A press junket on the set of Iron Man 2 allowed some media to corner Marvel Studios Producer Kevin Feige to ask him about the future of some Marvel Films projects.
In it they talk mostly about Avengers, which is dominating the Marvel pens for the next few years. We discover that Feige wants the Hulk in Avengers, Will Smith could be Captain America, and Thor will take place mostly in modern Earth.
The Avengers: Screenwriter Zak Penn won’t start writing his outline for the film until next week, but Feige would like to see The Hulk as part of the team. Feige says that The Avengers “is about saving the world” and the film will have “a different tone than the other Marvel movies,” “the scope and the scale will feel like a much bigger thing,” “a much more massive global feel to it.” The threat will “be big,” “something that no single hero can handle.” The budget will probably be bigger as well. I personally think it would be stupid not to feature the Incredible Hulk in the Avengers movie, its just a question of making it work with the prior film(s) and Edward Norton.
The First Avenger: Captain America: The film officially goes into preproduction in October 2009, with production scheduled to begin on June 28th 2010. The movie will probably feature more international locations and actors than any other Marvel movie. In casting the Captain, Feige says that “international appeal” is something that Marvel will have to take into account, but admits that “there are only a handful of stars that mean anything here much less overseas.” Later when someone brought up Will Smith, Feige responded, “I think Will Smith is probably one of those handful of international stars.” Also, the rumored “Truth” storyline from the comics isn’t likely to be incorporated into The First Avenger movie, but possibly in future sequels. Will Smith as Captain America? I really hope not.
Thor: Donald Blake won’t appear, but the film will take place more on contemporary Earth than Viking times. This makes me more interested in the project, since I’m not usually entertained in fantasy sword and sandel type films. Feige describes the movie as “very much a Marvel superhero movie” but admits that “the movie audience it’s going to expand that definition more and more.” On casting Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Feige says “It was like, ‘There’s no question that this is our guy.’”
First, The Hulk. I can’t agree more. The Avengers could really benefit from the Hulk in the film. I hope as the “threat” he mentions. After introducing the characters in their own films and then tying them all together like this I want to see a real story that can still lend to big action and a real pending threat. World War Hulk sold me on the Hulk after decades of just discarding the character. Something of that flavour with the Avengers as the only way to stop him would be awesome.
Next is Captain America. Will Smith? I don’t care about anything else he said after he suggests that Will Smith is a contender for the Captain. You know that is going to be all anyone cared about on that subject. Historically Captain America is going to start out in World War 2, in which there were black soldiers. Culturally it could fit that a negro soldier would get volunteered for the Super Soldier serum. I can see this working out if they handle it correctly. It would be interesting to see Smith play an action star that is more military honed responsibility than cocky attitude. I just don’t see it actually coming to pass. I kind of hope it does.
Lastly Thor. I find it interesting that they would take on the Thor character without Donald Blake. Blake was the mortal who, after touching Mjolnir (Thor’s Hammer) becomes the physical host of the God. But Blake only serves as a host to the Mighty Thor and not an alternate identity. The two are separate, switching out when the other exists. It looks like they are not going to complicate the character with this mortal. Also it makes sense that they would want to ground the character in a modern earth since that is where he will be spending all of the Avengers movie.
Sounds like the plan is rolling along as scheduled, and things are shaping up with just enough to keep us guessing.
Avengers Assemble indeed.
Cap is not known for being white, but he is white. Any person of any color COULD play him, but it would be inaccurate. It’s not meant to be offensive to those other races. But the one trait that a patriotic, brave and noble black man could never be is white. And Steve Rogers/Captain America happens to be white. And it might be(and probably just is) me, but I personally think that an actor shouldn’t be cast in similar roles in one genre, especially in such a close time period. The character is identified by the actor, and I like to associate the two together. While it’s all fantasy, I like to buy into the “reality” of the movies, and the feel gets ruined for me if the actor is playing more than one of the same kind of character.
Will Smith MOSTLY pays the same kind of character in similar genre films. He has proven he can do much more, but his “Hell naw” cocky action star is a pretty static staple for him. This ruins it for you? Sorry, but Hancock and Captain America couldnt be any more different, and on the slim chance that they did cast him in it, the last thing anyone would be thinking is that Hancock was wearing Cap’s outfit. Thats just ignorant.
