Jon Hamm as Captain America (thanks to Screen Rant reader “stpau1y”)
I really should re-title this post “Who CAN Play Captain America?” Because let’s face it – we here at Screen Rant have been running these speculative pieces for awhile now, fantasy casting our favorite upcoming comic book movies (See: Lobo, Batman 3 or Fantastic Four). And while it’s all in good fun to pretend that we have control over the movie universe, so far most of these castings have primarily been about picking actors we think best correspond to our particular mental images of our favorite heroes.
That is until we arrived at this point, trying to cast the titan, the legend, an American icon and symbol: Captain America, star of Marvel’s upcoming film The First Avenger which will serve as the lead-in to Marvel’s 2011 superhero team event, The Avengers.
Suddenly the issue has become bigger than the actors or what’s been inked into the comic book pages over the years – casting Captain America is like trying to cast someone to play (and represent) the American Flag itself. Taken like that, the decision process requires a whole new set of criteria – and (unfortunately), comes with the burden of a whole lot of politics.
So who is up to the task of playing Cap?
REAL AMERICAN HERO
Captain America cannot go the G.I. Joe route. There will be no scrubbing the word “America” from the title of this film like it’s some dirty word; the Captain will stay American, if for no other reason than the name “Captain World” or “Captain Continents” just sounds silly. While there have been early rumors that the WWII storyline for The First Avenger will feature an international band of heroes who cross paths with Cap (for obvious reasons of international appeal), it has been confirmed that the Star-Spangled Avenger himself will be portrayed just as we remember him on the page.
But who is Cap, really?
Captain America is indisputably a superhero who has transcended the page on which he was created – like Superman, like Batman. But unlike those other two heroes, Cap has achieved iconic status over the last half-Century largely without the aid of the mass media machine (no top-grossing toy lines, feature films, TV shows or video games). Even Cap’s ongoing comic book series was something of a dinosaur by the time I became a fanboy in the late 80s-90s.
No, Captain America has endured in a way that is all but extinct in this modern age where everything is YouTube archived: In people’s hearts and minds, as a symbol, more than a hero – as an ideal, more than a character. Americans who are reading this, I don’t have to tell you just how politically divided our nation has become in The New Millennium; that political civil war has raged so long and violently that at height of the upheaval (2007 leading into the 2008 election) Marvel decided to kill-off Captain America, arguably as a metaphorical declaration that American idealism (everything Cap was and stood for) was dead and gone. Of course soon after that – as is the standard in the comic book biz (and/or a sickly ironic example of the power of Hollywood) – Marvel brought Cap back (see video below). After all, who would want to see blockbuster film about a dead hero? (No disrespect to you, Deadman.)
Now, we could sit here and argue all day about the narrative tricks Marvel pulled to bring Cap back (the gun that assassinated him actually “froze him in time???”); we could debate over whether or not Cap was brought back as a symbolic gesture (Marvel Comics declaring that America has “found its way back to its “lost idealism”), or simply as a fi$cal-minded move, designed to help build The First Avenger upon the strongest foundation possible.
But this ain’t a forum for political left-right-middle argument, my friend – this is where we geek-out over comic book stuff! Now that Cap IS back from the dead and the movie is in the pipeline, the question turns to which actor can possibly take on the monumental task of not only elevating Captain America above and beyond the wide divide of modern politics, but which leading man can make Cap a hero (and a star) to movie goers all over the world, while never losing that quintessential quality of being first and foremost one of the great American originals?
(See pg. 2 for our Captain America criteria)
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If they choose a Hollywood actor I certainly hope it won’t be a progressive weekend cocktail party socialist like Leo or Brad or Matt Damon. It should be a man’s man type actor. unfortunately we don’t have any of those in this country under the age of 40 maybe 50. We have a bunch of asexual, effeminate, abercrombie types. Some overcompensate and wear Affliction shirts, shave their hair short and get “Badass” LOL tribal tattoos, in a few instances i have seen them top the look off with a goutee or soul patch. This is the typical hollywood publicists idea of how to remake or toughen up the look of the new crop of neutered, Ken Doll, hollywood “men”. In actuallity it makes them look like gay pride parade marchers or pathetic wanna be UFC groupies (even gayer and apparently considered GQ in Central California)
So that said who could be Captain America?? And not have you think of Leo running around kissing that fat phooney, Al Gore’s, ass or fawning over Obama and generially snubbing their noses at middle america in some effite snotty manner.
