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Captain America, The Avengers Just Got Better

By TK | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (22)

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Well, these are two outstanding bits of news. Neither is solid quite yet, but things are looking good for both items.

First, in the ever growing cast list for The First Avenger: Captain America, Neal McDonough is in talks for the part of Dum Dum Dugan, according to Deadline. For those who don’t know, Dum Dum was one of the Fury’s Howling Commandos during WWII, and is one of the elite members of S.H.I.E.L.D., one of Fury’s right hand men. He’s known for being a hardass and a hell of a soldier. McDonough doesn’t exactly look the part, but then, no one looks the part of Dugan. This is him in the comics:

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This, of course, is McDonough:

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God, I hope they keep the mustache.

The continuity is a little wonky, as Dugan was still a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the modern era, meaning he was fighting alongside Fury for well over 60 years, one of the problems with the whole Fury continuity anyway. Apparently the plan is to use him as a Howling Commando in the WWII aspect of the Captain America film, and no word as to whether (or how) they’ll use him in the modern part of the film as well. Unlike Cap, he was not trapped in ice for decades. It’s a little confusing to the non-reader. Regardless, it’s great news. McDonough is a great actor (despite his recent massive misstep by joining the horrendous Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li) who doesn’t get a lot of great parts, so this is good news.

The second bit of news is an update on a rumor we ran a while back, namely that Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) might play Hawkeye in Joss Whedon’s Avengers movie. Apparently, Renner is now in final negotiations to play the part, which is just fucking outstanding. He’d be great for the part, and Hawkeye is an excellent character addition to the team. He’s a predominately second (or even third) tier character, but a great one nonetheless. The trick is that Renner is also supposed to co-star in Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master (as mentioned by Dustin on Tuesday), but Hawkeye will be a smaller part, so the hope is he’ll have time to do both (the two films’ schedules are very close).

Hawkeye.jpg

Hawkeye, aka Clint Barton, is a former circus performer who becomes a member of the Avengers. In the comics, he’s part of the second incarnation of the team, along with Cap, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. Obviously, the film’s version will retcon that (hell, it’s already been retconned a couple times in the comics), but I’m totally fine with that. Hawkeye is an archer, shooter, fighter and a dead-eyed marksman.

Again, while neither is confirmed yet, the outlook is good.

(Source: Slashfilm)









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Comments

It’s a little confusing to the non-reader.

That's kind of my whole problem with this thing. I have no idea what any of this is and I consider myself pretty well versed in comics. I just never did all that much with Marvel other than X-Men and Spider-Man so the whole Avengers thing is a black hole for me. I just wonder if they are banking HUGE on an unproven property that is going to go over with your average movie goer about as well as "Watchmen".

Posted by: TylerDFC at June 4, 2010 10:15 AM

I just wonder if they are banking HUGE on an unproven property that is going to go over with your average movie goer about as well as "Watchmen".

Posted by: TylerDFC at June 4, 2010 10:15 AM

I am sort of in the same boat. I was an "X-Men" fan as well and other than being a big fan of The Black Panther, I rarely read too many Avengers comics. I know pretty much all of the characters and their general backgrounds, but have probably ever only read a handful of Avengers comics in my time.

That said, I don't think the "Avengers" will go over like the "Watchmen" because by the time it comes out everyone will be familiar with the main characters thanks to the Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America movies. The "Iron Man" fans alone will be enough to make it a box office smash.

So, you have the lead in films, some big name stars in RDJ, Samuel Jackson, and some others. That's two huge boosts, right there, that "Watchmen" never had.

Posted by: Forbiddendonut at June 4, 2010 10:26 AM

Brendon Gleeson would have made a perfect Dugan if he were younger. Or maybe Colm Meaney.

Posted by: John W at June 4, 2010 10:28 AM

Nick Fury isn't all that confusing. His aging was slowed due to the Infinity Formula, which he first took in the 40s. It's a little weird because that's the traditional history of the white Nick Fury; no idea if that's how they'll do it with the far-superior Sam Jackson Ultimates Fury, as he doesn't really use that Formula in that universe.

I'm assuming we'll see Fury in Captain America, and I bet they'll show him using the Formula at some point. Maybe that's what they'll do for Dugan as well.

Posted by: Snath at June 4, 2010 10:29 AM

The Avengers that they're assembling is closer to the Ultimate Avengers as opposed to the original Avengers.

The Sam Jackson Nick Fury is definitely from the Ultimate universe.

