Captain America is meant to be a figure of strength and hope for all of America during some of it’s most frightening days. He is meant to be an inspiring leader among men. He is someone whose very presence commands respect, inspires integrity and also carries an air of authority and trust. These are qualities that Evans isn’t exactly synonymous with in his work. That doesn’t mean he can’t nail it, he is an actor after all. He could very well play the role impeccably and capture the spirit of Cap just as we imagine it. He certainly wasn’t the obvious choice though, so let me elaborate on my concerns.
On a level outside of character attributes and story, there’s the situation of the ensemble cast in “The Avengers“. So far in the project we have the following actors in the main cast:
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury - A well established actor with an intense screen presence and an impressive list of films including “The Long Kiss Goodnight“, “Coach Carter“, “The Negotiator” and an iconic performance as one of cinema’s most bad-ass characters in “Snakes On A Plane“. Wait, no.. “Pulp Fiction“!
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/ Iron Man - A man whose confidence, relaxed nature and fearlessness as a leading man is evident in all of his work. His personal brand of improvisation was an essential part of Iron Man’s success. He has garnered praise in roles such as the 1992 biopic “Chaplin” playing Charlie Chaplin, “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang“, and as the iconic detective in Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes“.
Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/ The Incredible Hulk - Ruffalo is known for his involvement in the independent film circuit, and acting in more character driven dramatic works. Indie films such as “You Can Count On Me” and “The Kids Are Alright” have had much critical success. He is also talented enough to step into the mainstream and work alongside heavyweights as in “Collateral“, and Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island“.
Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye - Renner has been one of the more prominent names in Hollywood in recent years with roles in two films which have earned huge levels of praise, “The Hurt Locker” and “The Town“. He is cementing his name in the business as a very serious actor, so much so that he will soon be taking over the reigns in the “Mission Impossible” franchise.
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow - She has become a household name as an actress and as a fantasy for legions of men around the world. Her filmography includes celebrated films such as “Lost In Translation“, “Girl With A Pearl Earring“, “Match Point” and “The Prestige” (alongside Batman, Alfred and Wolverine and The Goblin King, what a party).
Chris Hemsworth as Thor - A man at the beginning of his film career, Hemsworth is the only exception is this list. Although, his small role in the rebooted “Star Trek” franchise as Captain Kirk’s father was definitely a dramatic highlight of the film.
The important detail here is that Chris Evans’s role isn’t just another member the Avengers. His role in the film means that he is, essentially, the main man. Working with S.H.I.E.L.D, Captain America is the Avengers team leader. The other heroes, while they are forces to be reckoned with individually, function as a team because they have a man strong enough in will, mind and combat to keep the structure intact.
Herein is my issue.
While the Avengers are cast remarkably well, Chris Evans stands out in an uneasy fashion for me. I like Chris Evans, he has talent. He’s charismatic, determined, as well as a really decent guy from what I know of him. But does no one get a little worried like I do when I try to envision Chris Evans’s Cap in a room with the aforementioned actors in their respective roles? He’s going to need a noticeably powerful demeanour unlike any other hero. He needs to instil them with the belief that they can stand against any obstacle as a team and overcome it. He needs to be number one, an icon among great men.
I’m very open to seeing Chris take a shot at the role but I just can’t be so content in the thought as much as other CBM enthusiasts. Actors like Downey and Jackson especially exhibit the calibre necessary to carry a film. Captain America’s leading star needs to maintain a sense of authority among them and that’s a daunting task. I must make this clear though, I don’t necessarily mean that an actor would need a well-established career as a leading man, but simply an example of that quality in whatever work he has done. You know how people say certain actors have “it”? Personally, I don’t think Chris Evans has “it”. At least, not yet anyway. He could still surprise me and portray Cap in the way we all hope, and I would never ignore his potential to achieve just that. I do have my doubts, but I am behind Evans and I’m waiting for him to prove me wrong and deliver a film worthy of the comics.
Finally, I’ll end with my choice for the role of Captain America, even though it’s irrelevant at this stage.
I truly think Armie Hammer was an ideal actor for the role in ever respect minus the slight issue of his age. But if any of you have seen him in action, you’ll know he doesn’t come across as the young man he is. Now I know you might be confused seeing as Armie has little experience in the business compared to the other actors, so my picking him may seem like a random choice, given my talk about calibre and presence.
Nonetheless, he fits in my opinion.
Based on looks alone, I think he‘s almost ideal. He’s 6’5” which is bigger than the height of Cap, but it wouldn’t bother me personally seeing as he is a super soldier. Although, Hemsworth is 6’3” so you may think that would be too unusual. But Hammer has a tall, broad frame that looks perfect for the development of the muscle mass Cap would have. His general look is spot on in my eyes. His voice is deep, strong and sounds like that of a confident man and a powerful hero but i also get that wholesome all-American vibe from him that is such a vital component in the personality of Steve Rogers. I think he could've personified the perfect soldier like no other. Hammer’s portrayal of the Winklevoss twins in “The Social Network” was a riveting one and it seems like critics, film-makers and the general public agree. As amazing as the other actors were, I came out of the cinema with Hammer’s performance in mind. In my opinion, he has “it”. I think he is made to play a hero, and I find it sad that we aren’t going to see him hurl the shield on the battlefield.
Despite this, Chris Evans is Captain America. If he masters Rogers in “Captain America: The First Avenger” it will be an accomplishment. If he can then measure up against the other heavy hitters in “The Avengers” and lead the team, it would be an epic time for Marvel and would allow the story to unfold as it should. Personally, I wish they had decided to give Cap two films to really establish the icon before pursuing the Avengers, but that’s just a personal preference.
So CBMers, are you guys and girls confident in Evans leading the Avengers, or more specifically as I mentioned, leading the cast?
Does anyone out there share my apprehensions?
And what’s the general opinion of Hammer? I’m interested to know if anybody else thinks he would’ve been a good choice.
When commenting, please note that this is just my opinion and I don’t automatically label those who completely disagree as idiots. I just wanted to throw this out there and give people something to consider.
Anyway, let me know what you think and thanks very much for reading, it’s my first article and I appreciate it. =]