Six Actors Shortlisted For CAPTAIN AMERICA

Deadline Hollywood broke this exclusive casting news in regards to Marvel’s highly anticipated The First Avenger: Captain America. While we don’t have our Captain America yet – though director Joe Johnston says we will know by March 1 – the shortlist of actors up for the role of Steve Rogers-turned-super-soldier has been revealed. And they are…

John Krasinski (The Office)

This is easily the biggest WTF name on this list. Never in a million years would I have guessed that he’d be up for the role. The more I think about it though, the more I want to see Jim Halpert as Captain America. Is it ballsy? Yes. Is it unusual casting? Certainly. I think that Krasinski could do some wonderful things with the role though. He’s got that screen presence, that comfort in front of the camera that just stands out. Although he may not look the part of a chiseled, corn-fed, blond-haired, blue-eyed beefcake, the dude is pretty tall and could fill that frame up with some bulk I’m sure. Let’s face it, they’ve transformed actors for less of a role. He can do this.

Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights, Speed Racer)

Of the entire list, this is my please God no pick. I love the Friday Night Lights tv series, but his character was the absolute worst part of the show. This dude just can’t act for peanuts. He’s not likable, he’s got very little presence, and is just totally wrong for Captain America.

Mike Vogel (Cloverfield)

I only remember this cat as the brother that bit the dust in Cloverfield. He has a very generic look to him, which could either be a good thing or a bad thing, but overall he seems unremarkable. If they go with him – which I doubt – I would be neither pleased nor disappointed. Meh.

Patrick Flueger (Brothers)

This guy’s pretty super unknown. I haven’t seen him in anything so I can’t attest to his acting chops. While he’s got a pretty strong, Captain America-ish look to him, dare I say he comes off rather on the young side. That being said, based on looks alone, he’s a good candidate.

Chace Crawford (Gossip Girl)

Terrible. This dude is far too pretty for the Captain. A resounding no from me.

Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy)

Hedlund is pretty close on the look for Captain America, and he’s got the Tron geek cred, but according to Slashfilm he isn’t screen-testing for the role; something to do with businessey mumbo-jumbo. So the odds of him landing the gig are slim to none.

All of the above actors either have screen-tested, or are in the process of screen-testing. The role in this film will be fairly low-paid, coming in at around the $300K salary. The actor will also be signed on to a whopping nine picture deal, encompassing future sequels, spin-offs and the Avengers film(s). Samuel L. Jackson had previously been reported as signing a similar deal with Marvel for his Nick Fury character.

You never know, though, which way it will go with these casting lists. It very well could be one of the above gentlemen, it very well could not. At this point all we do is wait.

What are your thoughts on casting Cap?