Nope Sly, Bruce, Arnold, Clint, The Duke, Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart, Kirk Douglass, Rock Hudson, Clark Gable, all past their prime’s or just too dead. Any one (well maybe not Arnold) could have made a perfect Cap. Espically with the steroids actors take today to get ready for action roles (300′s entire cast, Will Smith, Hugh Jackman) sure it’s a bit more subtle than what they did in the 80′s but they are juiced up non the less. In any event any of the above could get in similar condition if they were younger or alive and had one of these studio “personal trainers”
* Note – Studio “Personal trainer” is typically the guy who can get steroids and or other fat burning drugs, illegal drugs, covertly and instruct the actors how to use them in conjunction with a weight and cardio regimen to get ready for their roles.
So what do we have,…
A foreigner,..?? An Aussie or New Zealander? Aparently the only place on earth where white actors aren’t a bunch of screaming queens or coffee shop, pseduo-intellectual, pansies
A Wrestler,.. HHH, Randy Orton, The Rock?? certainly a wrestler can act as well as most of young Axe Body Spray hollywood. Caertainly better than Tatum “I wanna talk like Lou Rawls” Channing. And they would have the steroid enhanced physique without the shady hollywood drug dealing personal trainers.
A real life member of our Nation’s military,… How about parallelling the story of Captain America and recruiting a member of our Armed forces? What a beautiful story this would make. And once again even a novice could act at least as well as Tatum “Pretending to talk like Dolomite” Channing. And I am buds with a number of servicemen and these guys are built like linebackers
Personally I like the Randy Orton or real life member of our military ideas best,I however have no faith in hollywood to do this right. (Even though the entire nation is revolting agaist their’s and this current government’s Progressive agenda) This could be a huge feel good jingoitic blockbuster. I have a feeling that the opposite will play out
Lord Garth! I have the actor for you.
Matthew Marsden.
See pic.
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3481443072/nm0550452
Looks like Cap.
Tall enough 6’2″.
Young enough 36.
Humble.
Noble — has that certain ‘good guy’ quality you can’t teach.
Good actor.
Combat film resume.
Black Hawk Down.
Rambo (2008) as ‘Schoolboy’.
Skilled fighter in real life — could have been a pro boxer or MMA star.
Black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
In 2004 qualified as a PADI Divemaster.
Frequently trains with members of the German Navy.
Trained with U.S. Special Forces for Black Hawk Down.
On Feb 23rd 2009 did a tandem free-fall from 13,500 feet with the Army Golden Knights Parachute team.
See bio.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0550452/bio
That’s Cap!
Finally, the right guy for Cap.
Has the looks, skills and resume onscreen and offscreen.
Fits the Cap actor profile in every way.
What about his voice? He’s a fluent english-speaking actor who can act. Would pull it off. Would LOVE to see this guy as Cap. The perfect fit.
To quote Sly, who made MM the first actor cast in Rambo (2009), the guy’s the real deal.
^^^^and y’all though I was rough ^^^^
HA!
Thomas Jane, star of HBO’s “Hung,” and I just found out played Punisher in the 2004 movie. Great actor, perfect look.
IMO I can see Josh Duhamel playing Cap. He’s 6’3, blond,american and white http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241049/bio . Plus he has played a soldier before and has some sense of humor in him but can also be serious. Also I read in a magazine that Shia LeBeouf is gonna try out for the role, not a good idea however I wouldn’t mind seeing him as Bucky Barnes(Cap’s sidekick, yes i AM aware that LeBeouf and Duhamel already had 2 movies together….) But anyway I can see Duhamel donning the red,white and blue tights and carrying the shield buts thats My opinion.
Lord Garth, Formerly of Izar says:
September 27, 2009 at 12:35 pm
* Note – Studio “Personal trainer” is typically the guy who can get steroids and or other fat burning drugs, illegal drugs, covertly and instruct the actors how to use them in conjunction with a weight and cardio regimen to get ready for their roles.
