First Avenger Should Captain America be played by an American actor??

[The Major]

Being an actor, I will admit a hyper sense of sensitivity in this issue.


I hate losing a part to someone who doesn't fit the type.

That's okay.

I'm a writer so its interesting to hear an actor's point of view on things like this.

 

[Spider-Vader]

I think he should be American. Just as how Union Jack should be British.

 

[Abstract]

I dont think it matters. I'd rather see a great Scottish actor as Cap than an average American one.


But then again, I'm Australian . . . :P

 

[Congo Jack]

So everyone is ok with James Bond not being British? Somehow I doubt it.

Everyone who paid to see Pierce Brosnan for about four or five films didn't seem to have much of a problem with it.

 

[Hypestyle]

heh.. whoever it is needs the acting skills and the physical skills.. and if they're not blonde, do they dye their hair?

 

[IDrawDeadPeople]

To be honest, I have the natural tendency to want the actor to be American, because... well... it seems to make sense.

But, the more I really open myself up to actually thinking about it, rather than just being "set in my ways" about it, I tend to not feel there is a pressing need, so long as the actor is adept at portraying the role with justice to the character as well as to the 'American man'.

Without trying to be silly, I can't imagine simply never seeing, say, an Aztec in a film because we can't find an actor from that particular tribe.

The best case would be that the actor, regardless of nationality, is so good in the role that audiences are debating whether he is actually American or not.

"Are your girlscout cookies made with real girlscouts" - Wednesday Addams


I loathe that this will by default draw Batman comparisons, but Christian Bale, regardless of his thick native accent, was able to nail the lead in AMERICAN PSYCHO due to his ability to act like he is an American.

There is, obviously, the need for something 'extra' in a role like this, as the gravitas required to look the part, but also look like he carries the ideals of an entire nation on his shoulders - will take a lot from the actor who gets the part... regardless of nationality.

But, it can be done. And not simply by being an American actor. But, maybe from an actor who can pull off acting American. And, if they're really really good at their craft... pull of being the ideal American.

 

[Gweedo_of_Steel]

There are a ton of people that could play The Cap'n but I think he should either be a mjor name or a younger unknown i think Matt Mc (can't spell the last name) might be a good choice for cap or maybe the home boy from stealth and glory road.But hey we have no real say

 

[Chris Wallace]

Ideally, I want Cap to be American. He's the symbol of America-it seems almost a slap in the face if you get a foreigner to play him.
If, however, a foreign-born actor can truly do the part justice, you won't hear me complaining.

 

[Ronny Shade]

Everyone who paid to see Pierce Brosnan for about four or five films didn't seem to have much of a problem with it.

Irish doesn't count as british?

 

[Congo Jack]

Irish doesn't count as british?

...a joke, right?

 

[Ronny Shade]

Yeah.
Its close enough that it doesn't matter to me. Of course, I'm not british so I can't make that judgment but I would liken it to a canadian being cast as Cap, which would be okay with me, I guess.

 

[Chris Wallace]

I'm gonna run down the list again. These are the ones that were met with little to no protest from fans. We have seen thus far:
Black Harvey Dent
Australian Wolverine
Welsh Batman
British Scarecrow
Irish Ra's Al Ghul
Japanese Ra's Al Ghul
British Magneto
British Professor X
Scottish Nightcrawler
American Colossus
Black Commissioner Loeb
New Zealand-born Rogue
Finlandish (?) Jean Grey
British Aunt May
British Doc Ock
Now these movies got backlash or weren't well received, albeit not b/c of ethnic casting choices:
Black Kingpin
Irish Bullseye
Hispanic Invisible Woman (I believe)
White Fox
White Terry Fitzgerald
Italian Red Skull
Black Alicia Masters
American Elektra
British Juggernaut
Hispanic Callisto
Feel free to add any that I may have missed. And I deem it extremely likely that if & when we ever get a Black Panther movie, he'll be played by an American.
Like I said, an American Steve Rogers is preferable but not essential.

 

[Ronny Shade]

Hispanic Invisible Woman got all kindsa hate.

 

[BestGirl]

Hispanic Invisible Woman got all kindsa hate.

I think the hate came from the fact that Jessica Alba's a terrible actress who played her role badly, not because she's hispanic.

