Joe Johnston Talks about casting Chris Evans as CAPTAIN AMERICA
Captain America director Joe Johnston recently did an interview with Earths Mightiest in which he talked about the casting of Steve Rogers/Captain America. As you know, Chris Evans won the role of Steve Rogers after one of the most insane casting processes ever. Marvel and Johnston met with so many different types of actors, from the no names to the big stars. So what was it exactly they were looking for? Johnston explains.
Casting Captain America is really casting two roles...Steve Rogers before and after the transformation from 98 pound weakling to perfect physical specimen. I can't divulge how we're going to do it, but the performance will be Chris Evans from beginning to end. An actor playing Captain America has to embody that backstory and let it inform his understanding of his new self. One of the interesting aspects of the character is the effect that kind of total transformation would have on the his psyche. It gives the character more dimension and the actor playing him a wider range of interesting choices.
Evans is currently putting on a good amount of muscle for the role of Captain America. I image they are just going to use CGI to make him look like a 98 pound weakling, I don't know how else they are going to do it. I think the best way to do it would be to do what David Fincher did with Brad Pitt in Benjamin Button, where they actually used an old mans body, and CGI'd Pitt's head on the old mans body. The effects in that movie were incredible, and that might be the best way to go for Steve Rogers.
Johnston then goes on to explain why he ultimately chose Evans to take on the role. This may actually surprise you.
Chris didn't audition at all. I was already familiar with everything he'd done and was championing his cause, not that I had a fight from the Marvel team. They were fans of his as well. He came in to the art department to say hi, saw all the jaw-dropping art and designs on the wall and reacted the way I'd hoped he would. It was really his wonderful enthusiasm for everything he saw that cinched the deal. We have some of the best designers and illustrators in the industry working for us and the art is just incredible to wander through. He will bring the perfect balance of dramatic performance and physicality to the role.
He didn't even audition for the role!? Crazy. I thought they might at least want to get a little taste of what he could do for the character, but I guess not. All Evans had to do was be enthusiastic about what he saw and the part was his. Well, I hope it works out in the end.
I wish I could see what Marvel has in store for this film I'd love to see the artwork for it. I'm really excited for The First Avenger: Captain America. I think Marvel is taking the story and setting in the right direction, and that Chris Evans is actually going to end up being very good in the film.
What do you think about what Johnston had to say about casting Captain America?