The Role Of Nazis And "The Hitler Punch" In Captain America Revealed!

The Role Of Nazis And "The Hitler Punch" In Captain America Revealed!

Want to know why HYDRA are the main villains instead of Nazis and how big of a role they'll have in the movie? How about whether or not we'll see Captain America punch Hitler? Find out here...

By JoshWilding - Jul 18, 2011 05:07 PM EST
Filed Under: Captain America
Source: io9

io9 have released some interesting details which were revealed at a recent chat with the filmmakers behind Captain America: The First Avenger, including writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, director Joe Johnston, and producers Kevin Feige and Louis D'esposito. What follows are a few excerpts from their report regarding the role of the Nazis and Adolf Hitler in the movie, but to read more (including a few new details on Cap's transition into The Avengers) head on over to the site by clicking on the link below.

The creative team emphasized that they didn't push the Nazis to one side because they were afraid of using them - as Joe Johnston put it, they're a universal villain and can be killed with impunity, so they didn't leave them out for fear of somehow offending people. And, indeed, they pointed out that there are still plenty of Nazis in the movie, they just aren't the primary antagonists for Cap. That said, Feige acknowledged that Cap very much does fight Nazis as well as supervillains in the original comics, and he alluded to the iconic cover of Captain America #1, in which Steve Rogers punches out Hitler. The problem, he explained, is that it's very difficult to come up with any logical scenario that could get Cap to that moment.

Instead, he said that they decided to just tip their hats to that cover by incorporating that imagery into the USO show in which Cap is forced to participate. And "forced" is the right word - Joe Johnston said it's his favorite sequence of the movie, but they made sure Steve seemed out of place and uncomfortable amid this silliness. As a bonus, Feige explained that the USO show actually inspires the creation of the in-universe version of Marvel Comics, which is an homage to the comic book universe's longstanding contention that Marvel Comics exists as a not always accurate chronicle of the superheroes' various adventures.


STARRING:

Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America
Sebastian Stan as Bucky
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter
Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt/Red Skull
Toby Jones as Arnim Zola
Stanley Tucci as Abraham Erskine
Tommy Lee Jones as Col. Chester Phillips
Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark
Neal McDonough as Dum Dum Dugan
JJ Field as Union Jack
Derek Luke as Gabe Jones
Kenneth Choi as Jim Morita

RELEASE DATE: July 22nd, 2011. (US) July 29th, 2011. (UK)





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mk
mk - 7/18/2011, 5:22 PM
^ true. cant wait for cap going midnight screening
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 7/18/2011, 5:42 PM
HYDRA's to numb down the realism... pity but CAP will still be cool!

Well it better be!
spang2005
spang2005 - 7/18/2011, 5:42 PM
"it's very difficult to come up with any logical scenario that could get Cap to that moment."

How about Cap is on a secret mission to raid a Nazi base. He gets to the main room and is surprised/taken aback to find Hitlet there, because that wasn't the objective of the mission. The two have a moment where they stand and look at each other in astonishment, then Cap tries to shoot him and end the war, but is out of bullets. So he socks him in the jaw and has to retreat as the SS closes in on him.

See, it's not that hard! I'm not griping though. At least they found a clever way to incorporate that classic image.
95
95 - 7/18/2011, 5:47 PM
Good job to Marvel for incorporating that iconic image in the film.
capcyclopsftw
capcyclopsftw - 7/18/2011, 6:09 PM
Spang - Cap never retreats.
ShadesAtKnight
ShadesAtKnight - 7/18/2011, 6:10 PM
That poster is freaking awesome.
spang2005
spang2005 - 7/18/2011, 6:23 PM
Good call capcyke. What was I thinking!?

GinGuilt
GinGuilt - 7/18/2011, 6:24 PM
we already knew this. I knew,and I only read this site.
kookevin3
kookevin3 - 7/18/2011, 6:25 PM
I for one am glad Hydra has a larger part of the story than Nazis. Show cap fighting Nazis in the mission montage.
NeoBaggins
NeoBaggins - 7/18/2011, 6:25 PM
"Feige explained that the USO show actually inspires the creation of the in-universe version of Marvel Comics, which is an homage to the comic book universe's longstanding contention that Marvel Comics exists as a not always accurate chronicle of the superheroes' various adventures."

Huh?

ThreeBigTacos
ThreeBigTacos - 7/18/2011, 6:26 PM
So what's the Stan lee cameo?
capcyclopsftw
capcyclopsftw - 7/18/2011, 6:33 PM
I love the last paragraph of the article...Looks like Cap will be respected by the other Avengers...




"But, as Christopher Markus explained, that approach was also a necessity for The Avengers to make any sense. After all, in keeping with the comics version of the team, Steve has to be the most seasoned and experienced soldier imaginable, and somebody whose past experiences in World War II make him a natural leader and someone who can command the respect of all these other ridiculously powerful superheroes. The only way to do that, Markus said, was to "bloat in" all that extra backstory."

