Saturday was Marvel’s big day at Comic-Con 2010. They showed off some teasers regarding their future movies: Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor, and The Avengers. Let’s take a look at some of the “live blogging” highlights from Cap’s big panel.
6:48 First up is Cap! Chris Evans, Joe Johnston and Hugo Weaving on stage!
6:49 Teaser trailer show archive footage from World War II on the Cap shield. Silhouette of Captain America. Slow turn and he’s in the suit, but it looks quite vintage. In a tiny stinger bit he throws the shield at the screen– nice little surprise.
6:51 Evans started on set only five days ago and he says that it’s fantastic, the suit’s fantastic.
6:51 Weaving talking about learning the voice. It’s part Werner Herzog and part Klaus Maria Brandauer. Won’t do the voice just yet, though
6:53 Evans hopes that nobody will see Johnny Storm from Fantastic Four in his role and that it can stand on his own.
6:54 Going a bit more modern than the original suit (more than just pajamas with stars and stripes on them).
6:55 Chris has only been in a test suit so far. What we saw in the footage was a snippet from the costume test.
6:56 Asking Chris about interlocking movies. Evans loves origin stories and who they were before they got their amazing gifts. Story doesn’t end after he gets his powers and can go through many evolutions.
6:56 Needed a guy to play both Steve Rogers and Cap. They saw that quality in Evans.
6:57 About to see what they shot last week. Scene in which Hugo Weaving finds the cosmic cube.
UPDATE: A title card shows that reads “Norway, May 1942.” Two priests are in a church scrambling around as the building around them begins to crumble. Suddenly, a bulldozer crashes through the wall, the debris crushing one of the priests. Enter the Nazis. From behind appears Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt, but he is not yet the Red Skull. He begins talking about finding an object of myth. The priest tells him that it is nothing more than that, but Schmidt doesn’t believe him. He opens a sarcophagus and takes out a blue cube. It looks like the Cosmic Cube, an object from the Thor universe that bestows the power to change reality to the person that is holding it. Schmidt immediately recognizes it as a fake, dropping it to the ground and it smashes like ice. He then continues to look around and sees a space in wall that looks like it could be pulled out. He does so and pulls out a box. Opening it up, there is a blue glow that fills the room. The Priest tells him that no man is meant to hold the power that the cube can provide. Schmidt tells him that he is wrong.
Regarding Caps, it seems that nothing wow was released or showed. The teaser itself seems, well, just a tease. Regardless, I can’t wait to check it out. Hopefully it will be available to all fans soon. The scene description of Hugo Weaving as Red Skull sounds pretty cool. The whole cosmic cube sounds interesting, specially if it’s something that’s from the Thor universe. I like that. Looking forward to this movie…
What do you guys think? Wanted more released from Caps at Comic-Con? You ok with this for now?
Sigh indeed. I wasn’t purely referring to physical size, I was referring more to the gravitas they would bring to the role as well as the physical attributes. They are all strong character actors, Chris Evans is not. He was weak and annoying as the Torch, in Push and in Sunshine and doesn’t convey the strength of character required for Captain America, who is Marvel’s answer to Superman from the moral standpoint. Casting an actor best known for playing childish playboy figures weakens the role. Cheeky grins and Captain America do not go together. Seth Rogen would find it easier to get in shape than Chris Evans would find playing a character guided by morality and he’d be more believable. Personally my choice would be Justin Hartley.
As for rebooting Fantastic Four that is purely rumour at this point and even if it wasn’t it doesn’t change the fact that it was lazy casting. I am fully aware that actors play different roles but does that mean we should have Brandon Routh play Batman in the next movie? Or perhaps Tobey Maguire should play Mr Fantastic in your lauded reboot, just because they’re rebooting Spider-Man? Honestly, can you really see Downey’s Iron Man being in the Avengers led by Chris Evans? Please.
Furthermore having an opinion does not make me misguided any more than waiting for a movie to actually be announced before referring to it on a forum makes me uninformed. I simply disagree with the casting which is my right. Live with it.
Weak and annoying as the Torch? Well he was supposed to be a flashy hotheaded cocky younger member of the team. And Evans played that perfectly.