Yup.Just look at anyone of these guys that bulked up for a movie then deflated afterwards,example,Edward Norton in American History X.
At least a guy like Matthew McConaughey looks ripped all the time because he works out in intervals all day long,like a mad man.
As for Matthew Marsden and Thomas Jane,no and hell no!
Marsden might have the resume,but I beg to differ that he looks like Cap.And after the crap ass Punisher that Jane did,I don’t ever want to see him in a super hero role again.
I’m sticking with my very unconventional choice of James VanderBeek.Just take a look and tell me you can’t see him as Cap.
http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/385/s2ep4jamesvanderbeek400eq8.jpg
http://www.celebrity-exchange.com/celebs/photos49/james-van-der-beek.jpg
http://bit.ly/hjzmx
O.k.,so I decided to photoshop James VanderBeek as Cap.What do you guys think now?
http://www.imagebam.com/image/b1ae4050325265
Lord Garth I really loved your comments. You sound like a true movie buff and I can tell you have respect for the Cap.
BTW- I thought your idea for casting a real military service member was brilliant. An unknown actor and soldier playing Cap would give the movie a poetic appeal. I myself served in the Navy up until a few years ago. I met some of our Delta guys in Qatar and thought “Holy Crap! It’s Cap-Fest!”.
Truth be told, I don’t think it really matters who they cast as Cap. Even if Hollywood manages to pick the perfect guy and film a really good story, you just know SOMEBODY claiming to be a “true fan” is going to find something to piss and moan about it. I think that’s the saddest thing about this whole subject. Everyone’s so concerned with who’s Cap and wether or not the story’s good. The real magic that will probably get lost completely is the great feeling of American pride that Captain America inspires. It’s depressing really.
Some cool new possibilities! Josh Duhamel would maybe have to “cut-up”/define physiquewise, but he has a decent presense which may fit for Cap. James Vanderbeek, another possibility has always reminded me a little of a young John Wesley Shipp in appearance (JWS played the Flash back in the early 90′s.)
Here’s James VanderBeek as Captain America,
http://www.imagebam.com/image/b1ae4050325265
I didn’t like Thomas Jane’s Punisher either, but I don’t blame him for it, the story was just really really really poorly written. I doubt ANY actor would have been able to make that movie good… I think he has a good look for Cpt. America…
Keanu reeves!!!!
HA.
what about Sam worthington,
aside from the american thing (which is just) but the dude looks like cap, is quietly confident like cap,
Yup.. SAM WORTHINGTON
the more i look at it too the happier i am with my choice
afterall, if we the nation can accept MEL GIBSON and the late great HEATH LEDGER as our nations first patriots then dammit we can do it again lol
and worthingtons carreer is about to explode, actually already has, but the media is about to get a whole lot of sam
My vote goes to Jon Hamm. But how about Aaron Eckhart?
JOHN CENA!!! HE HAS THE EXACT LOOK FOR CAPTAIN AMERICA. HE’S GOT THE MILITARY LOOK ALONG W/ HIS JARHEAD HAIRCUT, HE’S ALREADY PLAYED A U.S. MARINE IN ‘THE MARINE’ AND HE’S GOT THE PERFECT BUILD FOR STEVE ROGERS/CAPTAIN AMREICA. HE HAS ACTING EXPERIENCE W/ A COUPLE OF LEAD ROLES IN 2 FILMS. HE’S GOT A HUGE FOLLOWING & FANBASE. CENA IS THE RIGHT AGE FOR THE ROLE AND IT WOULD BE AN EXTREMELY HUGE MISTAKE TO OVERLOOK JOHN CENA FOR THIS TITLE ROLE.
The more folks I speak with, the more it appears that John Cena’s name keeps coming up in regard to the role of Captain America. It also doesn’t hurt these rumors with him “saluting” his fans prior to and after each of his wrestling matches! Hmmm…makes one wonder if JC is indeed being prepped/primed for the role of Cap! I wonder…
Who should play Captain America? It has nothing to do with looks because there are hundreds of actors that have the “look”. It’s about acting so Cena is out.
