First Avenger Is it mandatory that Captain America be played by an American?

[Infinity9999x]

What? You got me on the "Pay-No-Mind" list?

Sorry Frank, but I don't agree, about Cap that is.

I am an actor. Now, I won't pretend to be an expert, because I'm not. But Theatre is the major I've chosen and I've been doing pretty much nothing but studying acting and acting the past two years.

Now yes, there are situations where you simply can't have a certain actor for a certain role A women should not play a man's role. A black actor should not play a white role, or a white actor should not play a black role (unless it's done on purpose for comedy), ect. ect.

Captain America is most certainly not one of those roles. Yes, Cap is American, but the only American's who are really going to understand how Cap would act and feel and think are either in their late 80's or dead.

Simply put, the America Cap is from is as vastly different from the America today as England's culture is from ours now. We have nothing in common with the men and women who grew up in the 1940's, and in that respect, being American gives us no more edge than anyone from another country.

And it's not like we got a leg up because we were taught American history in our schools either. Think about what we base all our notions of the 1940's off of. It's not what we learned in school, it's the movies. We base what we think the 1940's were like off the movies from the time, and the movies based off the time, and all the other international actors have seen those movies just as many times as we have.

So no, being American does not help you prepare, or be better qualified to play Cap at all. It simply makes people feel we are being more "patriotic." Now honestly, I don't care who plays Cap, as long as he's a good actor. I'm not advocating for a foreign Cap. I would only want a foreign Cap if a foreign actor ended up being the best man for the job. Because for me, that's what it all comes down to:

quality.

I want the film to be the best it possibly can, plain and simple.

 

[Hound55]

Sean Connery.

Dude played a Russian sub captain, an Egyptian Spaniard in the Highlander films, an English Bond... He's got range!

 

[Webhead2006]

Well we shouldnt really ***** about this right now. Since we know at this time marvel wants to have an american in the role. Will an american get it only time will tell.

 

[Infinity9999x]

Well we shouldnt really ***** about this right now. Since we know at this time marvel wants to have an american in the role. Will an american get it only time will tell.

I know, it's basically moot. At this point, I'm just debating on principle. And really, I'm more than confident they'll find a great American actor to play Cap. I'm coming from the scenario that, if Marvel had held open auditions, and the person who gave the best audition happened to be foreign, you still cast him, because he was the best actor.

 

[Webhead2006]

True that would be be the case. But to we know a few names who are being looked at for cap i dont think their is anything to complain about. We have no clue what the casting director/joe is looking for in cap. i do hope they pick a solid actor for the role.

 

[Timstuff]

I disagree. Never mind how the media would have a field day with it. "They can't even find an American to play...Captain America?!"

Screw the media, the fans would be doing it too-- myself included.

There are plenty of American actors who can do the role fine, so I don't see what the point of looking at foreign actors for the role is anyway. Captain America has America in his name, so he ought to be played by an American. It's as simple as that.

 

[Infinity9999x]

Screw the media, the fans would be doing it too-- myself included.

There are plenty of American actors who can do the role fine, so I don't see what the point of looking at foreign actors for the role is anyway. Captain America has America in his name, so he ought to be played by an American. It's as simple as that.

Oh, I don't think that there aren't American actors who can play Cap, my point was simply that if Marvel had held open auditions, and the person who performed the best was...say...British, hire the British guy. You want the best actor possible to make the best possible product.

And yes, Cap has America in his name, Red Skull also has Skull in his name, should all the actors who want that part come to the auditions wearing a Skull mask?

In fact, should we make it mandatory that Red Skull be German? You obviously would need a real German to be able to understand the character of a German villain. An actual German person would be able understand how a German villain from the 40's would think better than an actor of another nationality, right?

....Now, you know as well as I do that what I just typed is crap. If it were true, Ralph Fiennes wouldn't have been able to give an amazing performance as Amon Goth in Schindlers list would he?

An actors job is to pretend to be someone they're not. An actor does not need to be an American to play Captain America and give a great performance.

 

[irishjosh]

I dont care if there American I care if they can act

 

[roach]

Look franchises do this all the time especially one where nationality is the subject. I know for certain that at no time will an american ever play James Bond.

 

[terry78]

And both Americans and Brits would be up in arms about it. I know an Aussie played him, but an American playing Bond is a WHOLE other sit-chee-a-shun.

 

[Thirteen]

There have been movie roles that were written for men that have been played by women before and there is of course the tradition of men playing the female roles in ancient theater...
Be that as it may, in the case of Captain America, I would support Marvel taking a hardline regarding the role being portrayed by an American in the same way that JK Rowling required ENTIRE casts of the Harry POtter movies to be composed of British actors only.
It's culturally significant enough to be a matter of pride