 

[Wesley Dodds]

It doesnt matter one way or the other whether he's american or not... as we speak Robert Downey jr. is in London playing Shelock Holmes, a character as quintesentially British as red phone boxes and fish and chips.
As long as he can do a good British accent who cares? Someone mentioned Bond earlier and the same rule applies.
It doesnt matter where the actor they cast as Cap comes from, as long as his American accent is good..

 

[Ronny Shade]

I think the hate came from the fact that Jessica Alba's a terrible actress who played her role badly, not because she's hispanic.

It was both.

 

[Eggyman]

WTF is going on with Bale here? ****ing Zoolander! What's he doing? That is Bale, right?

 

[Steve Rogers]

It irks me when people say things like "Australian Wolverine". Wolverine is not Australian, nor was he ever portrayed as Australian in any of the X-Men films. Hugh Jackman is Australian. Wolverine is not.

There's a huge difference between a real, living human being and a fictional character. As long as Steve Rogers is American, I don't care what nationality the man playing him is.

 

[Infinity9999x]

It irks me when people say things like "Australian Wolverine". Wolverine is not Australian, nor was he ever portrayed as Australian in any of the X-Men films. Hugh Jackman is Australian. Wolverine is not.

There's a huge difference between a real, living human being and a fictional character. As long as Steve Rogers is American, I don't care what nationality the man playing him is.

That was the point of the list. He wasn't saying Wolverine was Australian in the movie, he was saying that he was played by an Australian and people didn't mind that.

 

[Rage]

I believe that the best actor should get the role. Is the role an american icon? HELL YEAH! But it's a role and the actor doesn't need to be from that particular country to play the role well and do it justice. Like someone mentioned before, William Wallace was played by an Aussie, Abe Lincoln is being played by Liam Neeson. I doubt any German actor has played Hitler in recent memory. If this is the case, should not a Norwegian play Thor (even though the concensus favourite Alexander Skarsgård seems to be a swede?)

I always point out the choices for Cap (and Superman) that aren't american because for some reason, most Americans feel that those 2 characters are theirs and theirs alone and should be played by Americans.

I LOVE the character of Captain America and I am a patriotic Canadian citizen! Cap is second only to Hulk in my books. I love the man out of time and the WWII aspect of the character. I love that he loves his country so much that he is willing to risk his life...JUST TO GET INTO THE ARMY! Are you telling me that if I fit the bill phsyically and I could act like a mofo...you would rather have Paul Walker play Cap becuase he is from the US? Could Paul Walker bring the love of the character to the role that I could? Someone's nationality should have no bearing on who plays Captain America...the best actor should get the role.

Rage

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

As long as he looks like the character i grew up reading about, and can act, i really don't give a **** what his nationality is.

 

[Rage]

Chances are, that we'll get an actor who is vaguely aware of who Captain America is. What are the chances of finding a decent actor, who knows and cares about the comic and fits the physical requirements.

we are more likely to get an actor, who is an A-lister, who is signed, then reads some source material and gains a respect for the character.

Rage

 

[The Question]

I'm gonna run down the list again. These are the ones that were met with little to no protest from fans. We have seen thus far:
Black Harvey Dent
Australian Wolverine
Welsh Batman
British Scarecrow
Irish Ra's Al Ghul
Japanese Ra's Al Ghul
British Magneto
British Professor X
Scottish Nightcrawler
American Colossus
Black Commissioner Loeb
New Zealand-born Rogue
Finlandish (?) Jean Grey
British Aunt May
British Doc Ock
Now these movies got backlash or weren't well received, albeit not b/c of ethnic casting choices:
Black Kingpin
Irish Bullseye
Hispanic Invisible Woman (I believe)
White Fox
White Terry Fitzgerald
Italian Red Skull
Black Alicia Masters
American Elektra
British Juggernaut
Hispanic Callisto
Feel free to add any that I may have missed. And I deem it extremely likely that if & when we ever get a Black Panther movie, he'll be played by an American.
Like I said, an American Steve Rogers is preferable but not essential.

Italian Red Skull only got hate because they specifically made the character Italian in the movie.

 

[Ronny Shade]

Hitler was Austrian, not German

 

[louiebling$]

WTF @ this thread!

ITS ****ING CAPTAIN AMERICA