Why Emily Blunt may Turn Down Marvel's Offer for CAPTAIN AMERICA
Now that Chris Evans is signed sealed delivered to Marvel as Captain America for Joe Johnston's The First Avenger: Captain America, momentum and pressure is building to snag the female lead.
Marvel has been heavily courting British actress Emily Blunt, who they have long sought after when after she had to drop out of the role of Black Widow in Iron Man 2 (replaced with Scarlett Johansson), because Fox exercised an option it held on the actress and put her into Gulliver's Travels.
Now it is being reported that Marvel has made an offer to Blunt for the role of Peggy Carter, girlfriend of Steve Rogers (a.k.a Captain America). But don't bust out the bubbly just yet, according to the LA Times, sources say Blunt is close to signing on to other projects and will turn down Marvel's offer!
Ouch! Major bum out for the studio (and males everywhere), as the Golden Globe-winning actress would bring a strong British and European following, which would be key to give Global appeal to a patriotic hero named Captain America. It's no wonder that Marvel's previously reported shortlist for the role is comprised solely of other British actresses -- Keira Knightley and Alice Eve (She's Out of My League).
Blunt is definitely the most prestigious choice for the role. But that could be the problem in itself, as the LA Times so well puts it:
Casting a female lead in most superhero films is in many ways harder than nabbing the male one. You have the luxury (or necessity) of using the part to expand the prospective audience. But you also have the tough job of convincing the person who can provide the expansion that playing the girlfriend in an effects-heavy blockbuster is something that's worth their time.
I think it should come down to what actress -- British or not, well known or unknown -- has the right chemistry with Evans. But this is a money making business. Let's keep in mind they originally set out to cast an unknown for the role of Captain America, before abandoning it and vying for the absurd yet familiar, until settling on Evans.
Are you hoping Blunt accepts the offer? If Blunt turns down the offer, who would you like to see play Peggy Carter intead?