I know who would be perfect this guy he has already played one american Icon and I think he would fit perfectly in Steve Rogers Boots he has the perfect look http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0247040/
To JD5DAD:
Rogers most definitely has to have blue eyes.
@Hunter
Oh he could wear contacts, that’s no big deal at all…
wrestlers should NEVER be in big budgetmovies…
look at triple h in blade…horrible!
no to triple h as thor
no to cena as cap
keep to two worlds seperate
yes i agree no wrestlers for the part of captain america only professional trained movie actors. but someone has to be chosen very soon so they can begin preparation & filming.
MARK VALLEY-STARRING IN HUMAN TARGET…MARK VALLEY-HE APPEARED IN FRINGE AS THE TRAITOR FBI AGENT..MARK VALLEY MARK VALLEY MARK VALLEY…HE HAS THE BLUE EYES…..MARK VALLEY FOR CAPTAIN AMERICA HE HAS THE JAWLINE THAT WOULD FIT THE MASK PERFECTLLY…MARK VALLEY MARK VALLEY MARK VALLEY
I say Channing Tatum, for reasons I dont know. Hes got the look and the voice and the presence of an patriotic symbol. Not because of GI Joe(ugh) but because of that one movie he did about war.
I also think Chris Pine would be good too.
Sekou
Channing Tatum? haha you’re kidding right?
Wow! Honestly, I had no idea (initially), that the casting for the Captain America Film would be this intense. In fact, I recently watched some videos, one, of the 1990 Captain America film (starring Matt Salinger), as well as the two Reb Brown Captain America TV movies from the late 70′s. (Keep in mind that both those projects were heavily influenced by their WRITERS); In both productions, no matter what the viewers thought in terms of quality, some fairly large guys were cast…because Cap isn’t a small, toned guy (like Spiderman); He in fact is a fairly huge, physically enhanced specimen. (In fact, his physical specifications actually match Arnold Schwarzeneggar’s (in his prime) to the proverbial “T”; Not to say that a “trained” actor couldn’t work out to enhance their physique; But Cap being what he is, how he was written/created, a performer with the right look will be as essential to this role as is a performer with decent acting talent. After all, you might have the worlds greatest actor onscreen portraying Captain America, acting his heart out; But if the actor’s thin, small statured and obviously lacking the necessary physical components onscreen, the result may wind up unfortunately being an unintentional comedy. (Imagine-a 5’9″, 175 lb. actor trying to project being bigger, doing his best to deliver Cap’s visage and presence onscreen; It may not work too well.)
Whoever the actor is, he of course doesn’t have to exactly match up to the 6’2″, 240 lbs of Cap. But at least be somewhere in the vicinity. Look at Steve Reeves. He played Hercules and was around 6’1″, 215 pounds or so. He wasn’t a 6’5′/325 lbs giant; But he did have the right physical musculature, presence AND talent combined which transferred extremely well onscreen.
Truly, there are some amazingly talented actors out there, some well known, and some unknowns who may fit the role even moreso. There are also some performers out there who may LOOK the part of Cap moreso than they can act it. In that case, this is where training comes in. Very few actors, (aside from perhaps Danny Aiello & a few others who’ve had no formal acting training), can pull off performing “A-list” quality performances. Whomever the casting director auditions for the role, he/she will make the determination whether or not that particular actor has what it takes to play this role, whether the actor in question be a rapper, a wrestler, a dancer, football player, martial artist or actual U.S. military serviceman. They’re not simply going to go select someone and say “Go on out there and do it!” Of course, you can bet that whoever obtains this iconic role, no matter how good or bad we may think they are, will be trained/coached extremely well.
I’m willing to bet that who ever gets cast, no matter what we as fans, peers, etc., think of them, will somehow showcase their best. And to that end, I say whoever gets the role, let’s simply wish them well and hope that they can deliver what we are all hoping for–namely a great performance.
Read my article at From Heroes To Icons.com
Finally…..! A Captain America Movie. i Think that Paul Walker or John Cena should play Captain America or maybe even George Clooney, Matthew Maconahay, or Van Diesiel.
Sam Worthington.