Hey guys! At this late hour, I have the great honor of bringing you the new news today surrounding the hiring of a director for Marvel's upcoming Captain America film...
Thanks to /film for the info...
Marvel Studios has just signed Joe Johnston to direct The First Avenger: Captain America. Like many, I was impressed with Johnson’s early art/effects work, loved October Sky, but was pretty disappointed with everything he has done since (::cough:: Jurassic Park III ::cough::). However, the footage I saw from The Wolf Man at Comic Con was very impressive. Johnston seems like an odd choice for this Marvel franchise, especially considering his background in visual effects, which would have made him more valuable in a project with a more visually dynamic superhero (like The Incredible Hulk).
Johnston started his career as an artist at Lucasfilm, having famously provided the final designs for Star Wars characters Yoda and Boba Fett. He won an academy award for his visual effects work on Raiders of the Lost Ark. Supposedly Johnston and George Lucas got close, and Joe was invited to cit in during George’s editing sessions. Later when Joe announced that he would be leaving the company to travel the world with the money he had saved up, Lucas convinced him to attend his alma mater USC film School, and even paid his tuition.
Johnston was a second unit director on *batteries not included, and made his directorial debut with Honey I Shrunk the Kids. In the 1990’s, Johnson directed The Rocketeer, the live action sequences of The Pagemaster, Jumanji, and crescendoed with October Sky. Steven Spielberg handed Johnston the Jurassic Park series with Jurassic Park III. His remake of The Wolf Man for Universal will hit theaters in April 2009. Interestingly, Johnson was also at one point in line to direct Hulk, but for one reason or another decided to drop out.
The First Avenger: Captain America is set to hit theaters on May 6th 2011, just two months before Marvel’s superhero team-up film The Avengers (July 15th 2011). Considering the films will be interconnected, this means Johnson will need to cast his Steve Rogers / Captain America very soon. Also, no screenwriters have been hired for the project, but Marvel has supposedly been heading pitches and hopes to hire someone soon.
What are your thoughts on this news? I'm glad that they've got a person to helm it, although I'm skeptical on wither or not it's the right choice. How about you guys?
Go see something good!!
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My feelings on Johnston are mixed. Things could really go either way with this guy.
ReplyDeleteAnd just so you know, this picture of Captain America is actually the second Cap (Bucky Barnes), rather than the first one (Steve Rogers). Barnes first put on the costume about six months ago - Rogers was assassinated about a year earlier. :(
And I agree, Fleming's meaning for "Quantum of Solace" is really cool. It seems like it will go a long way toward explaining why Bond is the way he is in the new movie.