Is Neal McDonough Marvel's Captain America?!

[GreenScar]

Personally I could see it. I've always liked McDonough. He may be a bit old, but you can do a lot on film to fix that type of thing.

I reccommend clicking on the pic and actually watch the interview (it's like a minute and a half). The Capt America talk begins at about 45 seconds or so in.

Yesterday afternoon I interviewed with one of my favorite actors, Neal McDonough, who plays M. Bison in the upcoming Street Fighter movie. As the interview was wrapping up, I asked him about what he's doing next, as part of a question about what he looks for in scripts. And at the last second, he said that, "I think it's time for me to go back to playing some of the really good guys who can get the job done, like Captain America, maybe." I immediately asked him if that was a hint, and his response was even more confusing. It's been on my mind since the interview, and I just had to open this discussion up to all of our readers.

His answer wasn't a definitive yes or a definitive no, so I didn't want to run this news as anything official, but instead as a "what if?" kind of scenario. When you look at the bigger picture, Neal McDonough has starred in a lot of big World War II roles previously ("Band of Brothers", Flags of Our Fathers), which means he's got that experience, since Captain America was a soldier in WWII. Secondly, if you look at the comparison shots above, Neal is a near identical match visually to the Cap from The Ultimates series of comics, which as we know from previous articles, is almost the exact storyline that Marvel is borrowing from for all of its big movies that will eventually marge into The Avengers movie by 2011. So, what if?

To confuse things even more, his answer when asked if that was a hint that he might be Captain America, contained some "who knows?" and "fingers crossed!" kind of dialogue. So, I thought, why not share that part of the interview with our readers, and ask them whether they think McDonough might be the guy for the role and if he would be a good fit or not? Is he too old, too young, too inexperienced? To be honest, he seems like a perfect fit. Wasn't Robert Downey Jr. only still a rising star when he was cast as Tony Stark? He's got the muscle, he's got the acting chops, he's got the looks, maybe this is our Captain America after all?

[Beast]

Looks like a pretty good match to me.

[xtop]

eh

[STARSCREAM]

I bet he would be awesome. Not really what I pictured for Captain America though.

[GreenScar]

Interesting that he's done a lot of voice work for Marvel animated characters. He was very good in Band of Brothers.

[Blu Angel]

He was great in Band of Brothers.
Im sure if he got in really good shape, he could pull it off

[ajgoodfella7]

He's a good actor, but i think he is too old for this part... especially considering if Marvel creates a successful film property, you know they will be filming a sequel probably like 5 years from now. By then he might really be too old.

[Penitus]

Originally Posted by Blu Angel

He was great in Band of Brothers.
Im sure if he got in really good shape, he could pull it off

This is exactly what I was thinking. +1

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by ajgoodfella7

He's a good actor, but i think he is too old for this part... especially considering if Marvel creates a successful film property, you know they will be filming a sequel probably like 5 years from now. By then he might really be too old.

That is my thoughts on the subject. He definitely looks the part but he is too old to build a superhero franchise around. Marvel is not making these movies for a one-shot deal. Five years ago he would have been perfect.

[andyman1970]

Who interviewed McDonough and wrote the article the OP quoted from? Who ever it was couldn't be more wrong about RDJ just being a rising star when he was cast as Tony Stark. RDJ has been around a looooooong time. I remember when he was in Weird Science (1985) and Less Then Zero (1987) when I was in high school among many other movies. He's had his ups and downs and problems with drugs and alcohol, but it looks like he has put all that behind him. In fact I would say RDJ's big comeback role came in Natural Born Killers in 1994. RDJ was already a big star and is keeping it going these days.

Back on topic, McDonough may look like a good Capt America, but isn't he afraid of being type cast as the WWII guy?

Also, to those who think he is to old to play the part, RDJ will be 43 in April. Is that to old? What about when Ian McKellen was cast as Magneto?

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by ajgoodfella7

He's a good actor, but i think he is too old for this part... especially considering if Marvel creates a successful film property, you know they will be filming a sequel probably like 5 years from now. By then he might really be too old.

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

That is my thoughts on the subject. He definitely looks the part but he is too old to build a superhero franchise around. Marvel is not making these movies for a one-shot deal. Five years ago he would have been perfect.

I have to disagree. He turns 43 in 3 days. Robert Downey Jr is 44. Ed Norton turns 40 this year. Looks like a formula for them (Marvel Studios).

Besides, if it's successful, what makes you think they'd wait 5 years for a sequel?

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by andyman1970

Who interviewed McDonough and wrote the article the OP quoted from? Who ever it was couldn't be more wrong about RDJ just being a rising star when he was cast as Tony Stark. RDJ has been around a looooooong time. I remember when he was in Weird Science (1985) and Less Then Zero (1987) when I was in high school among many other movies. He's had his ups and downs and problems with drugs and alcohol, but it looks like he has put all that behind him. In fact I would say RDJ's big comeback role came in Natural Born Killers in 1994. RDJ was already a big star and is keeping it going these days.

Back on topic, McDonough may look like a good Capt America, but isn't he afraid of being type cast as the WWII guy?

Leading man though? Opening movies?

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by andyman1970

Back on topic, McDonough may look like a good Capt America, but isn't he afraid of being type cast as the WWII guy?

Tom Sizemore!

[xtop]

Originally Posted by jasonbird

I have to disagree. He turns 43 in 3 days. Robert Downey Jr is 44. Ed Norton turns 40 this year. Looks like a formula for them (Marvel Studios).

Besides, if it's successful, what makes you think they'd wait 5 years for a sequel?

i could be wrong, but i don't think they were speaking on his age, but how old he looked

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by xtop

i could be wrong, but i don't think they were speaking on his age, but how old he looked

Could be, but do you really think he looks any older than say Downey Jr? They made him look great in Iron Man. Just saying...

[xtop]

ya got me there jason..ya got me there.

i think we all expect a younger CA, but honestly, i'm sure he'd do an awesome job

[ajgoodfella7]

Originally Posted by jasonbird

Could be, but do you really think he looks any older than say Downey Jr? They made him look great in Iron Man. Just saying...

He definitely looks older than RDJ, and on another note, RDJ is on a different level from him, and I don't see how these two guys even compare to each other.

... And it would likely be 5 years because the first one isn't even due out until 2011.

[vegeta88]

YES!
I think he's a great actor and has not been in enough lead roles IMO. Everything I see him in I like. I think he'd do great.

I can't wait to see what he does in Street Fighter.

[GreenScar]

Nah, I'm 90% sure the guys just wishing. I'd be surprised if it ended up being him.

Does raise a interesting question though. If Capt is the leader of the team, how much younger could he be and still be believable in that dynamic? Assuming of course that they bring back Norton along with Downey Jr.

Could they go younger than say 35?

[ajgoodfella7]

Originally Posted by vegeta88

YES!
I think he's a great actor and has not been in enough lead roles IMO. Everything I see him in I like. I think he'd do great.

I can't wait to see what he does in Street Fighter.

You are actually going to see Street Fighter?... You do know that they are not screening the movie for critics which means even the studio know its going to be an awful movie.