Casting The Avengers

There’s no doubt Marvel is on a roll. Iron Man is near the top of the list of the year’s most successful films, making the metal millionaire a household name, and The Incredible Hulk revitalizing the green behemoth’s franchise and making it, well, credible again. It doesn’t stop here though, mighty Marvel has already planted the seeds for the next four years of celluloid superheroics. We got Iron Man 2 and Thor set for 2010, and The First Avenger: Captain America, with a stupid title, hitting the theaters only months before the giant crossover, The Avengers, for summer 2011. This will be the superhero event to define the genre, as it will be one of the first times we will see a multitude of characters from separate franchises come together in one universe, with Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Giant Man, Wasp and apparently the Hulk (who I believe should act as the “villain” in the film) sharing the bill.

Almost as important to the film as the story itself, is the cast. As trivial a factor that this can be, we as an audience have been spoiled lately with these comic book films having mega-stars in the roles. But they’ve also been pretty damn good. This adds to part of my shock of Hellboy taking off so well, not that I’m complaining. But casting these amazing fantasies are big news, big money, and lead to big speculation, often times with ridiculous rumors, like Jack Black for Green Lantern, or Will Smith for Captain America. The Avengers, other than Iron Man, and Hulk, is fair game right now, so I stood back, and asked myself – a HUGE Avengers fan – who would I cast for the earth’s mightiest?

Using the base founding characters and early members from the comic books, here are my picks:

Captain America (Steve Rogers)

Pick 1: Matthew Fox (Lost, Speed Racer)

If there’s anything Matthew Fox could bring to the role of Cap, its his boyish charm and an all-around American-ness. I think he’d look great in the costume, and although going with a tv actor, I could see him pulling it off and winning the fans over. Though for a Captain America stand-alone film I would still be a tad wary.

Pick 2: David Wenham (300, LOTR: The Two Towers)

This pick is a major dark horse. Before you go all retard-strong on me, yes I realize that the man I’ve chosen to play Captain America, is in fact not American. But he looks badass, and he has a history of playing a badass. He was the dude in 300 who took over for King Leonidas at the end. Tell me that wasn’t badass. And he’s blond, so when in Rome…

Thor (Donald Blake?)

Pick 1: Sean Bean (Goldeneye, LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring)

The only thing stopping Sean Bean from being just perfect for the God of Thunder himself is his age, but to that I say balderdash. If Robert Downey Jr. Showed us anything, its that an actor who isn’t 25 can play superhero better than anyone. And the same goes with Thor. Bean would look amazing in the role, just watch The Fellowship of the Ring and see what he did with Boromir (and how cool would it be to have the guy that played that character’s brother, Faramir, as Cap). If the rumors become truth and Kenneth Branagh ends up helming the Thor solo film, I can see the partnership with Sean Bean being incredibly magnetic.

Pick 2: Josh Holloway (Lost)

Another body from the Lost cast that could work very well. I can only really see Holloway working if Marvel decides to go the route of Ultimate Thor, which I wouldn’t put past them. Marvel films have embraced the Ultimate versions of its properties for the big screen, with instances of Galactus and Nick Fury. I actually think the Ultimate version of Thor would work better with the mainstream audience. Instead of a cut and dried Norse God, what if there was doubt that this person, who still has amazing powers, was actually a God and not just some delusional lunatic? If his performance on Lost has captured anything, its the same dry sarcasm that could really flush out this alternate take on Thor. And damn… he really could look the part.

Giant Man [aka Ant Man, Yellowjacket, Goliath] (Dr. Henry “Hank” Pym)

Pick 1: Guy Pearce (Memento, L.A. Confidential)

Not only is Guy a phenomenal and accomplished actor, he has the physical resemblance of Marvel’s leading inventor/scientist going for him. Guy could flawlessly capture Hank Pym’s trademark charm and wit, but could also give us glimmers of the characters darker, troubled personality traits.

Wasp (Janet Van Dyne)

Pick 1: Nora Zehetner (Heroes)

I know what you’re thinking, ‘Nora who?’, but rest assured there’s a method to my madness. Nora proved she had some good chops with her cool but brief role on Heroes as Eden, the metahuman with the ability to persuade anyone of anything. And she persuaded me that she would make a rad Janet Van Dyne as she looks the part really well, and would bring just the right amount of energy the character would need. She’s got that Audrey Tatou look to her, and I think with the right role she could have a great career on the forefront.

Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff)

Pick 1: Megan Fox (Transformers, Transformers 2: Rise of the Fallen)

I’m really not a huge fan of Megan Fox at all. I don’t think she is incredibly talented, based on the one role I’ve seen her in, and I don’t think she has that certain magnetism or charisma needed to be a leading lady. I do think, that in the small role of Scarlet Witch, she would be fantastic based on the fact that she is the spitting image of the modern appearance of the character. So on the visual aspect alone, give the role to Ms. Transformers. Just make it a cameo if you must.

Hawkeye (Clint Barton)

Pick 1: Ryan Reynolds (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Blade: Trinity)

Talk about over-saturating the market, but I believe there are at least a dozen superheroes Ryan Reynolds could play. He’s just so charming and watchable and he brings a lightness to his roles. He makes it a bit easier for us to suspend our belief and take those leaps of faith needed for comic book fantasy. He also looks surprisingly like a ton of characters. All this and more is enough reason to cast him as the Avenger’s resident no-nonsense archer. My only worry would be too much recognition with other Marvel characters, like Hannibal King or the upcoming Wolverine solo flick in which Reynolds plays our favorite merc with a mouth, Deadpool.

Pick 2: James Badge Dale (24)

Another very dark horse pick, and in the same vain as Megan Fox, this choice would be made solely on appearance alone, and maybe a little bit of prospect. James Badge Dale is really only slightly known from his role of Chase on 24. He’s young, handsome and probably wouldn’t cost a huge fortune which would be good for a supporting role like Hawkeye. Although I love the character, I can’t see a huge amount of screen-time, if any, for our purple suited arrow shooter. That sounded filthy.

There you have it, kiddos. Let us know your thoughts or your picks below.

Iron Man 2 comes out May 7, 2010.
Thor hits theaters July 16, 2010.
The First Avenger: Captain America opens May 6, 2011.
The Avengers face-rapes audiences everywhere July 15, 2011.