It shouldn't be all that confusing to the average moviegoer unless they also happen to be well versed in the Marvel universe.

Assuming of course a movie that includes a God from the Norse mythology, a WWII era super-soldier, a gamma radiated behemoth, and a playboy millionaire superhero that isn't Batman doesn't confuse them in the first place.

Posted by: John W at June 4, 2010 10:37 AM

Why does Dugan look like he wants to molester me?

As for the Avengers movie: remember Alien Resurrection, Whedon. Remember.

Posted by: admin at June 4, 2010 10:41 AM

Neal McDonough is not good news! Neal McDonough KILLS everything he is a part of! It's not that he's a bad actor, it's that everything he is involved in ends up failing!

Posted by: Todd at June 4, 2010 10:49 AM

Wasn't he in Band of Brothers, Todd? I've never seen it, but it was successful, no?

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at June 4, 2010 10:57 AM

At one point, they had retconned the Howling Commandos to Vietnam. Did that not take? They've reverted to WWII?

Posted by: ZombieScientist at June 4, 2010 11:12 AM

Neal McDonough was in Ravenous. HE WAS LICKING MEEEEEE

Posted by: the new transported man at June 4, 2010 11:13 AM

Does anyone remember the name of the villain who only had to see a hero use his/her powers, and he could imitate it perfectly? I can't remember the name, but I loved that villain - he was kick-ass!

I don't know how bankable an Avengers movie is going to be, but I'm still excited for it. Just to see it brought to life. Neal McDonough is not who'd I'd think of for Dugan (in a million years!), but he's an interesting actor, and I'm not a S.H.I.E.L.D. fanatic. But if I were, I don't know what I'd do with that casting. I hope they keep the mustache too. :)

Posted by: Chickaboom at June 4, 2010 11:15 AM

Posted by: the new transported man at June 4, 2010 11:32 AM

Throwing Alien Resurrection's failure at Joss Whedon's feet is like saying Natural Born Killers was Tarantino's fault. (No, I don't care for NBK, or most Oliver Stone movies.) You may not think he's consistent, but in the time since Resurrection, he's proven he's far superior than that wretchedness.

Also, the only character that comes to mind who could mimic other heroes' powers was, um, Mimic. But I believe he was pretty relegated to solely X-Men continuity...?

Posted by: RobP at June 4, 2010 12:00 PM

HOW are those ankles supporting those legs???

Posted by: jen at June 4, 2010 12:08 PM

I'm not surprised at Renner's casting. I recently started rewatching Angel and nearly jumped out of my seat when I recognized Renner playing Angel's apprentice(is that the right word?) in an episode of season 1. And if you've seen a lot of Whedon's stuff, its clear he likes to re-hire actors.

Posted by: gee. ay. at June 4, 2010 12:17 PM

For the trifecta, there's also the Super Adaptoid, created by A.I.M. who has the ability to copy powers of superheroes he comes in close proximity to.

Posted by: John W at June 4, 2010 12:21 PM

Mimic was in the X-men (very briefly, then he died) and could copy other people's powers. Taskmaster was a villain (I think they made him a quasi-hero later, I don't know because almost all Marvel comics suck these days so I have long since stopped collecting) who could copy other people's physical skills (like martial arts, Caps' shield-throwing, Hawkeye's archery, etc.) after seeing them just once. Which meant he could totally kick the ass of pretty much anyone who wasn't invulnerable.

He was awesome.

And yes, Neal McDonough was in "Band of Brothers," but lloking at his resume that is just about the ONLY thing I can see that was both a critical and commercial success.

Posted by: Todd at June 4, 2010 12:25 PM

I could get down with a movie featuring Taskmaster & Constrictor.

Posted by: the new transported man at June 4, 2010 12:27 PM

YES! Taskmaster! Thank you, Transported Man and Todd. :)

Posted by: Chickaboom at June 4, 2010 1:04 PM

I don't know anything about these characters, but I LOVE me some superhero movies, and I love me some Jeremy Renner.

All I do know is that this movie is gonna be more full of pretty, pretty men than Lost was. It's nice to have something to look forward to.

Posted by: figgy at June 4, 2010 1:11 PM

Amend that to:

Pretty, pretty men in TIGHT, tight uniforms.

HOLLAH.

Posted by: figgy at June 4, 2010 1:12 PM

Neal was in Band of Brothers and in Minority Report, both of which were successful. And he kicks ass.

Posted by: Native American Joe Pesci at June 4, 2010 4:21 PM