In an exclusive from Heat Vision, Huge Weaving is in final negotiations with Marvel to portray Red Skull in The First Avenger: Captain America. Red Skull is Captain America’s biggest nemesis, a vicious Nazi commander personally trained by Hitler. Just as Captain America finds himself frozen and later thawed in modern times, Red Skull also conveniently makes that temporal transition in the comics to continue the battle. It would seem that Marvel is open to having the same thing occur in the movies as Weaving’s proposed contract would include options for several films, not unlike Samuel L. Jackson’s deal to play Nick Fury in nine films. That doesn’t inherently mean Red Skull would return, but Marvel’s definitely keen to keep the option open with the same actor behind the mask.
Joe Johnston (The Rocketeer, Jumanji, Jurassic Park III, The Wolfman) is directing The First Avenger: Captain America, which remains without a lead actor. That should be sorted out relatively soon what with shooting scheduled to begin in June. For what it’s worth, my pick from the supposed list of current contenders would be Wilson Bethel. He’s got the look and I liked his performance in Generation Kill.
The First Avenger: Captain America is scheduled for release on July 22nd, 2011. Aside from bookends in modern times (ie. expect to see Nick Fury welcoming Captain America back from the ‘dead’), the movie will be the origin story of Steve Rogers as Captain America fighting in World War II against the Red Skull and all manner of Nazis.
