Rumor of the Week I Don't Buy: Leonardo DiCaprio as Captain America

So a month ago, the internet was going crazy with the rumor that Matthew McConaughey would play Captain America. It was a bad choice and not even a very strong rumor. Now we have another bad fit, although the rumor's slightly better: Behind Captain America's shield, Leonardo DiCaprio. Yeah, Leo can act, and that appears to be the way the Marvel Universe is headed these days...but he's a lousy fit for Captain America. Ditto the "Brad Pitt will be Thor" rumors. Latino Review claims that Marvel has Leo at the very top of their list, and that's all fine and dandy...but it doesn't mean anything. For starters, DiCaprio doesn't need a superhero franchise to revive his career, unlike Edward Norton and Robert Downey Jr. Another reason I don't think he'd do it is that his very good friend Tobey Maguire probably doesn't have very many positive things to say about being trapped in superhero movies for a decade. The money's good but what else? And again, Leo doesn't need the bread. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, why would he play Captain America of all characters? Not that he's insufficient in some way, but compared to Iron Man, Spider-Man, and The Hulk, he's just not as interesting. We'll see what happens with that, but unless I'm way off, DiCaprio won't make this movie. Neither, I feel, would Matt Damon, for similar reasons. Who could play Cap? Well, the quality of the performances may not be as good, but I think Channing Tatum would be a good fit if the character starts out a little younger. Paul Walker certainly looks the part and he was actually good in the last two movies I saw him in, but that's probably a last resort. The name I keep coming back to is Mark Wahlberg. As soon as the film was announced, I thought he'd make the best fit. He's athletic, can convey good emotion, and works in the mold of the character. Anybody I'm missing? Let me know.

Comments

[Stephen Foster]

I think you missed a name. When I think Captain America, I think about someone who can lead soldiers and be a soldier as well as a patriot. Captain America is a soldier first and foremost. So I think an actor who has played military types before would be the best choice. I would start looking at actors who have played in movies like Saving Private Ryan and Band Of Brothers. I think then you will find an actor who fits the part of an American boy who can convey the action of WW2. One person that should be considered is Josh Duhamel, who to me has the voice, build, and acting chops to pull it off. He played a soldier and leader in Transformers so playing a soldier would not be new to him. Dye his hair blondish and you get an actor who can play Steve Rogers and look good as Cap.