GLKilowog
GLKilowog - 7/18/2011, 6:33 PM
...They thought that having Captain America... Kill a bunch of Nazi's with impunity... Would offend people? I'm confused. Are people really that anti-Nazi-death?
capcyclopsftw
capcyclopsftw - 7/18/2011, 6:34 PM
Neobaggins - I think that they're saying that they might have Marvel comics in this universe and that's why there is Captain America #1 in Howard Stark's case in IM2? Maybe?
headlopper
headlopper - 7/18/2011, 6:35 PM
The film industry needs to ball up and use Al Qaeda as the villain. Back then, yeah Nazis. During the cold war,the U.S.S.R, now it's Al Qaeda.
Nazis as villains are necessary for this film,but afterwards,get contemporary and send Cap to Afghanistan.
Joker08
Joker08 - 7/18/2011, 6:45 PM
@Neo: I had to read that five times. I thought I was stupid for a second... Nope. That's just some god-aweful grammar.
FriendlyNeighborhoodSpidey
FriendlyNeighborhoodSpidey - 7/18/2011, 6:50 PM
Does this seem a little overly politically correct? Afraid of using nazis?? Their nazis! I am glad they will be in the movie but what were they hesitant about? At least they realized they ARE a universal villain. I'm part German and using nazi's as the villain does NOT offend me. Of course, I am also polish so...lol. Anyway, I'm sure the movie will be good. Bring on Captain America!!!!!! : )
Philvis
Philvis - 7/18/2011, 6:50 PM
Captain America is still my most anticipated movie of the summer and from what I've seen looks great, but I do think the Nazi element or lack there of is very WEAK. Seriously, Nazi's ARE the ultimate villain, so it is pretty weak they are glossed over in a WWII time period movie, comic book or no comic book. Love Joe Johnston, but disappointed in his cop out.
luckylu
luckylu - 7/18/2011, 6:52 PM
we know that nazis will be in the movie. just for like 5 min though.
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 7/18/2011, 6:58 PM
A Marvel universe within the MCU? Interesting.
RexDartEskimoSpy
RexDartEskimoSpy - 7/18/2011, 6:58 PM
You guys do realize that not all German soldiers were members of the Nazi party? In fact, being a Nazi member tended to get you promoted pretty quickly (friends in high places...), so the German infantry grunts that would be cannon fodder in this kind of movie weren't plastered with swastikas. They're just in olive drab uniforms, like everyone else. Hydra goons make a much more visually dynamic villain for Cap.
superotherside
superotherside - 7/18/2011, 7:20 PM
awesome probably will go to the day it debuts! :) so excited!
wadepool
wadepool - 7/18/2011, 7:49 PM
@Neo
The way I read the last paragraph was that Cap inspires the creation of marvel comics but the differ from the real characters back stories, this also brings up an interesting thought what if Stan the man's cameo is of himself watching the USO show and getting inspired by Cap and when he returns he could pitch the idea to a young Jack Kirby

@otherside

I literally but my ticket 30 minutes ago the only problem there is no midnight show :(
marvel72
marvel72 - 7/18/2011, 7:51 PM
yeah nazi's (that sounds really bad.)
superwolverine
superwolverine - 7/18/2011, 8:21 PM
Marvel is just scared, hope they don't saturate or water down anything else.
NeoBaggins
NeoBaggins - 7/18/2011, 8:28 PM
capcyclopsftw, Yeah, I guess I need to watch IM2 more closely. This is the second time this week something was pointed out fron that movie. The "Cosmic cube" in his note book and now a Cap comic. I don't remember seeing that at all. Sarcasm also noted.

wadepool I thought that's what I was reading. That element is best served as an amusing nod, but I don't think they should go too far with that. A Cap comic works as a vintage piece of that history while celebrating MARVEL's achievments. It should end there. When you start having THOR sitting around in a movie reading a comicbook about himself and Tony Stark is playing with Iron Man dolls, we start to lose the magic imo.

Joker08, If the Grammar police were real, this would be a maximum security prison.
BrotherQStark
BrotherQStark - 7/18/2011, 8:48 PM
Oh Captain,My Captain!
BloodRed
BloodRed - 7/18/2011, 8:48 PM
I've SEEN the entire film and they're full of shite!!! In the full film, you see T-H-R-E-E Nazis in their traditional uniforms. THREE. And only ONE of them has a Swastika on his arm and it's shown VERY briefly.

So, if Hydra is in our current timeline, then they're STILL really Nazis?? No, they're a terrorist organization.

Cap fights lame, unemotional, non-speaking Hydra goons throughout. They're NOT dynamic. Btw, the 3 Nazis are quickly vaporized by the Red Skull.

EVERY "German" in the film put on the worst German accents. Not one is very believable and Weaving looks great, but is miscast, as his voice is not threatening and doesn't go with the Red Skull face.

Lower your expectations now. It's not a great movie. It's the sad truth.

wadepool
wadepool - 7/18/2011, 8:58 PM
@neo

I think it wouldnt take away from the magic as you put it I think it could work I mean we have comic books about other historical figures so by that logic and since in the MCU Cap would be considered a historical figure it makes sense for there to be a comic book about him.
wadepool
wadepool - 7/18/2011, 8:58 PM
@neo

I think it wouldnt take away from the magic as you put it I think it could work I mean we have comic books about other historical figures so by that logic and since in the MCU Cap would be considered a historical figure it makes sense for there to be a comic book about him.
wadepool
wadepool - 7/18/2011, 8:58 PM
Sorry for the double post
HavocT
HavocT - 7/18/2011, 9:14 PM
I know a logical scenario... dream sequence.
NeoBaggins
NeoBaggins - 7/18/2011, 9:20 PM
wadepool Yeah, I think the comic aspect of it works great for Cap, but not as soemthing that needs to be pushed beyond an inside joke between creators and fans. It could get complicated and cheezy real fast. It's fun, but not as an actual and ongoing element within the films. I'm going to go home and look for that Cap comic in IM2.
Superheromoviefan
Superheromoviefan - 7/18/2011, 9:24 PM
meh
I wanted to see the punch
SugarYumYum
SugarYumYum - 7/18/2011, 9:35 PM
A MCU inside the Marvel Movieverse sounds really cool. They shouldn't take it too far though or like Neobaggins said, the novelty would wear off and it'll just look ridiculous.

Cap makes sense since he is seen as a historical figure. Thor works since he's a mythological figure and Ironman is pretty much a celebrity so naturally, he'd have books, shows, and toys based off of him. It should stop there though, having the whole team would be overkill.
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