Casting Tightens for "The First Avenger: Captain America"

2/25/2010 Posted by Admin

By our guest blogger, Joel Crabtree

According to empireonline.com, Marvel and director Joe Johnston are beginning to narrow their casting search for "The First Avenger: Captain America." The Web site says the list includes John Krasinski ("The Office"), Scott Porter ("Friday Night Lights"), Mike Vogel ("Cloverfield"), Michael Cassidy ("Smallville") and Patrick Flueger ("Brothers").

Judging by the list, it seems that Marvel and Johnston are looking for a younger Captain America. Getting a younger actor for Marvel's franchise has two advantages:

1. They're usually cheaper
2. They're more likely to do sequels

Call me crazy, but I was hoping for a more mature actor. Maybe someone who could hold their own with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark/Iron Man in "The Avengers" when the time comes (not saying that these actors can't necessarily).

Why not someone who we know can command the screen, like, say, "The Hurt Locker's" Jeremy Renner? In a perfect world, perhaps.

However, according to screenrant.com, Renner was rumored to play Hawkeye, a rumor that the site says Renner denies. If anything, this Oscar-nominated actor deserves to be headlining one of Marvel's franchises, which clearly isn't going to happen.

But before Marvel even gets to "The Avengers" in 2012, they have to establish solo franchises first. As much as I like what I've seen from Chris Hemsworth ("Star Trek," "A Perfect Getaway"), I have doubts that he can successfully bring in the box office that Marvel expects from "Thor." The same could be said for these Captain America candidates.

However, of the rumored contenders, Krasinski has the build of a leading man, but he also could bring his quirky, slightly goofy spin to the captain. That said, Vogel (a personal favorite of mine because of "Cloverfield") has a more traditional rugged superhero look, but the verdict's still out on his acting skills (the skateboarding "epic" "Grind" and the aptly titled "Supercross" haven't exactly given him a lot to work with.) Porter is in the same boat as Vogel, with a short, shaky filmography.

It seems as if Marvel is trying to pull a star out of thin air, kind of like J.J. Abrams did with Chris Pine in 2009's "Star Trek." One thing is certain in my mind: I bet Marvel wishes that Pine's schedule wasn't so busy. If he wasn't already attached to a Jack Ryan project and a "Star Trek" sequel, he'd be a shoo-in.

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