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Ink Bits #2 - Casting Captain America
March 9, 2010

In a day where there has been several Captain America casting updates, there is one thing for certain - nobody knows who will play the star-spangled soldier.

If you're a young male actor in Hollywood, odds are your name has been mentioned in connection with the First Avenger: Captain America. The following names have either screen tested, auditioned, or simply interviewed and expressed interest in Captain America.


Comic From: Hijinks Ensue

Wilson Bethel
Current Status: OUT
IMDB

Robert Buckley
Current Status: OUT
IMDB

Michael Cassidy
Current Status: OUT
IMDB

Chace Crawford
Current Status: OUT
IMDB

Chris Evans
Current Status: CAST AS STEVE ROGERS
IMDB

Patrick Flueger
Current Status: OUT
IMDB

Garret Hedlund
Current Status: OUT
IMDB

John Krasinski
Current Status: OUT
IMDB

Ryan Phillippe
Current Status: OUT
IMDB

Scott Porter
Current Status: OUT
IMDB

Sebastian Stan
Current Status: CAST AS BUCKY BARNES
IMDB

Channing Tatum
Current Status: OUT
IMDB

Derek Theler
Current Status: OUT
IMDB

Mike Vogel
Current Status: OUT
IMDB

Other names mentioned over the years include:

Update: (March 15, 2010) Added Ryan Phillippe and Channing Tatum.

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Ink Bits #1 - Disney Acquires Marvel Reaction
September 3, 2009

Now that we've had a few days to digest the acquisition of Marvel by the Walt Disney World Company, was the deal a good plan for Marvel.

$4 billion is a lot of money that exchanged hands between Disney and Marvel earlier this week on Monday. With that money, Disney gains access to a library of over 5,000 established characters and one of the best comic publishers, always battling with DC Comics for the top spot.

Marvel Studios, the film division of Marvel, recently started financing and producing its own films. Before Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk, Marvel licensed their characters to studios who would then make the films and Marvel would receive a small share. Marvel has licensed X-Men to News Corporation - which owns Fox, Spider-Man to Sony Corporation, among others. The current licensing agreements will stay in place until expiration and then Disney will decide on the next course of action. Paramount will continue to distribute the Marvel-financed films, which includes Iron Man 2 next year with Thor and Captain America following.

There has been lots of reaction to the deal, including Pixar-based films on Marvel characters - an idea I am very excited about, though I have my reservations. John Lasseter met with Marvel last week about a possible team-up between Marvel and Pixar and got "pretty excited, pretty fast." They say there's definitely an opportunity there. Pixar specializes in a certain type of film and they produce that genre very well, from Toy Story to Monsters, Inc. to Finding Nemo and most recently, Up. Would a Marvel character fit into the Pixar mold? I hope it's just a matter of time though I can't wait for the possibility of seeing Spider-Man in the amazing style Pixar products always have.

The way Disney has handled Pixar is really what makes this acquisition so intriguing. Since being acquired by Disney, Pixar has stayed in creative control of its movies while also having the power of Disney theme parks and name behind it. If Marvel was done in this way, with Joe Quesada as editor-in-chief of the comics with David Maisel and Kevin Feige as Chairman and President of Production, respectively - a laissez faire approach if you will. The biggest change I anticipate is simply the Disney name on the next Marvel film, though that might not even happen.

According to recent news reported by Deadline Hollywood Daily, Marvel characters will remain at Universal Orlando but may be used in Disney theme parks west of the Mississippi River, Disneyland and California Adventure for instance. However, under the current terms of Universal's contract with Marvel, the Marvel characters won't be seeing Central Florida from Disney World. When the news was announced, I thought the characters would show up in theme parks first, but this doesn't appear to be the case. Upon entering Disney World, guests are greeted by every Pixar character and are waiting in line for the new Toy Story ride. Pixar characters are a prominent fixture in Disney theme parks, but it seems like Marvel characters will have to wait for now. On that note, if you've never been to Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure, I highly recommend the park and the Incredible Hulk coaster.

Another side of this deal is the comic books, overlooked by Joe Quesada as mentioned earlier. I don't expect to see any changes on the Marvel racks except for a comic book series or four featuring popular Disney characters. A comic book on Mickey Mouse's adventures or Toy Story could be showing up on a comic book shelf near you. Marvel was built on comics and I don't think Disney would try and modify their stellar success on the pages.

Many deals in Hollywood, and life in general, are based on money. Several people have speculated that Marvel agreed to the sale because of financial reasons. Since Marvel began financing its own films, they have spent a considerable amount of money but due to the box office and DVD success of Iron Man, I'd say Marvel was doing pretty well on its own. However, I'm sure financial reasons were a major part of this deal as with any other.

I wanted to close by stating that I am in strong favor of this deal for Marvel. After all, it does side the comic giant with the most recognizable character-driven company in the world. From kids in China to adults from America, everybody knows about Disney and their long list of achievements. I think this is a great opportunity for Marvel and I hope both sides make the best of it.

Ink Bits will be a monthly article discussing the current state of the Marvel world and what's on their plate.

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