Seems some buzz is being generated over an off the cuff comment in an interview (isn’t this how half of Hollywood happens?) that Channing Tatum would be up for the role of Captain America. Note, he said he would be up for it… not that the studios are asking anything of him.
“Captain America? Oh my God! Oddly enough, I just got given a book – one of the painters came up and here gave me a book. I would think about it. Maybe it’s destiny! I would definitely think about it – I just got done doing G.I. Joe, though. If Joe does well, and it doesn’t seem to be the exact same story, then I would. I don’t know. They seem to be very, very similar – almost identical. Except for the – I think he takes a serum? Like a strength serum? [But the WWII setting] could be very very cool. “
My inner geek leapt out of my throat and puked on this guy for even suggesting that Captain America and G.I. Joe were “almost identical”. Aside from a superhero military motif they have NOTHING in common. But then I took a step back and looked at it rationally.
He looks the part mostly, but I would prefer to see someone with a little more bulk to play Cap. Tatum is fit, good looking and a half decent actor. Maybe not the worst choice in the world, but the guy would have to put on some meat.
The big issue for me when considering the role is going to be that he has to have some A-List chops for this. Eventually he will be pitted in the position of leadership over people like Robert Downey Jr in an Avengers movie. Casting quality actors has changed the face of blockbuster superhero flicks. They are not just popcorn fun. The studios are really taking them seriously.
So my first consideration isnt his hair colour or where he was born (though some fanboys seem to think that is all that matters) but I try to see the big picture. Can this guy play Cap? Can he offer up a presence that will make him a LEADER of such strong personalities. I don’t see that presence in Tatum even with another 50lbs of meat taped on to his swimmer’s physique. I don’t want a dancer from a Ricky Martin video to be Captain America.
In the long run this is just a distraction of someone saying something to an actor in an interview that will likely never come to pass. Remember, the studios are not asking him to step up (see what I did there?) this is one guy who suggested his name and a coincidental story that a crew member on Tatums set said the same thing.
At least I hope it doesn’t happen.
