It’s looking more and more likely that John Krasinski - - who most people identify as “Jim from the Office” - - will win the casting call and play Steve Rogers in Joe Johnston’s THE FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA. An insider has told Fox411 that Krasinski has met on numerous occasions with the producers at Marvel already throughout the year.
"John has read 4 times and is doing screen tests… He has screen tested 2 times so far. It's very likely that he will be the new Captain America. He is a favorite among the key decision makers and has been asked to come back for more this week… The big bosses are having him read with multiple actresses up for the female leads. They want to lock down the role and then they will narrow down everyone else."
Doing multiple screen tests and reading with actresses is a really good sign that Marvel likes him. It’s funny - - I hadn’t considered until today that there would be love interest/female lead in the movie. Obviously, that would be pretty standard for any big blockbuster like this, but Cap hasn’t exactly had a consistent girl throughout his career. Superman has Lois Lane, but Cap has had Sharon Carter, Connie Ferrari and others in various eras and none of those relationships have lasted too long. In fact, the only possible girlfriend I’m aware of that he might have from that era is the brunette intelligence officer from the ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY that I keep mentioning in articles for this. That would be a good place to turn to for source material - - I insist!
411’s source goes on to say that Marvel staffers are preparing for Krasinski’s possible hire…
"It's a surprise and we are bracing ourselves for 'that guy from 'The Office'' to land Captain America. They are not really looking at the other guys, so it's time to get ready to work with him… If John gets offered the role, the pay will not be outrageous but it would be a multi-film deal. Marvel has big plans to tie the movies together and John would have parts in all of them since the first Captain America will be an origin story. The movie will break down how Steve Rogers becomes Captain America.”
While I still think a dashing unknown would be the best choice, I’ll reiterate that I’ll get behind this as a casting choice. It'll be good to mix things up in the movie instead of just getting a generic “leading man” and, as examples from the past have demonstrated, a lot of times you can’t judge how well an actor will fill into a hero or villain’s shoes based on the roles they’ve been inclined to play. People were poo-pooing the choices of comedian Michael Keaton as Batman and young dramatist Heather Ledger as the Joker, and those seemed to turn out well didn’t they? Plus, I think it’d fit the sense of transformation in the character, considering that Steve Rogers goes from a meek 4F art student to an all-American Ajax. The metamorphosis of a cubicle goof into a super-soldier could work just as well.
Krasinki’s got my vote but what about yours, oh office prank-pulling Comic Vine community?
-- Tom Pinchuk is the writer of UNIMAGINABLE for Arcana Comics and HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia Comics. Watch out for the HYBRID BASTARDS! hardcover collection this March - - available for pre-order now on Amazon.com.
Update:
Now it's being reported that none of the guys that have screen tested before are getting the job. Deadline.com says they've expanded their search and are even considering Chris Evans. Could the actor that played the Human Torch return to Marvel movies to portray Steve Rogers? Mike Vogel (Cloverfield) and Garret Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) are supposedly still being considered as well.
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