Furthermore your narrow view saying something as dumb as “But the one trait that a patriotic, brave and noble black man could never be is white.”
See, I thought you were talking about a noble, brave, patriotic MAN, but if he just happens to be black then he can’t be the same person and be white. Welcome to racism my friend.
You just proved my point.
okay, despite all the way-off-topic racial discussion, oversensitivity and people being slighted by what was definitely not meant to be anywhere near an cultural offense – Steve Rogers is NOT BLACK. i’m sorry to anyone who is confused on that point. the character is not black. captain america is not black. the first avenger is NOT BLACK. this is not a racial insult. I REPEAT – THIS IS NOT A RACIAL INSULT. the current hero films, especially marvel’s, are trying to stay pretty close to canon. they are building a fairly accurate universe, as well as building up to one doozy of a 5-star mega-colossal film to end all superhero films. casting a white actor would not be the studio’s fault. marvel created cap as a white man. done. end of story. there will always be some liberties with bringing stories from book to screen. studios have a fine line between being faihtful to source material and reaching bigger audiences(transalation – making more money by appealing to more viewers.) also – will smith has already played a major comic book character. for the sake of identifying an actor with a character, casting him as more than one would seem silly and desperate. these characters are being defined in these films. he can’t be hancock and captain america. too confusing. and despite all the backlash that will come from the die-hard comic fans if he IS cast, he’s a poor choice anyway, not because he doesnt look the part, but because he just doesn’t fit the role. re: MCD as kingpin – the part wasn’t lousy and miscast just because they got the color wrong(even though that was a bad start,) they got it wrong because it was miscast. when moving an icon from print to the big screen, ALL aspects of the character need to be considered.
The original Nick Fury is NOT BLACK, Kingpin is NOT BLACK. (And Michael Clark Duncan was awesome as Kingpin – no miscast there)
You can stay close to canon and still have a different skin colour. Its not like it changes who or what he was known FOR. Captain America is not known for being white, he is known for being patriotic, brave, and noble. This is what Marvel set out to create, not to create a WHITE MAN that was all those things, just a man. Are you suggesting that a black man could not embody those traits?
Actors play different roles in different movies all the time. To suggest that Smith playing a different superhero (And Hancock is not even a comic book) is ludicrous. That would be like getting all confused because Will Smith played Ali AND the guy from Men in Black. Sorry, that angle is pointless to try and apply here. And there have been a number of actors to play heroes in different movies already. It is not silly or desperate to cast him in a different role. That is his job already.
See how your entire rant means nothing?
I would be open to the idea of it, though I doubt it will ever come to pass simply because the studio isn’t opposed to it, but more that they won’t want to lose audience of the ignorant and petty who would think this matters.
I guess it would be fine…it’s just that I think of Steve Rogers, not Isaiah Bradley.
Same reason I wouldn’t want to see a Caucasian Blade, Cyborg or Shaft…know what I mean?
Hey I know, Will Smith should play Thor.
wow what an over reaction to the use of the word negro. Jeez
Oh for crying out loud, lets just ignore canon and do whatever we want.
Let’s just get Brad Pitt to play The Black Panther, Uma Therman can play Storm in the next X-Men movie, and Lucy Lu can play Captain America. I need a goddamn rolleyes emoticon.
How is it ignoring canon? If Black Panther wasnt an AFRICAN, I would have no problem with a Caucasian playing him.
You make it sound like only a white guy could portray an American Soldier.
i love will smith but if he did captain america it would just be a will smith movie instead of a captain america movie.
Not all “Will Smith Movies” are “Will Smith Movies”… just sayin.
There already is a black Captain America created with the entire background of 1940’s military segregation. And you can’t compare the Kingpin Argument to this. It would be like having Black Panther(the character) played by a white guy. It isn’t right. Marvel’s done a good job so far. I hope they don’t screw up now that they’re so close to the finish line. No Brad Pitt. Jenson Ackles seems too young.