The strength and character required for Captain America is purely in the way the actor plays him. Yes, if he plays the character like Human Torch, its not a good fit. But you assume that is all he can play. Watch more of his movies and you will see the “cheeky grin” has only been a part of two of his roles and even those were very different. You accept that a smaller typecast goofy slacker has a better chance of completely overhauling his public image to play the role of Captain America? Morality guided pothead slacker is closer in role to Cap huh? Sorry, I don’t buy that dance at all. The traditional all-American good old boy roles that Evans typically plays put him in a better position of public appearances.
And learn a little about Cap to begin with. Iron Man being led by Chris Evans Cap? Hell yes I can see that! But I know who Steve Rogers is. Despite his physical superiority Rogers is constantly plagued with self doubt that is compounded by his more mature teammates having to look to him as the leader.
And your examples of an actor playing a different part are just silly. Brandon Routh plays an awesome superspy on Chuck, a Gay Pornstar in Zach and Miri, and a Superpowered Vegan Psionic in Scott Pilgrim. Did I think he was Superman in those? No. Your pick for the role (Justin Hartley) played Green Arrow. By your own logic you shouldn’t consider him because he played another superhero that is different in personality and cause than Cap.
And the Fantastic Four reboot is NOT a rumour. Who might play who, and when it might happen is still rumour, but the studio has made it very clear that the current cast and current franchise is shelved and they are moving forward with a reboot. Evans will never play Human Torch in that franchise again.
Deadpool was played wonderfully by Ryan Reynolds, but he will soon be playing Green Lantern, and then presumably return to the role of Deadpool. Actors can play different roles if they work. Your examples are just ridiculous over exaggerations that fail to make your point. Why not just suggest that Chiklis play Lois Lane? (But now that you mention it, Routh would be a better Batman than Clooney or Kilmer were… just sayin)
And I did not say you couldn’t have an opinion on the matter. Just that your reasoning doesn’t support this opinion you appear to have. My personal choice for Cap was Ryan Partlin (Captain Awesome on the aforementioned Chuck) who shares a lot of qualities with Evans and Hartley. I feel your stance on this is irrational and knee jerk reaction. You boxed Evans into his Torch character and decided the Torch wasn’t Cap.
Fortunately Chris Evans is not The Torch. I still have hope.
Forgive me if discussion on the topic doesn’t end with “Live with it”. Your process is uniformed, which you contradict yourself in making. But it is your leap of faith to make.
Thank you for making my point for me, in a round about sort of way. To address what you have said –
1. The examples you give of actors playing multiple super-hero roles shows that no actor has ever played two characters in the same universe (DC/Marvel). This is perfectly acceptable. It is like playing different characters in different programmes, as you correctly point out they do so well but no actor switches from one part to another. However, to move and actor from Torch to Cap is insulting to the fans who did enjoy the original FF movies and found them worthy, no matter how many reboots you do.
2. ‘learn a little about Cap to begin with’. I’ve been reading Captain America since 1978 and Iron Man, Spider-Man and X-Men not long after so uninformed is a little harsh. I think I know a little something. The duality you describe is core to the character and is precisely what seperates Chris Evans from Seth Rogen (although he was intended as the most extreme example of a better choice I can still defend it). Seth Rogen has the acting ability to portray different layers to a single character, Evans does not or has never, in my humble opinion, done it succesfully and I’ve seen several of his movies. If you can name one where he is believable as a tortured character then I do need to see it.
3 . As for your ‘Chris Evans is not the Torch’ argument, I find it funny. You dismiss me for ‘boxing’ Evans into the Torch role and yet in the same breath describe Rogen as a ‘typecast pothead slacker’. Bravo.
4. My determination that Evans should not be Captain America comes from a lack of belief in Evans in any role he has played to date. I heard about this appointment months ago so this is not ‘knee jerk’ nor ‘irrational’ but I have seen nothing since to convince me that Evans can pull it off. I may be proven wrong and he could be a wonderful Captain America but I sincerely doubt it and until I hear otherwise I have no intention of going to a theater and spending money on proving myself right so no amount of PR from you will change my mind in the meantime.
5. No matter how much you attempt to insult or bait me Rodders my opinion will remain my own and you WILL have to live with it, like it or not so no matter what happens this discussion will end with that. Give Del Boy my best.
1. More than once has an actor played multiple roles on the same show. Both Doctor Who and Torchwood have main stars who started as other roles in the show. Star Trek has had multiple actors who played different roles in another episode, but change a hair colour and add a prosthetic, and boom. Different character. Its called acting.
