Joe Johnston appears to be a very busy man – not only has he been working on The Wolfman for the last couple of years, but he also has The First Avenger: Captain America on the way for Marvel and he’s also been talking up, not one – but three new Jurassic Park films.
Johnston spoke with Box Office about his forthcoming Marvel superhero adaptation, and while he was vague in his answers, he did give away a few good nuggets of information.
With regards to the plot Johnston said:
“It’s not going to be a Captain America that you expect. It’s something different. It is influenced by the comic book, but it goes off in a completely different direction. It’s the origin story of Captain America. It’s mostly period—there are modern, present-day bookends on it—but it’s basically the story of how Steve Rogers becomes Captain America.”
The director went on to say:
“It’s got some great action sequences in it and some incredible stuff that we’ve never seen before. But at the heart of it, it’s a story about this kid who all he wants to do is fit in. This thing happens and he still doesn’t fit in. And he has to prove himself a hero—essentially go AWOL to save a friend. Eventually at the very end, I don’t want to give away to much, but he does fit in. But it’s the journey of getting him there that’s interesting. And it’s a lot of fun.”
It sounds like Johnston has an interesting take on the character, and a period superhero film is something that we haven’t had in a while – wasn’t the last one Billy Zane’s turn as The Phantom?
Johnston has much more to say about Captain America over at Boxoffice.
Jurassic Park Trilogy
Meanwhile, with regards to the hugely successful Jurassic Park franchise Johnston said:
“Well, there is going to be a Jurassic Park IV. And it’s going to be unlike anything you’ve seen. It breaks away from the first three—it’s essentially the beginning of the second Jurassic Park trilogy. It’s going to be done in a completely different way. That’s pretty much all I can tell you.”
That’s quite comforting. While I really like the original Jurassic Park, I feel that its sequel The Lost World is a truly terrible film, with no redeeming qualities. However, I did really enjoy watching Jurassic Park 3 when I saw it at the cinema. Johnston had a lot to do with that (he directed the third installment).
Johnston may not be a young director – or one that is viewed as “A-list,” but he makes enjoyable films that (in most cases) stand the test of time. And his work on The Wolfman must’ve been good enough for him to have big franchises like Captain America and Jurassic Park sitting in the pipeline.
More on The First Avenger: Captain America and Jurassic Parks 4, 5 and 6 when we get it.
Source: Box Office
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How about NO on anymore JP movies, do something original, I'm sick of Hollywood spewing out the same old thing. Zombies, Vampires, Werewolves, and Dinosaurs. Though have not seen Dinos in a while but still.
Johnston or the writers are screwing this movie up. How can u go in a completely different direction from the comics? We are supposed to like this idea? Joe better bring in Favs to consult or he might have the only movie of the Avengers group to have a bad movie.
“It is influenced by the comic book, but it goes off in a completely different direction.”
eh? Sounds like a mix between Peter Parker and Bruce Banner…
You people (hollywood) kill me…. Steve Rodgers joins the military. Steve Rodgers is unfit for some reason or another to serve. Steve Rodgers REALLY wants to support his country. Steve Rodgers is overheard so Nick Fury inducts him into the Super Soldier program. Steve Rodgers becomes Captain America. Captain America kicks Nazi butt.
What is so hard about that? /sigh..
Dumbass Hollywood always disappoints us in the end. Who the hell came
up with the idea to change the story? Id like to freeze him in ice!
On Thursday, January 14, 2010, Disqus
Ummmm… Well this is a Marvel movie so I'm sure that it could be tied in well, but this director is really bothering me. Maybe it's just the way he stated it but he seems to have the wrong idea. I'm all for Captain America in WW2 and getting frozen in the end, but taking it in a “completely different direction” isn't what we want. Oh well, I'm not going to pass total judge for this yet.
im guessing its going to be a modern day set and instead of fighting nazis, it will fighting the taliban (or a likeness, think begining of iron man). which i kind of like, because all my life we get filled to the brim with nazi movies, they get tiresome. i could only just about watch inglorious.
He needs to be a man who becomes superhuman and joins the military. Not a young boy who wants to fit in.
Why do I get the impression that within 24 to 48 hours Johnston is going to release a clarifying comment about what he means about a “different direction” to assuage the fears of fans. I agree with Aknot, though: the story is pretty straight-forward and wouldn't require any real re-inventing. If he means “different” than what we've seen of a superhero in films, I can kind of see that with it being a period piece as well as war film. That WOULD be different than most superhero films out there, but he was a little too open-ended here.
He just said it was a period piece with modern day bookends. So looks like you are in for some “tiresome” Nazi movie mayhem
Steve Rogers didn't want to fit in, he wanted to fight against the evil threatening to overshadow the world. In order to do that he had to become a hero, and a symbol.
I hope that they don't turn him into an angsty Gen Xer. He was a depression era boy, tested by physical infirmity, gifted with a perfect body, fighting against the greatest evil of his era. He grew up tough. I seriously doubt that Cap looks at the modern youth with their fads, obesity, and PSPs and thinks “OMG you poor dears, you have it so hard.”
Johnston just rubbed me in the wrong way with his comments. Cap is one of my all time fave super heroes and reading this just made me very uncomfortable with the plot
This posting worries me. Captain America is the leader of the Avengers, in fact when the s**t hits the fan in the comics, Cap leads the way for ALL marvel heroes. His movie should be perfect and “trying to fit in”? WTH
It seems like THOR got all the right pieces and now Cap… ? I was looking forward to this movie most of all but now… I don't know. Thor is looking better and better.