Rodney, I’m black and I completely understand where your coming from. You used the word in the right context and people who want to get on you about the word only see the word and not the complete sentence.
Also who care if Banner is not played by Norton in an Averngers movie. Every character gets re-cast at some point.
Consistency is nice, and Norton is a wonderful actor.
Doesn’t mean he has to, but if they can that would be great.
I’ll laugh my a$$ off if Hulk changes into Eric Bana.
I know. I’m evil.
I’ll pass if Cap is not the Steve Rodgers i grew up reading.
hey sith wont u calm down u do know negro means black right and as rod said u have the united negro crap so how is it offensive.
oh wait because slave drivers used it that just shows how much smarter they were they used the word negro not black or something of that nature.
then u had dumb mother fuckers as your self who then said well lets make up a new word that we can make fun of Negro’s (black People at that time) oh i got it nigger.
so there for its people like your self that need to calm the fuck down im really fuckin sick of this shit.
u know who is the most racist race these days NEGRO’S because they hate everyone else and blame everything on them being NEGRO (black in case u missed it) SO SHUT THE FUCK UP AND QUIT CRYING
alot of anger….
feel better now? go Bud Dwyer yourself.
WoW.
what?
wait- thor movie in asgard dammit.
wtf did they go get branagh and all these great stage/classical actors (besides the thor guy) if theyre gonna pull a kate & leopold?
wtf first laugier leaves hellraiser now this.
Im not racist but Will Smith as cap would be stupid.
Yes, Because hes black.
And even though Thor will take place here I hope they have scenes in Asgard, if Loki and Odin will be in it then obviously some of the movie will take place in Asgard
Alright, let’s see here…
It’s the 1940’s in the USA. We’re at war. We create a serum to develop on someone who will represent the country, someone to personify the States…who do we choose…?
See, if it were modern times, the country would have no problem picking a black person to represent the country (though, as sad as it is, we’d still have people complaining). HOWEVER! This is supposed to be set during the 40’s, and let’s face it folks, those times were not very accepting when it came to race…hell, we still had segregated schools, armies and..well…everything else.
I’m fine with a black person playing a Cap who was created during MODERN times…but in a pre-Civil Rights movement country, where (as horrible as it sounds) the majority of people believed people of African origin weren’t equal to the rest of humanity, I doubt people would rally around a black figure…
(excuse any grammatical errors–written in a rush)
“We are asking you to be more than a man, Steve. We are asking you to become a symbol! Every man, woman and child will have their eyes glued to every move you make, every word you speak! But not you, Steve Rogers–thats not who you are going to be to them. You’re going to be America! Now, and forever more…you’ll be a symbol of whats good and right and true about this great land.” (Adv. of Cap. Amer. #2)
I also have a hard time believing a black man would be selected to represent America during the 1940s.
Or that the Operation Rebirth is so out there that most white soldiers they ask are scared of needles up their spinal cord. Someone either has to be crazy or feels that they have something to prove.
Or maybe being frozen, combined with the Rebirth formula, does something to Cap’s skin. Part of his skin is chalk white. Part of his skin could be a few shades darker.
I think that could rule.
I think Will Smith as Captain America would be awesome.
I personally think Will Smith has the chops to pull off a Captain America role, but some people might see that big a divergence from the source material as bad.
I mean, it worked great for Michael Clarke Duncan to be the Kingpin in Daredevil, though back then I remember the “But the Kingpin is a large white guy” comments. Marvel went as far as to create a “new Nick Fury” just so Samuel Jackson could play him in the movies (Ultimate Fury)
interesting, well it seems that it would all depend on which cource material they are drawing from?
Nick Fury=black=ultimate universe.
Fantastic four=Victor von Doom=solid metal skin, not a suit= ultimate universe.
Thor-donald blake=god or crazy man=unltimate universe.
will smith+captain america+world wide=$$$,$$$,$$$
you do the math.
In reading that article, I see no serious mention of Feige saying Will Smith might playing Cap, How can anyone even say its a rumor at this point?
He simply states that Smith is one of those stars with international appeal.
THey want someone with international appeal? Brad Fucking Pitt at Captain America!
