Hugo Weaving Will Battle CAPTAIN AMERICA

Marvel still hasn’t announced who will play the titular super-soldier in The First Avenger: Captain America – it seems every day we have a new list of possible actors for the role – but we can (almost) confirm who will play the film’s villain.

The first name to be attached to the film is Hugo Weaving (The Matrix, V for Vendetta) who will play the Red Skull, the Nazi in charge of carrying  out terrorist activities, as appointed by Hitler himself.

Marvel.com’s description of the character:

Hitler gave Schmidt an unique uniform with a grotesque red skull mask, and he emerged as the Red Skull. His role was the embodiment of Nazi intimidation, while Hitler could remain the popular leader of Germany. … He was spectacularly successful, wreaking havoc throughout Europe in the early stages of World War II. The propaganda effect was so great that the United States government decided to counter it by creating their own equivalent using the recipient of the lost Project Rebirth, Steve Rogers, Captain America. The two counterparts soon clashed in what would be a series of engagements throughout the war, ending with a final battle that left the Skull buried under the rubble of a bombed building. Because he was immediately exposed to an experimental gas there, he remained in suspended animation for decades. Johann was eventually rescued in modern times by the terrorist organization, HYDRA. The Skull quickly subverted a cell to his own ambitions of world conquest and the death of Captain America.

While we can all dream about Christoph Waltz landing the role of the gross-looking Nazi villain, Hugo Weaving is a pretty solid choice for Red Skull. He’s got that villain thing down pat, and with a character like that – whose face will most likely be heavily covered – it pays to have a memorable voice.

This casting news couldn’t come too soon, as fans everywhere are foaming at the mouth to know who will play Captain America himself. According to multiple reports across the net, controversial front-runner John Krasinski is out, and the new short-list includes Mike Vogel (Cloverfield), Garret Hedlund (Tron Legacy), Wilson Bethel (Generation Kill) and Chris Evans (Fantastic Four).  At this point, I’m ignoring all casting rumors until an official announcement is made. This is getting kind of ridiculous.

Lastly, here’s an apparent leaked synopsis for the film. No big surprises there:

Born during the Great Depression, Steve Rogers grew up a frail youth in a poor family. Horrified by the newsreel footage of the Nazis in Europe, Rogers was inspired to enlist in the army. However, because of his frailty and sickness, he was rejected. Overhearing the boy’s earnest plea, General Chester Phillips offered Rogers the opportunity to take part in a special experiment… Operation: Rebirth. After weeks of tests, Rogers was at last administered the Super-Solider Serum and bombarded by “vita-rays.” Steve Rogers emerged from the treatment with a body as perfect as a body can be and still be human. Rogers was then put through an intensive physical and tactical training program. Three months later, he was given his first assignment as Captain America. Armed with his indestructible shield and battle savvy, Captain America has continued his war against evil both as a sentinel of liberty and as leader of the Avengers.

Source: THR