Jason,
Well said, I'm with you. Steve Rogers “trying to fit in?” Oh man… he was a young patriot who wasn't physically fit enough to fight for his country. But I guess in this day and age that won't “wash” – even if it takes place during WWII.
Vic
The Hulk reboot sucked thanks to that French director. Never hire the French to direct American films! When will Hollywood learn? As if Alien 4 wasn't bad enough. Jeez!
You said it all, brother.
Film Industry uses these sites to gauge fan approval and disapproval. It was sites like that with all the comments that rightfully put Spider-Man 4 to rest. If they had it their way they would chum more of that Spidey 3 crap down our throats because box office wise it was bigger than 1 and 2. The suits in Hollywood only care about $$$.
Man, this film is going to suck based on what Joe Johnston has revealed to us. I thought they were making these films to bring them all together for The Avengers movie. Marvel, it's not that hard. Just read The Ultimates Volume 01 and you have the foundation for an epic Captain America film. Duh. You already ripped off Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury from those comics.
I often wonder how you losers get these great jobs only to f' it up. Fan boys now.
looks like i need to find another movie to look forward to.
hey they mite as well get larry king to play him while they're at it.
you sir, are a tool.
The Hulk original was horrible. The second one was on par with Iron Man. I don't know what you were on (possibly PCP) but
a. Please don't underestimate foreign directors, some of them are quite good at making American films.
b. Watch Incredible Hulk again and see all of the good values in that movie.
I'm not too afraid yet, but it doesn't sound very promising right now. Captain America is one of Marvel's most popular characters and he was the centerpiece to the avengers. His character is the one person they must not screw up. He leads the team; he's the LEADER, LEADERs are not the ones that “try to fit in”.
Cap is a hero, a symbol, an ideal. I think that's what inspires his fans so much. He was, after all, created to bolster public morale during WW2.
Because of that he's also a character easy to portray incorrectly. After all, in the “modern age” his values are pretty hokey right? Cap expressed himself in Ultimates Annual (number 1 I think) when talking to the Falcon. Everything he stands for, everything he believes in, is contrary to the values of the modern age. Yet (as we saw in Civil War) if the entire world is going the wrong way Cap is the kind of man who stands in its way and says “no, you move.”
He doesn't have superpowers, it's his soul that makes him a hero. After all he is one of the few beings in creation worthy to lift Thor's hammer.
That French Director, Louis Letterier did a magnificent job with “The Incredible Hulk”.
In fact I didn't mind the first one “Hulk” by that Taiwanese Director Ang Lee.
BTW Hollywood is a very multicultural place, especially within the film industry.
Sorry but no, the original Hulk was an arthouse mess, The Incredible Hulk was an excellent movie, well in touch with the character.
And as for not hiring the French, I'm British and therefore mock the French at every possible turn, but how can say one nationality cannot direct American movies. That reeks of xenophobia.
Captain America will be amazing, Joe Johnston can do fun, period flicks. Just look at The Rocketeer.
People are getting really cynical, claiming a movie will suck based on a few lines from a director whose head is still busy with the movie he is currently promoting, give the guy, and the film a chance.
“It is influenced by the comic book, but it goes off in a completely different direction.”
Oh no! the warning bells are ringing loud and clear. Captain America has got to be a kick-ass action packed adventure drama. I can't say I'm overly enthusiastic with Joe Johnston as Director.
Why do some of these Directors feel they have to lower the standards and change the integrity of a great comic book character so that can justify their own ill perceived notions of trying to appeal to a larger audience in this day and age.
Captain America has a history going back to 1940. How many generations of fans are there already guaranteeing a large audience?
If a completely different direction means a significant shift from the original source material, man I'll be greatly disappointed.
@DrSamBeckett
Yeah I really enjoyed “The Rocketeer” when it came out. An entertaining film for sure.
I guess I've become a little cynical after reading the article. My expectations are probably set way too high.
I'm really wanting this film to be more than just a fun period flick with perhaps some realistic (Band Of Brothers) type action, historic WW2 newsreels, maybe some sepia or BW footage or some documentary style montage.
I really hope Joe Johnston can pull this off.
I think we are pretty much on the same page with what we're expecting from this one, in my mind I always imagined the period parts of this filmed in B/W with the odd dash of colour, I think it would look amazing and give the movie a real unique feel.
This film, according to Johnston, will be bookended with the present and the main body in the past.
so, that means… Stark, Fury and Widow find him frozen and try to thaw him out.
then we see his back story in WWII, with him fighting with bucky against nazis and the Red Skull. ending with cap frozen.
back to the present, cap is thawed to be told his help is needed with red skull, who also thawed and is threatening the world. Cue final battle in the present. at end: Avengers are formed.
Will Steve Rogers fit in? Maybe if he joins the army and takes a super-soldier serum, goes to Europe, beats the huns, in suspended animation for 60 years, wakes and forms the most powerful super hero team in the marvel universe, realize his serum is giving the wrong message to kids, remove it and continue as a better cleaner Captain America…
You know what joe? I don't think Cap could fit in anywhere in 2010, but in 1945 his attitude was oxygen.