I vote no for the Brad Pitt comment… but yes, he has “International Appeal”.
I think that a good man for the Cap. might be Sam Worthington.
I definately agree with what you said about how Feige doesn’t say anything about even considering Will Smith. He simply makes a statement that can be taken however a person might wish to perceive it.
In reading the article that is sourced, it specifically says they are looking for an actor with international appeal. Someone suggests the Will Smith rumour and he says, Smith has international appeal.
It doesn’t say Smith will be, but that he has the qualities they are looking for. Which means they haven’t ruled him out.
No one said this was an absolute.
Wouldn’t it be better to have a fantastic black actor, then a terrible white one? I’m a fan of Will Smith, I think he’s a great actor that oozes charisma and charm. Not only that, but he is a major Box Office draw. From a business stand point, casting him would be no brainer and let’s the quote says, he’s got ”international appeal”. And just because you change a look to a character, doesn’t mean they won’t act like the character. Transformers is a prime example of this. Each incarnation of Transformers, moreless have the same character, but their appearance always changes, but it works because the characters personality is still intact. This can easily be translates into a black Captain America.
High hopes for the Avenger Movie, maybe a template for more quality crossovers for films in the future. Kinda like Yojimbo meet Zatoichi back in the day, Or AVP. But both of those sucked.
Will Smith would not make a good Cap Amer. He is a great box office draw. But he does not fit the Cap America character. He can be fun and cocky. Or try to be a tortured character: I am Legend/Hancock. But neither is Cap America. Cap is the superman of the Marvel universe and Smith is just a poor fit. Or at best a stretch. (before anyone brings it up. I admit that I am a huge racist and card carrying member of the KKK. That being the sole reason I dislike Will Smith. Anyone would not want him to be Captain American obvious shares my hatred of black folks.”)
Its not an issue of race. However I would like to see Will Smith drop the ‘tude and play a straight laced military trained soldier from the 30s/40s era.
Smith has surprised me before. But I still don’t see this happening even though I am not against the idea.
nobodys accusing anyone in here of being racist….
and card carrying members of the KKK dont yet know what the internet is, sooo….haha
but the fact you think will smith can only portray the charchters he did in past movies is rediculous.U do know he was nominated for an oscar?
u do know hes played a gay man in one of his early films and doesnt just go into every roll and play it like hes in Bad Boys 3…..shitttt u know better then what you jus said.
I am not saying Smith can’t surprise us with a good performance. Just that from his past work, and yes I have seen Ali, Six Degrees etc. That his persona is not that of a good Cap America. I love Anthony Hopkins as a actor, but I wouldn’t think He is good for… Odin in the new Thor movie. I like the late Toshiro Mifune, but he might not be a good Silver Surfer. I am not questioning Smith as a actor but rather if he fits the role. Mifune might be a great Silver Surfer, but it just doesn’t feel right for me.
PS. If Negro is a word in the English Language then Rodney can use it. Till you change that, don’t hate the playa, hate on the man!
All the same, I’d also hope Avengers has Pym and Wasp in it as well. I know there were once plans to have an Ant-Man flick. Hopefully there’s room for them.
“Global threat”.
After some early confusion regarding The Hulk, Hulk/Banner decides the team is not for him. Iron Man, Thor, Wasp (?) and Pym (?) go looking for him.
I know this won’t happen but it’s too geek cool
They find Namor instead, who is about to lead an attack on the Surface World because of a long list of anti-Green and other eco problems. Turns out just prior to this, Namor had come across some dude frozen in a block of ice that was being “worshipped” by some group of remote Arctic tribe…and tossed that block into the ocean. The “Avengers” thaw out that block, out pops Captain America!
Namor “teams up” briefly with The Hulk to fight The Avengers, only to find Hulk changing his mind…
Then after Avengers, we get a Namor solo movie which briefly gives his origin, but focuses on redemption.
So why won’t it happen?
Namor’s rights are with another studio, right? Or are those rights about to revert back to Marvel? Help me out, Rodney. I know you want to.
As for Will Smith as Cap?
Hell, naw!
