We’ve been notified that Black Film’s confirmed that Derek Luke is playing Howling Commando, Gabe Jones, in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER. Considering how Cap didn’t have a ton of African American colleagues in World War II, the possible roles were kind of limited, but it’s now been official confirmed. Luke’s biggest role prior up until now is surely his turn as Antwone Fisher in the eponymous biopic, but he’s actually played a WWII soldier previously in MIRACLE AT SANTA ANNA.
Like the rest of Nick Fury’s squad, Jones has a quirky gimmick —a trumpet to match that of his angelic namesake. In the comics, he'd even play that trumpet into battle, but I get the feeling that will be one of the more fantastical flourishes that gets downplayed in favor of realism for the movie. I also suspect that the Howling Commandos will probably have the most revisions of any characters in the flick, with Dum Dum Dugan likely leading the outfit in Fury’s place and Bucky possibly being a member of them as well. I suppose we’ll have to wait four months to find out (or maybe just until the full trailer rolls out?)