2. Despite your professed experience with Cap you still can’t see how Evans has proven he can portray that type of character?
3. The irony is that you assume a typecast of Evans as his inability to portray Cap, but then mention an actor who has NEVER elevated beyond playing a stoner slacker as completely acceptable? Even Rogen’s Green Hornet looks straight out of Superbad. How can you so easily assume that Rogen can do this, but have some mental block that Evans could?
4. You have already decided your reaction and illogically defend it. You assume he can’t but have faith that someone unlikely could? It just sounds random.
5. Its not insult. I just cant see how you can say one thing and contradict yourself in the same breath and still say you believe it.
Like I said. You are free to have your opinion. Your failure is convincing me that you even believe it short of your ever convincing “live with it” argument.
And I have no idea who “Del Boy” is.
1. Leading role? Who?
2. Nope. Is there a point here?
3. Believable multi-dimensional characters. Depth. Watch Observe and Report.
4. Just because you disagree with my logic does not make it illogical. You find it contradictory because you disagree.
5. You insult me by assuming I know nothing because you disagree. As fpr the ‘contradicting’ it seems to make perfect sense when you do it. Q.E.D. on point 4.
Unlike you, I’m not trying to convince anybody, simply state my opinion as is the point of this forum, or have I got that right too.
Only Fools and Horses. Rent it. You’ll see where I’m coming from.
p.s. ‘Live With It’ is Seth Rogen’s next movie. Not as quick as you think are you?
Can I go back to when I said ‘I have seen nothing since to convince me that Evans can pull it off. I may be proven wrong and he could be a wonderful Captain America but I sincerely doubt it’? Where do you get that I don’t like him?
I have nothing against the guy, in fact he seems like a perfectly nice chap and I’m sure he treats his mammy very well but I remain unconvinced by him as an actor therefore unconvinced by his appointment. I never said he definitely couldn’t do it, I simply said there are better options both from the standpoint of actors who have not played Marvel stalwarts before and who -to me- would be better suited to play THIS role. I think he is too weak for such a seminal role. That is my opinion based on the roles I have seen him play before which is the only thing I can base it on. I am not trying to prove the point – as I said, I could be wrong- simply defend my OPINION as you have suggested over and over again that I should do.
Let’s say I agree with you that Seth Rogen is a bad example – I was being a little facetious suggesting him anyway to make a point – do you have any argument against the others I named? Is it not lazy casting to recast somebody who’s done Marvel before? You are like a dog with a bone on Seth Rogen with very little other argument to support Evans’ case.
And I wouldn’t reference Dangerfield because (a) I’m not American so I don’t find him funny nor would he spring immediately to mind (b) you don’t strike me as a blithering idiot like Dangerfield so I wouldn’t insult you with that comparison anyway(c) I find your determination to force your apparently blind faith in Chris Evans down my throat both mildly amusing and a little naïve, just like Rodney Trotter (d) Only Fools and Horses rocks, watch it before you spit IMDB stats and knock it.
I am under no obligation to make you believe that I believe my own opinion and don’t actually care if you do or not. I believe it, that’s all that matters to me. I only continue this discourse because it amuses me to see you get so wound up about the someone disagreeing with you. I hope I’m wrong and the movie rocks. I hope this conversation might give people something to think about rather than blindly accept that moviemakers know best. I hope Chris Evans has a wildly succesful career and wins an Oscar. I hope you win the lotto. I hope we achieve world peace in my lifetime. I hope you finally accept that I won’t be changing my mind until the movie comes out although I think there’s probably more chance of world peace.
Mostly I think you’re just terrified I might be right.
Only time will tell.
You really are allergic to credibility. Observe and Report? He is the same guy he plays in every movie. Depth? Multidimensional? He is the same Slacker underdog that he is in every comedy he does.
I am aware of Live With It, and no reason to think you were referencing that film. And the role he plays in that? Supporting cast in a dark comedy about a guy with cancer. He plays the goofball buddy to the lead. Really stretching for him.
You claim to not be trying to prove your point, which is convenient since you contradict it just by stating it. Easy dodge. Its not because I disagree, its that I think YOU disagree. You are telling me such.
And more vague references to a British TV series that took 22 years to spit out 9 seasons to poke fun at my name? Hardly clever. Most people just go with the Rodney Dangerfield angle when they are trying to dodge their lack of a point.
