Joe Johnston to Direct Captain America!

[_Bolt_]

Joe Johnston (Jurassic Park III, Hidalgo) has signed a deal to direct First Avenger: Captain America, Marvel Studios' take on its classic comic book character, says The Hollywood Reporter. Marvel's Kevin Feige is producing.

No writers are on board, but the studio, which is hearing pitches, expects to hire shortly.

"This is a guy who designed the vehicles for 'Star Wars,' who storyboarded the convoy action sequence for 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' " Feige said. "From 'Rocketeer' to 'October Sky' to 'The Wolfman,' you can look at pieces of his movies and see how they lead to this one."

Created in 1941 by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon for Timely Comics, Captain America is the heroic alter ego of Steve Rogers, who is rejected by the Army for being too sickly and undergoes an experiment that takes him to the pinnacle of human form. Paired with an indestructible shield, he became a symbol of the war effort, in and out of comics.

The character disappeared in the 1950s but was revived during the early era of Marvel Comics. He was reintroduced as part of the Avengers, the absence explained by having him being in a state of suspended animation during a war mission until found by the superteam.

First Avenger: Captain America is scheduled for a release on May 6, 2011. It will be a World War II-set movie, and the character will appear in the modern day-set The Avengers.

Source

[Drewza89]

I like this pick. The Rocketeer and October Sky were great movies and judging by the trailer, I bet The Wolfman will be great too.

Now all they need to do is get someone like Matt Damon to play Cap.

[vegeta88]

I'm glad to hear that things are moving foreward with the project. This director sounds like a goo piece to the puzzle. I can't wait to hear who they choose to write and who to star.

Marvel Rocks!

[GreenScar]

We now have directors in place for both Thor and Captain America. I like both choices. Excited to hear casting on both. I really think Marvel knows exactly what they're doing.

[Banjo]

Joe Johnston, really? I think he'll do a good job considering how much I liked The Rocketeer and October Sky.

[vegeta88]

Originally Posted by jasonbird

I really think Marvel knows exactly what they're doing.

Same here. They've done well with their first 2 movies and though that is not enough to be sure of anything, its a good start.

What kind of sucks though is that the Avengers has to be great, it HAS to be. If its the follow-up to 4 or 5 really good movies, with 4,5 or more big stars, expectations will be VERY high. I think Marvel can pull it off

[Jayromy]

I am cautiously optimistic with Johnston. He will do just fine.

I now renew my suggestion of Jon Hamm as Captain America.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Jayromy

I am cautiously optimistic with Johnston. He will do just fine.

I now renew my suggestion of Jon Hamm as Captain America.

Joe Johnston is a fine director. Captain America is in good hands.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Banjo

Joe Johnston, really? I think he'll do a good job considering how much I liked The Rocketeer and October Sky.

Considering they're starting out with Cap's 40's past, would you entrust it to anyone BUT the Rocketeer director?

[xtop]

i'm ready for more cast rumors now!

[Blu-Benny]

Originally Posted by xtop

i'm ready for more cast rumors now!

yes, i look forward to the casting and writer news coming up. everything should start rolling now that a director is hired. 2011 will not come fast enough.

[fighthefutureofhd]

i like the rocketeer and october sky, but jurassic park III sucked big time and that alone is enough to have this director flogged. i'm looking forward to this movie, but i'm just a little unsure about the directing choice. he did a great job with the rocketeer, but on the other hand he stunk up the room with jurassic park III. we'll have to wait and see how this one goes. it could end up being another incredible hulk, which i wouldn't like for ole cap.

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by fighthefutureofhd

i like the rocketeer and october sky, but jurassic park III sucked big time and that alone is enough to have this director flogged. i'm looking forward to this movie, but i'm just a little unsure about the directing choice. he did a great job with the rocketeer, but on the other hand he stunk up the room with jurassic park III. we'll have to wait and see how this one goes. it could end up being another incredible hulk, which i wouldn't like for ole cap.

You were in the minority.

[fighthefutureofhd]

i wouldn't say that. the incredible hulk didn't seem to grab much of an audience. i think a lot of people said meh to the incredible hulk, which is why it had an underperforming summer box office. now i will agree you that i am in the minority when it comes to i want to believe. as far as the incredible hulk goes, i thought it was decent, but not one of the best comic book movies made. i put it up there with daredevil, fantastic four, and the punisher.

i really like captain amercia though and wish not to see his movie be just decent. i really wish that marvel would take the same care to captain america that they took with iron man. i will say though that even marvel's lackluster comic book movies are far better than dc's. dc comics only has two good to excellent (depending on who you ask) comic book movie franchises. they mostly suck.

[owa]

According to wiki, it has made $262,068,673 and that doesn't seem too bad to me. Up to Nov. 2008...As of November 2008, the film has grossed $313.4 million in worldwide box office and North American DVD sales.[2] That seems decent as well.

[Teabaggins]

I'm just glad they aren't messing with his origin story...so far

[fighthefutureofhd]

Originally Posted by owa

According to wiki, it has made $262,068,673 and that doesn't seem too bad to me. Up to Nov. 2008...As of November 2008, the film has grossed $313.4 million in worldwide box office and North American DVD sales.[2] That seems decent as well.

those are very respectable numbers, but during the summer here in the states it didn't fare that well. it made a little over what the first one made. it's not all about box office success in terms of a movie being good and all. but it certainly can indicate whether the public was interested or not. i don't think captain america should be second tier like a lot of other comic book movies. he deserves to be as big as superman, batman, spiderman, iron man, and the x-men.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by _Bolt_

Source

So Bolt, are you going to watch the pirated version a week before it releases and save $11.00 like you did with QOS?

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by fighthefutureofhd

i like the rocketeer and october sky, but jurassic park III sucked big time and that alone is enough to have this director flogged. i'm looking forward to this movie, but i'm just a little unsure about the directing choice. he did a great job with the rocketeer, but on the other hand he stunk up the room with jurassic park III. we'll have to wait and see how this one goes. it could end up being another incredible hulk, which i wouldn't like for ole cap.

The problem with Jurassic Park III was that Joe Johnston began shooting the movie while the script was incomplete. They were literally rewriting some scenes on a daily basis on the set.

Not the worst movie, but certainly the weakest of the JP trilogy.

[Blu Man]

Sweet, this movie will be kick ass. The Avenger movie it self will be even better. Thanks for posting