I am actually not sure who owns the Namor rights right now. Could be Fox as some tie in to Fantastic Four. (Much in the way they have dibbs on the X-cast)
And nice use of Smith’s catch phrase to ironically dismiss him. lol
Jensen Ackles for Cap!
If they had will smith as Isiah Bradley, ok I can see that. But I think that could be more of an origins movie and not The First Avenger: Captain America. I think 15 years ago, Dolph Lungdren could have played the physical role of Captain America. The guy was so friggin huge and would have had no problem looking like cap but to act? Hmm maybe shouldn’t be hard to play a straight by the book military soldier. I honestly can’t think of anyone right now that could have the physique or acting ability to play Captain America. Either way Captain America has to have Steve Rodgers, no way around that.
He could still be Steve Rogers. Just because he is black doesn’t mean he should be Bradley.
here i completely agree with u Rodney.
the fact that ppl cant wrap their mind around a Black actor playing a traditionally white charchter is un-settling…..
i mean the only way i wouldnt accept that, was if maybe it was a sequel or continuation, where in the first movie the actor was one race, and then in the sequel they changed actors/race.
its 2009 folks, ill get off my lil soap box here in a lil, but this country knew nothing but white middle aged men as their President for over 200 years….YES WE CAN, make will smith captain america!!!haha(corny i know)
a black actor as cap, sure. just NOT will smith. It would just be a will smith movie.
You said that already.
Please no Will Smith as Cap. No way. Keep it real to the story.
“Culturally it could fit that a negro soldier…”
Did you seriously say that?
Yes I did. Culturally in that era, there was still a strong feeling that a black man couldnt represent American freedom or the ideals of an American citizen, but they did serve their country.
Typically African Americans were set to their own squads and divisions in World War 2 segregating them from serving directly with their fellow citizens.
However many people still think that only a white guy could play Captain America just because Steve Rogers was a white guy. But culturally, any soldier could have become Captain America, so why not a black man.
I actually meant your choice of words to describe a black person/ african american. “Negro” this isn’t the pre-civil rights era. I am further baffled because you only used it once.
I believe the issue is with your own perception of the word Negro. Although once considered a racial slur (in tone, not definition), it has not been for a long time.
The UNCF (United Negro College Fund) uses the term quite literally even to this day, and it was in that context that I used the word.
The whole “African American” thing is a more recent convention of political correctness that in the right context can also be considered a slur. My context was not derogatory at all.
I am not going to go back and forth with you on this, but you best believe it would not be a good idea to refer to any african american/ black person as a negro. As for african american being derogatory, you’re reaching. And keep in mind, just because you don’t have bad intentions, doesn’t mean it can’t be perceived that way and in this case I am sure by the majority of african americans such as myself.
Because YOU have created a stigma for the word does not mean the word lacks a dictionary definition which I used accurately.
wow.i was just thinking that myself…
NEGRO?….yikes….since NEGRO was the ‘PC” back in the 50’s, americans have tried, Afro-American, African-American….
im black, and hearing the word NEGRO to describe a black charachter to a film in 2009 makes me feel like i should be drinkin’ from a seperate water fountin….
youre better then that rodney….but i would like to see what they could do with Will Smith in the mix…
I am better than using the english language for what it already offers up by definition? I am not better than some little word that you want to apply a different definition to.
Sorry. There is no offense intended nor perceived in the use of the word.
rodney i cant put you in any black persons shoes.i will not try to. just like i cant fully understand your perspective on the world.
the word faggot, means a bundle of sticks, and cigarette to some ppl. to others, the word FAGGOT is incredibly offensive….
the fact is perception is reality. my perception is that, in 2009 theres better/more appropriate words for you to use.that is all.
your perception apparently is that you are justified in using the word because YOU dont think its offensive by its literal translation in the dictionary.
if you feel that is appropriate, i look forward to you using the word NEGRO more often when talking about or referring to black ppl….signing off…one of your loyal NEGRO readers.