You wont defend your opinion because you cant. All you have is your gut feeling that you dont like the guy. You say I am insulting you when I am simply trying to understand why you think Evans isn’t capable but someone as one dimensional as Seth Rogen is. I challenge your reasoning – not your opinion.
You just don’t like the guy, and you want to not like him in this role.
And I repeat: You don’t have to like him. Its your opinion. But if you want to discuss it, you might want to back it up. But you already repeated your lack of argument, so you are free to live in your opinion.
I see potential in the casting, and I know the character very well and can see how Evans is a good fit. Physically, as well as acting ability.
You just dont like him.
Rogens shit got stale with Pineapple express! James Franco and “RED” made that movie tolerable…….and I love stoner flicks.
Cris Evans will rock it!
Apologies, my replies got out of sync.
Can I go back to when I said ‘I have seen nothing since to convince me that Evans can pull it off. I may be proven wrong and he could be a wonderful Captain America but I sincerely doubt it’? Where do you get that I don’t like him?
I have nothing against the guy, in fact he seems like a perfectly nice chap and I’m sure he treats his mammy very well but I remain unconvinced by him as an actor therefore unconvinced by his appointment. I never said he definitely couldn’t do it, I simply said there are better options both from the standpoint of actors who have not played Marvel stalwarts before and who -to me- would be better suited to play THIS role. I think he is too weak for such a seminal role. That is my opinion based on the roles I have seen him play before which is the only thing I can base it on. I am not trying to prove the point – as I said, I could be wrong- simply defend my OPINION as you have suggested over and over again that I should do.
Let’s say I agree with you that Seth Rogen is a bad example – I was being a little facetious suggesting him anyway to make a point – do you have any argument against the others I named? Is it not lazy casting to recast somebody who’s done Marvel before? You are like a dog with a bone on Seth Rogen with very little other argument to support Evans’ case.
And I wouldn’t reference Dangerfield because (a) I’m not American so I don’t find him funny nor would he spring immediately to mind (b) you don’t strike me as a blithering idiot like Dangerfield so I wouldn’t insult you with that comparison anyway(c) I find your determination to force your apparently blind faith in Chris Evans down my throat both mildly amusing and a little naïve, just like Rodney Trotter (d) Only Fools and Horses rocks, watch it before you spit IMDB stats and knock it.
I am under no obligation to make you believe that I believe my own opinion and don’t actually care if you do or not. I believe it, that’s all that matters to me. I only continue this discourse because it amuses me to see you get so wound up about the someone disagreeing with you. I hope I’m wrong and the movie rocks. I hope this conversation might give people something to think about rather than blindly accept that moviemakers know best. I hope Chris Evans has a wildly succesful career and wins an Oscar. I hope you win the lotto. I hope we achieve world peace in my lifetime. I hope you finally accept that I won’t be changing my mind until the movie comes out although I think there’s probably more chance of world peace.
Mostly I think you’re just terrified I might be right.
Only time will tell.
How can Chris Evans be Captain America? It’s stupid. So now we can never have a Fantasatic Four/Avengers or Fantastic Four/Captain America movie? Of all the actors in the world why was one who has already played a Marvel legend (and recently) cast to play another? Does this mean the end of the Fantastic Four movies altogether? Stupid stupid stupid move. Lazy casting. Not to mention Chris Evans is no way big enough to pull of the Cap. I was looking forward to this, Thor and the Avengers movie but now I’m not going to bother going. Well done Marvel, you’ve ruined it. Justin Hartely, Michael Shanks, Chris Pine, Sam Worthington or even Seth Rogen (who can do serious very well and has the look and build) would have been better. Boooooo!!
Sigh….
Ok, before going off on a rant, please consider that Fantastic Four is being rebooted, and the cast you are familiar with will NEVER play those roles again.
Actors play different roles. Its what they do. Him playing Cap is not a bad thing and he is certainly big enough. He is bigger than Chris Pine who you think is perfectly acceptable.
And mentioning Seth Rogen (who is now a slender 180lbs) just destroyed any credibility you might have had with this uniformed and misguided rant.
From what I remember from the comics Red Skull was after the Cosmic Cube there also. I like that they are introducing that.
F**k yeah I’m cool with this! I’m loving every second! Keep it coming!
Not knowing much about comics, the only knowledge attained being from these blog posts and the film adaptations, I’m excited :D