Storm
John Stewart (aka Green Lantern)
Spawn
Bishop (From X-Men)
Cloak (of Cloak and Dagger)
Shadowhawk
Chapel (of Youngblood)
Static Shock (and pretty much all of DC's Milestone imprint)
Falcon (Cap America's partner for a time)
War Machine / Jim Rhodes
Among MANY MANY others. I just used African (American) heroes – not even all ethnicities.
Guess the real question is: why aren't YOU reading more “ethnic” super hero comic books? Isn't that the way to get them more exposure?
Although Ben Affleck was already cast as Daredevil, I seriously think that he would make a great Captain America.
That blue eyes,
The height,
The old-school swagger..