Just yesterday, rumours cropped up about the latest possible addition to the Marvel cinematic universe. But there’s much more solid word today on developments with one of the company’s cornerstone characters: sibling directing duo Joe and Anthony Russo are in final talks to command the Captain America sequel.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Russo brothers beat the likes of The Adjustment Bureau’s George Nolfi and Law Abiding Citizen’s F Gary Gray for the job. The application process was a long and secretive one, though we have heard Nolfi is now without a noggin after Joe Russo proved to be a crack shot with Cap’s shield.*
Little is known about the actual plot of the Cap follow-up, though we do believe it’ll see Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) still struggling to adapt to life as a man out of time in a post-Avengers world. Whether it will also feature adventures back in World War II – either via the medium of flashbacks or time travel – is still locked in Marvel’s chamber of secrets, but currently the first film’s writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely are tasked with cranking out the script.
The Russos are a seemingly odd choice to tackle a superhero film, given that their cinematic CV includes small indies such as Pieces, Welcome To Collinwood and the misfiring studio comedy You, Me And Dupree. But they’ve been proving their geek credentials on TV for years as producers and directors on shows including Arrested Development, Happy Endings and Community. Marvel has shown remarkable skill in picking the right pair (or in this case pairs) of hands for each superhero gig, so colour us as cautiously optimistic.
Captain America 2 is set to invade screens on April 4, 2014.
*Not true. But we sort of wish directors did have to tussle, comic book-style, for certain jobs.