Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Overview

Production Concept Art by Ryan Meinerding

Captain America: The First Avenger is a 2011 superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Captain America and It is one of films building up to Marvels big The Avengers film, that will unite all of their big heroes into one team. "The First Avenger" will be the fifth installment of this new Marvel Cinematic Universe but will tell the story of the first member of this team.

The film is being directed by Joe Johnston, written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and staring Chris Evans as Captain America. The movie tells the origin story of a brave yet mild-mannered weakling, Steve Rogers, volunteers to undergo experiments to become the world's first Nazi ass-kicking, Super-Soldier hero. The film will also feature One of Cap's main villains, Red Skull that will be portrayed by Hugo Weaving.

Creation

Captain America Concept art

In April 1997 Marvel was in talks with Mark Gordon and Gary Levinsohn were set to produce Captain America with Larry Wilson and Leslie Bohem set to write. In 2000 Marvel worked with Artisan Entertainment to help finance the film. There was a lawsuit between Marvel comics and Joe Simon over the ownership of captain America copyrights slowing down the production. The lawsuit was settled in September 2003. In 2005 Marvel received a $525 million investment from Merril Lynch to produce ten films, Captain America being one of them. Paramount Pictures agreed to distribute the film in April. Jon Favreau was approached to direct the film but chose Iron Man instead. Joe Johnston was picked as the director in late 2008. Johnston hired Christorper Markus and Stephen McFeely to rewrite.

Plot Summary

Rogers before the experiment

This film is set in the 1940s. Relatively early in the MARVEL universe, characters such as Howard Stark, the father of Tony are a lot younger than they have been portrayed before.  

 Steve Rogers, ( Chris Evans) after being deemed unfit for service for physical reasons, volunteers to participate in an experimental program developed by Dr. Abraham Erskin that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America. The experiment proves to be a success however Dr. Erskin is killed by a Hydra Agent (Richard Armitage). The Cap chases him down and apprehends the agent, who in turn kills himself.

 Being the only super soldier in the world, Cap is posted in a propaganda program.During this time he is given a rather classic, however cheesy cloth costume. During this As Captain America, Rogers joins forces with Bucky Barnes ( Sebastian Stan) and Peggy Carter ( Hayley Atwell) to wage war on the evil HYDRA organization, led by the villainous Red Skull ( Hugo Weaving.)

After successfully transforming Rogers into a super soldier, the Military comes to the conlusion that the Super-Soldier is too expensive to risk losing in combat. And decides to use him as an army celebrity and parade him around Europe to boost morale by having him perform at USO shows for Allied troops. Then, when a Nazi plot reveals itself, Rogers must rise up and become the First Avenger in order to save his country.

Production

Casting

Variety reported that Captain America would be Chris Evans and the Red Skull would be Hugo Weaving in March 2010. Sebastian Stan was cast as Bucky Barnes in April. The Film’s title was changed from The First Avenger: Captain America to Captain America: The First Avenger. Hayley Atwell was cast as Peggy Carter, Steve Rogers’ Girlfriend in April as well. Joss Whedon rewrote the script and was set to write and direct The Avengers. Toby Jones was cast as Arnim Zola. Tommy Jones was cast as a general. Neal McDonough was cast as Dum Dum Dugan. Stanley Tucci was cast as the creator of the Super Soldier Serum.

Filming

Most Filming was scheduled in the Northen Quarter of Manchester, UK. Johnston hated the 3d rig compared to the 2d rig so it was decided that it would be post-converted.