I think the term is applicable to the time period… a time that featured the Negro Leagues.
yes, KC, other wrongs were applicable at the time too.
segregation, the negro leagues, all of it….
so when Rodney is writing about something in 2009(rodney isnt writing a script with dialogue set that era, hes writing a blog) he shouldnt need to use to word NEGRO at all…
youre just reaching with the dictionary shit.
haha, plus like the sith said, i believe thats the first and only(hopefully last) time ive seen the word NEGRO on this blog….
because something was “appropriate”(to white ppl) 50 years ago, does not make it just today.
were entitled to free speach ofcourse, and rodney can use whatever words he deems OK to describe a black soldier for a comic book/movie….im just adding a different, opposing perspective, if thats ok…
everything isnt so black and white as rodney would like to think…yes, pun INTENDED.
“You know that is going to be all anyone cared about on that subject. Historically Captain America is going to start out in World War 2, in which there were black soldiers”
—> im un offended like i said.i know plenty of ppl that WOULD take offense to it, and i guess its becuz you had the opportunity to say NEGRO soldiers here, but you just threw it in there randomly once, after referring to them as black soldiers…..that is all…PEACE everyone!
At the time, Negro was considered a neutral term, Black was considered negative. In fact, Black history month was Negro History Week from ~1926 to 1960.
If the movie is set in WWII, and Will Smith is cast he will or should be referred to as a Negro Soldier, the historically accurate term.
While a white man in america shouldn’t use the term to refer to a contemporary black person because of the negative connotations associated with it IN THE USA, I have no idea if the same connotations exist in other locations, such as Canada.
As Bale pointed out, a faggot is a bundle of sticks, and fag means cigarette in the UK. They are both offensive terms in the US, but other places they simply do not carry that meaning. You cannot hold someone from another culture for an offense that they are not a part of.
Go old school. Yankee was a term for Americans in Europe, a term for northerners in the south, and is now a baseball team in New York.
Any term carries the context of the person saying it. There was a brief time when I was told to only use African-American to describe Black people, but it is a term I would never expect someone from outside this country to use. There was actually a case of a white man who immigrated from Africa, and mistakenly checked of African-American as his race, as well as a college professor who used the term niggardly and was fired, even though the term has nothing to do with the racial slur other than a similar sound.
As George carlin said, “There’s a different group to get pissed off at you in this country for everything your not supposed to say. Can’t say [list of racial slurs] There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of those words in and of themselves. Their only words. It’s the context that counts. It’s the user. It’s the intention behind the words that makes them good or bad. The words are completely neutral. The words are innocent. I get tired of people talking about bad words and bad language. It’s the context that makes them good or bad. The context. That makes them good or bad. For instance, you take the word “[omitted]” There is absolutely nothing wrong with the word “[omitted]” in and of itself. It’s the racist asshole who’s using it that you ought to be concerned about”
I despise the term _______-American. I was born in America, I’m an American. Tracking my genealogy back, I see my ancestors immigrated here from Ireland via Canada. So am I an Irish-American, or Canadian-American? Heck no, I’m American.
I read a great article in Time or Newsweek years ago, written by a black American. It was a well written piece in which he actually travels to Africa, seeing the genocide, violence, etc. The crux of the article came down to the fact that he did not even want to be associated with Africa in any way, shape or form. He didn’t refer to himself as an African-American, but rather as simply an American.
yea, i keep it simple.im black….
i actually was born in africa but my mother was american and i grew up in new york…so im LITERALLY african american…
but negro, etc are just played out terms that were meant to be politcally correct….if were all americans, it further prooves that it shouldnt matter what color, black or white(etc) captain AMERICA is….but white soliders and black soldiers are very safe, matter of fact, and un-offensive.
WOW, just WOW.
Wow, you guys are sensitive. Yes, the word negro is out of place these days, but in no way at all is it offensive. And no one can say that Rodney used the term intending to offend. You guys are creating racism out of nothing.
okay wow I’m black and I didnt give a damn about him using that word. I flinched a lil bit but then I realized he was talking about another time and speaking in context with that time period but even if he wasn’t, it really doesn’t matter. I flinched cuz I haven’t heard anybody use that word in a minute but I am black, african american, negro, chocolate all that shit. it’s just a word. It’s not like he used the other one. lol chill out.
will smith as isiah bradley? hmmm
in continuity, out of continuity which is it?
that would be a whole other movie, hmmm?