“The First Avenger: Captain America” Updates!

What not to wear. 

Sooooo…are you a Captain America fan? Are you anxiously awaiting the release of Marvel’s “The First Avenger: Captain America” on July 22, 2011? Yes you are–I know you’re out there. Well, then, just for you, Captain America fans, we have this info from director Joe Johnston, who spoke with SuperheroHype about the film, specifically about why the movie is going to be set mostly during World War II:

“Virtually the entire story except the bookends are in World War II because we all recognize we have one chance to tell the origin story of how he became Captain America, you can’t tell a modern story and then go back and tell the origin story. If you’re going to do it, let’s do it. Let’s do it first. Everyone wanted to tell an origin story. There was a version where it was a modern story and it didn’t work.”

Well, I always associate Captain America with World War II, so this makes sense to me. Then again, I’m not aware of the modern incarnation of the character and what he’s been up to. Oh, speaking of the character, no casting news yet. Whoever gets the part, though, will face off against villain Red Skull. Hopefully they’ll be smart enough to stick with the one villain plan. As for casting the title role, the producers are hoping to figure that out by the end of this month. Supposedly they’re aiming for an American actor and an “unknown.”

But what will that actor wear? The LA Times found out about the Captain America costune from Joe Johnston, who is out doing publicity for “The Wolfman,” but seems to be talking a lot about other things. Anyway, the costume:

“The costume is a flag, but the way we’re getting around that is we have Steve Rogers forced into the USO circuit,” Johnston said. “After he’s made into this super-soldier, they decide they can’t send him into combat and risk him getting killed. He’s the only one and they can’t make more. So they say, ‘You’re going to be in this USO show’ and they give him a flag suit. He can’t wait to get out of it.”

He added that “When he does go AWOL, he covers up the suit but then, after a few things happen, he realizes that this uniform allows him to lead. By then, he’s become a star in the public mind and a symbol. The guys get behind him because he embodies something special.”

Which leads to a new costume: “In the first USO sequences, the frustrated patriot will be wearing a version that is closer to the classic Jack Kirby-designed costume, but then later as the super-soldier hits the war zone he will be wearing a sturdier, more muted version that he makes himself that is more like battle togs. The stripes across his mid-section, for instance, will be straps, not colored fabric.” 

( Thanks also to ComingSoon for picking out this info from the LA Times interview.)

It’s tough to look good in a flag, so yes, they have to make it look a little less like a figure skating costume and more like something a “super soldier” would wear. Apparently they wanted to make sure they got the original, iconic costume in there and thought the USO idea, where the character could look more like, well, a comic book character, would be the best solution. It’s not bad. It might annoy some hard working USO folk, though, who won’t be thrilled with the image of their group as a cartoonish version of patriotism. Well, you’re always going to annoy someone, I suppose.

Johnston says the role will go to someone about 22-23 years old; although most soldiers are in the nineteen to twenty year old range, they wanted to skew a little older, in order to give something of a “big brother” feel to the character. Supposedly they’re testing five or six actors who range in age from 23 to 32. Johnston also said that they want someone who can be both the “98 pound weakling” version of Rogers, as well as the buff superhero. Hmmm…