Joe Johnston. Really? Huh.
The man who came on to save The Wolfman for Universal has evidently been in Captain America talks with Marvel for a long time. THR says that much of what we can expect to see in the film, which doesn’t yet have a writer, originated in those talks.
The trade quotes Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige being enthusiastic about Johnston’s pre-directorial work, but when he’s been in the driver’s seat Johnston has never turned out anything fully convincing. Moments of October Sky and The Rocketeer, perhaps…OK, there are plenty of moments on Johnston’s CV that work. But how many of his films do you want to watch again? How many do you jones for?
I hope The Wolfman will prove to be a late-breaking turning point. But this sounds like Marvel hiring someone that will do exactly what they need done for their Avengers assembly to work properly. Proper casting could still ignite interest in this; plenty of folks wouldn’t have been excited about Favreau’s Iron Man without Robert Downey, Jr.
THIS PROBABLY ISN'T THE DIRECTOR YOU WANTED FOR CAPTAIN AMERICA
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34 Responses to “THIS PROBABLY ISN'T THE DIRECTOR YOU WANTED FOR CAPTAIN AMERICA”
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Johnston is a fine director, but I think he dropped the ball on The Rocketeer. How does his NOT put Doc Savage in that movie?
Yay!! Joe Johnston is awesome! "Jurassic Park III" should've been garbage, but it's more re-watchable than "Lost World" and even, dare I say, "Jurassic Park" in parts. He's definitely a talented, interesting filmmaker and though I had zero interest in this before (I hate Captain America), I think Johnston will actually deliver the goods.
I'm a sucker for THE ROCKETEER for sure, and think Johnston's a fine fit for a CAPTAIN AMERICA that's set in WWII. Johnston shoots effects and period productions wonderfully, and he knows how to direct action. A fine choice.
I know that HIDALGO and JURASSIC PARK III aren't big hits, but I don't think either of those movies were held back by Johnston. It's a relief that Marvel isn't rushing to someone new just for buzz — I'd rather see the character revived in the AVENGERS movie after a classic, old-school adventure romp in his solo feature.
I dunno… I'm torn. Russ is right that Johnston has made some uneven, serviceable movies (Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, Jumanji, Hidalgo) one bad one (Jurassic Park III — what's with the love for THIS garbage?) and one great one (The Rocketeer). I can only hope The Wolfman kicks some major ass and show's Johnston has found his inner storyteller and not simply remained a special effects man trapped in a director's body.
I'm thrilled. Johnston is ALWAYS on my shortlist of filmmakers who'd be good for projects like this. He fulfills all the primary requirements: He 'gets' the genre, he knows how to shoot action, he's made good films in this mold before, etc. He's directed six films, all of them good (JP3) to flat-out excellent (Rocketeer) and not ONE of which is as awful as, say, "Transformers." Just remember… the "A-List" directors likely to board a movie like this includes Bay, Ratner and McG – I'd say we're lucking out.
What I like best about this idea in regards to THIS character is that Johnston has never been a "message" filmmaker – that alone is reason enough to celebrate. Captain America as a character is such a potentially loaded symbol the temptation to try and "say something" with him is extraordinary and would likely lead to disaster. I'd HATE to see a "right-wing" Cap "putting America back on track" or a "liberal" Cap moping around about disillusionment like that whiny bitch Jason Bourne.
A year from now, I get to see a guy in a red white and blue superhero uniform smashing Nazis around with a big-ass shield. AWESOME.
Captain America is a weak property. Johnson is probably about the best they could do.
It's not going to be "The Dark Knight". It'll be a family film with a hint of self-referencial satire.
The thing about Captain America is that his image and identity are totally cartoonish. But if you take him out of his red, white and blue uniform and change his goofy name, he's no longer Captain America.
I'm sure there's some comic fans out there who take their Captain seriously, but you are very much in the minority and a dark, brooding, complex Captain America is going to bomb badly.
brubaker's cap is quite pulpy actually…what with the giant robots and mechanical arms running about.
and this is a great choice. i've always liked cap, and i don't think he's a weak property. hes a character with enormous potential…take the best parts from back to the future, the longest day, and the rocketeer and I think you'd have a pretty cool movie
THAT PIC LOOKS LIKE CAP HAS 2 DICKS.
The Rocketeer is hands-down my favorite superhero movie ever. This couldn't be more welcome.
At least they didn't pick Chris Columbus. Or Stephen Sommers.
This is my first time posting here. This news has finally motivated me to post. Johnston is more than qualified to direct captain America, as The rocketeer clearly demonstrates he gets it. A WW2 cap needs to have that pulp feel. It needs to have that indiana Jones "obstacle stacking" schtick. What, the Rocketeers' budget was like, 45 mil?, and look what he accomplished there. Granted JP3 wasn't very good, but it was the script which killed that movie, which Johnston had nothing to do with. He's a great choice. Hopefully he pulls a "Fav".
Wow how can you knock October Sky. I have seen it a ton of times. You have no soul.
I'm glad mostly everyone else feels the same way about Johnston. I think he's a great choice and Jurassic Park III was my favourite film of the series.
Kid's Movie!!!