Assembling the Avengers
Written
on 5/5/08
With the release of Iron Man this weekend, and with The Incredible Hulk on the horizon, it is apparent that Marvel Studios is getting the ball rolling on leading into an Avengers film. To celebrate this inevitability, I am taking the opportunity to cast my own Avengers. As probable as it is that Robert Downey, Jr. and Edward Norton will take part in an actual film, I have left the casting of Tony Stark and Bruce Banner open to alternate possibilities. The following cast caters heavily to sci-fi fans, presenting actors from television and film. First let’s start with the flagship character, Captain America!
Captain America/ Steve Rogers – Mark Valley (“Days of Our Lives”, “Boston Legal”)
I really wanted to put Matt Damon in this role. I wanted the actor with the most star power to wear the star on his chest. But after actually envisioning the reveal of the character in the film, I figured if it were an actor that most people would recognize, it would diminish the effect. Mark Valley was practically built to play Captain America. The man has military experience, graduating from West Point and serving in Operation Desert Storm.
Iron Man/ Tony Stark – Bill Campbell (The Rocketeer, “The 4400”)
Bill Campbell has always been a choice of mine for Tony Stark. His role as Jordan Collier on “The 4400” is a very Stark-like character. Plus, Iron Man and the Rocketeer are very similar.
Thor – Eric Allan Kramer (American Wedding, Robin Hood: Men in Tights)
I really did not want to put Thor in this film. His character is based upon magic and mysticism, while the rest of the team revolves around science and technology. I just don’t think Thor would translate very well from the comic pages onto the big screen (unless he has a stand-alone film). However, he is a core member of the Avengers and many would be upset if he were not involved. I went with the actor who played Little John in Robin Hood: Men in Tights and as it turns out, he has played Thor before, in ”The Incredible Hulk” television series.
The Hulk/ Bruce Banner – Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”, “Six Feet Under”)
The role of Dexter Morgan as displayed Michael C. Hall’s intriguing ability to give us a likeable character with a hidden dark side, which is perfect for the enigmatic Bruce Banner. Put some glasses on him and he’s all of a sudden “Mr. Science Guy”, but at any time he could just lose it, and there goes the neighborhood!
Wasp/ Janet Pym – Carla Gugino (Sin City, Watchmen)
Carla Gugino definitely has the look for the Wasp character. She has that sweet, innocent look, while still having the fierce, tough look. Regardless of her size in the movie, Wasp will not go unnoticed.
Goliath/ Hank Pym – Nathan Fillion (“Firefly”, Serenity)
Fans of “Firefly” will surely get a kick out of this casting. After the cancellation of the series and after Serenity, Fillion has barely stayed on the radar, being cast in Waitress and a recurring character on “Desperate Housewives”. Why not cast him as a character that is larger than life?
Black Widow/ Natalia Romanova – Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil, The Fifth Element)
The character is subject to obvious casting. Milla Jovovich is athletic, not a stranger to the sci-fi genre, and most of all, she’s Russian, as is the Black Widow. She can play good and/or bad, which will be needed for the character.
Hawkeye/ Clint Barton – Patrick Wilson (Hard Candy, Watchmen)
Patrick Wilson is a man of charm, wit, humor, intensity, and seriousness. These are all characteristics that I expect to see in Hawkeye.
Falcon/ Sam Wilson – Harold Perrineau (“Lost”, The Matrix Reloaded)
Rounding out the team is the Falcon. I’m not all that familiar with the character, but Harold Perrineau has the look, and envisioning him among the rest of the cast, it makes sense.
So there you have it: the cast of the Avengers (of course Samuel L. Jackson is Nick Fury). But whom do we get to direct all of these actors? We need someone who has a passion for the material and can manage an ensemble cast.
I elect Joss Whedon. He has always had an ensemble cast, writing and directing “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Angel”, and “Firefly”. He even took part in writing Toy Story. Joss Whedon is the fanboy director that we need for a film of this scale.
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!!!
Captain America/ Steve Rogers – Mark Valley (“Days of Our Lives”, “Boston Legal”)
I really wanted to put Matt Damon in this role. I wanted the actor with the most star power to wear the star on his chest. But after actually envisioning the reveal of the character in the film, I figured if it were an actor that most people would recognize, it would diminish the effect. Mark Valley was practically built to play Captain America. The man has military experience, graduating from West Point and serving in Operation Desert Storm.
Iron Man/ Tony Stark – Bill Campbell (The Rocketeer, “The 4400”)
Bill Campbell has always been a choice of mine for Tony Stark. His role as Jordan Collier on “The 4400” is a very Stark-like character. Plus, Iron Man and the Rocketeer are very similar.
Thor – Eric Allan Kramer (American Wedding, Robin Hood: Men in Tights)
I really did not want to put Thor in this film. His character is based upon magic and mysticism, while the rest of the team revolves around science and technology. I just don’t think Thor would translate very well from the comic pages onto the big screen (unless he has a stand-alone film). However, he is a core member of the Avengers and many would be upset if he were not involved. I went with the actor who played Little John in Robin Hood: Men in Tights and as it turns out, he has played Thor before, in ”The Incredible Hulk” television series.
The Hulk/ Bruce Banner – Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”, “Six Feet Under”)
The role of Dexter Morgan as displayed Michael C. Hall’s intriguing ability to give us a likeable character with a hidden dark side, which is perfect for the enigmatic Bruce Banner. Put some glasses on him and he’s all of a sudden “Mr. Science Guy”, but at any time he could just lose it, and there goes the neighborhood!
Wasp/ Janet Pym – Carla Gugino (Sin City, Watchmen)
Carla Gugino definitely has the look for the Wasp character. She has that sweet, innocent look, while still having the fierce, tough look. Regardless of her size in the movie, Wasp will not go unnoticed.
Goliath/ Hank Pym – Nathan Fillion (“Firefly”, Serenity)
Fans of “Firefly” will surely get a kick out of this casting. After the cancellation of the series and after Serenity, Fillion has barely stayed on the radar, being cast in Waitress and a recurring character on “Desperate Housewives”. Why not cast him as a character that is larger than life?
Black Widow/ Natalia Romanova – Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil, The Fifth Element)
The character is subject to obvious casting. Milla Jovovich is athletic, not a stranger to the sci-fi genre, and most of all, she’s Russian, as is the Black Widow. She can play good and/or bad, which will be needed for the character.
Hawkeye/ Clint Barton – Patrick Wilson (Hard Candy, Watchmen)
Patrick Wilson is a man of charm, wit, humor, intensity, and seriousness. These are all characteristics that I expect to see in Hawkeye.
Falcon/ Sam Wilson – Harold Perrineau (“Lost”, The Matrix Reloaded)
Rounding out the team is the Falcon. I’m not all that familiar with the character, but Harold Perrineau has the look, and envisioning him among the rest of the cast, it makes sense.
So there you have it: the cast of the Avengers (of course Samuel L. Jackson is Nick Fury). But whom do we get to direct all of these actors? We need someone who has a passion for the material and can manage an ensemble cast.
I elect Joss Whedon. He has always had an ensemble cast, writing and directing “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Angel”, and “Firefly”. He even took part in writing Toy Story. Joss Whedon is the fanboy director that we need for a film of this scale.
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!!!
