Rumor: Marvel Wants Leonardo DiCaprio For Captain America. Or Brad Pitt.
If this rumor(s) seems like it originated in the mind of Captain Obvious, we see your point, but it arrived just minutes ago via a very reputable source/friend site, Latino Review. It seems that Marvel has a shortlist of names for their 2011 tent pole, The First Avenger: Captain America, and at the top is Leonardo DiCaprio followed by Brad Pitt (whose name has previously circulated for 2010’s Thor). This continues the trend of studios “casting up” in major summer blockbusters.
Of course, DiCaprio has a plethora of passion projects, most recently pegged to play Atari and Chuck E. Cheese’s founder Noah Bushnell, that could keep him out of the equation. Either way, here are some thoughts spanning the Net consciousness right now: DiCaprio is a good choice, Matthew McConaughey would have blown chunks as Steve Rogers/Capt. America; DiCaprio is too skinny for the role/shield throwing, I mean, he’s a really good actor though; What studio wouldn’t want DiCaprio to play a superhero? Pfffft.
El Mayimbe at LR says that no official offer has been made to DiCaprio or to Brad Pitt, the other A-lister being considered, but he hints that the trades might pick up this same info months from now. With The Incredible Hulk launching this weekend, Marvel Studios is on a rampage the likes of which we haven’t seen before. Personally, I think DiCaprio would be an awesome choice, nicely modernizing expectations for the prototypical American (super)soldier. Pitt would be the more popular choice with fans, I’m assuming, based on build and photos in office calendars. More on this as it develops… If you didn’t check out our post today on Marvel’s upcoming slate/Jon Favreau’s involvement with Iron Man 2, here’s the link.
It’s Hulkamania for American Gladiators
Some serious cross-promotion will take place on the June 9 episode of American Gladiators. NBC is airing a special Incredible Hulk-themed installment of the series known for its muscle-bound warriors decked out in spandex and oil.
The Incredible Hulk feature film, directed by Louis Leterrier and starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth and William Hurt, hits theaters four days later on June 13.
The Gladiators episode will feature guest star Lou Ferrigno (who played the green guy on the 1970s TV series) sharing the spotlight with host Hulk Hogan.
It’s the merging of small and big screens, as NBC Universal, whose Universal Pictures is producing the movie along with Marvel Studios, aims to draw viewers from American Gladiators.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the episode will feature:
- A Hulked-out Los Angeles Sports Arena, complete with green lighting, water, graphics, and Powerball balls. Even gladiator Titan will have a green theme.
- An exclusive 60-second preview from the upcoming movie.
- 1,000 pairs of Hulk Hands given to audience members.
- Gladiators using Hulk Hands while competing in the Gauntlet.
- Audience members wearing Hulk masks.
OK, we can safely say that it’ll be All Hulk All the Time for that particular episode. Universal is trying to erase the memory of 2003’s disappointing feature film Hulk, directed by Ang Lee and starring Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly.
The studio also has tie-ins with Burger King, 7-Eleven, K-Mart, and Pringles, and Titan will walk the red carpet at the movie’s premiere.
And I’m sure that somewhere, Bill Bixby will be cheering them on, as well.
Do you think the new movie will measure up to the Hulk’s history, dating back to Stan Lee’s comic book series of the 1960s? And what’s your favorite version of the Hulk, be it comic book, TV series, movie, video game, lunchbox, or any other venue blessed with his awesomeness?
Captain America To Be Set During World War II
Marvel Studios President of Production Kevin Feige revealed today that the Captain America movie will be a period film, set during World War II. I’ve never read any Captain America, but some of my friends who are really into the series have insisted that a WWII period setting would be the only way to do the story justice.
This basically confirms that Marvel will be sticking close to the original origin story which involved Steve Rogers volunteering to be a test subject in Operation: Rebirth, a top-secret defense project for the U.S. Army. Rogers took a Super-Soldier serum which altered his physiology, turning him into a “nearly perfect human being”. Unable to duplicate the process, the United States government turned Rogers into a superhero who served as “both a counter-intelligence agent and a propaganda symbol to counter Nazi Germany’s head of terrorist operations, the Red Skull.”
The First Avenger: Captain America (and not Captain America: The First Avenger, which sounds infinitely better) is scheduled to hit theaters in May 6th 2011, just weeks before Marvel’s superhero team-up film The Avengers hits screens in July. It’s assumed that the film will likely end with a cliffhanger. In the comic series The Avengers discovered Steve Rogers’ body in a block of ice in the North Atlantic years after his supposed death, and were able to revive him. It’s assumed that a similar situation will probably happen to bridge the two movies, especially considering that The Avengers takes place in modern day. But Feige promises that you won’t need to see any of the other films to understand The Avengers:
“Each of them have to stand on their own,” Feige said. “You won’t have to have seen any of the films to understand The Avengers… but it will help.”
Feige also confirmed that Matthew McConaughey is not in consideration for the film adaptation as was rumored on CinemaBlend weeks back. That should make fans happy. You can read more about Feige’s “State of the Marvel Address” on CHUD.
Marvel Studios and Brian K. Vaughan Developing Runaways Movie
I knew it was going to happen eventually, Marvel Studios has announced that they will be brining Brian K Vaughn’s Runaways to the big screen. Vaughn, best known for the critically acclaimed Y: The Last Man Series (also in some stage of development with DJ Caruso and possibly starring Shia LaBeouf), created Runaways in 2002 with Adrian Alphona, and is also penning the screenplay. It should be noted that Vaughn is also a co-producer and writer for LOST.
The series follows a group of teenagers discover that their parents are an organized group of super villains called The Pride. On the run from their homes, the group bands together and begin a journey of discovery, both of their parents’ origins and of their own inherited powers.
Unlike most other books in the Marvel universe, the individual Runaways story arcs are collected in small, manga-sized trade paperbacks. In 2006, the series won the Harvey Award for best continuing/limited series. Geek god Joss Whedon, a vocal fan of the book, took over the series after Vaughan and Alphona left at issue #24 of the title’s second volume.
Marvel is not ready to set a date for this latest adaptation or the previously announced Ant Man.
source: THR