UPDATE: I just heard back from some folks at Marvel at they categorically, up and down, completely and without hesitation deny that there is any delay on The First Avenger: Captain America or that the production is any trouble. Everything is moving forward right now, they tell me. As I suspected this story looks to be just a bullshit rumor that got spread by the internet, as bullshit rumors do, and it holds no water.
Some guy in Edinburgh is loitering around the set of John Landis’ new film Burke & Hare, and apparently he’s made friends with some members of the crew. My guess is that he’s met a PA or two, because nobody higher up on the food chain than a traffic wrangler is going to risk his position making buddies with a dude who is standing around the shoot taking pictures all the time. Anyway, this guy hears from his friend that Marvel is delaying The First Avenger: Captain America and they’re doing it so they can replace Joe Johnston as director, thanks to The Wolfman not doing well.
I don’t think this is true, and even if it is true, I still don’t think it’s true. Let me explain.
First of all, Johnston’s essentially blame-free on The Wolfman. Everybody knows he walked into a movie that was to start shooting two weeks from his hire date. While The Wolfman is pretty much a disaster at this point, Johnston is at the very least insulated. And I have to imagine that when Marvel was making their deal with Johnston the spectre of that movie tanking was very obvious (and probably allowed Marvel to get a better deal out of him). But on top of that, Johnston signed a deal. They can’t just fire him because they don’t like his last movie’s box office. They’d need another reason.
If the movie is being delayed and if it’s because they’re replacing Johnston the reason that makes more sense is that he’s being a pain in the butt with Marvel. It’s been reported that Johnston has fought with them about the budget of the movie, going so far as to threaten to walk. Maybe Marvel let him do just that after another round of budget battles.
What seems more likely to me is that the PA who is feeding this guy info is in on the local film industry gossip loop. You have to be if you want to work in film; you have to be up on what’s coming and who’s doing it and what they need. So this PA is in this loop and there are rumors that start, perhaps being sparked by the fact that Johnston did threaten to walk from Captain America some time in the recent past.
I don’t know. It’s also possible that the film is getting delayed for other reasons, like trying to work out a schedule with a star (there are a couple of Cap candidates who weren’t on that leaked list the other day because their schedules wouldn’t permit them to come aboard; could Marvel have decided to get the right guy as opposed to hitting a date? Very possible with these folks). And it’s possible that the movie isn’t delayed at all.
I put in a call to Marvel Studios and got nothing, so I’ll leave this one to folks with better contacts on the inside than what I have. This is a production that’s got a lot going on with it. Casting Cap is potentially too important to be left to a hard deadline, I’ve heard that the script really needs some serious work and Johnston has been battling the studio for every nickel and dime he can get. A delay isn’t beyond belief, but until it comes from a more reliable source I’m not going to assume it’s the case.
Thanks to Robert R for the link to the original story.
17 comments
Hmmm… Most excellent if proven true.
How about the Captain China movie, is that still on track?
I heard they were delaying it so it can be shown in 3D
Oh look, Devin sucking off Johnston AND Marvel Studios in yet another article. Of all your faults, your devotion to any mediocrity that gives you the time of day is by far the worst and most obvious. Come on.
Stating facts is "sucking Johnston off"/ God, there are some moronic fanboys 'round here.
I wouldn't go so far as to call the Wolfman a disaster. They fucked it in the ass by releasing when they did. Should have waited until November…
Every feature I've seen that has been directed by Joe Johnston has been entertaining. I like the no nonsense style of getting to the story. Rocketeer and showed what we really wanted to see anyway with Jurassic Park 3 and didn't piddle like the first sequel. The Wolfman was the same. It got to the point. It didn't drag it's ass and was a solid movie.
If Cap fails, The Avengers will be screwed. Mainstream moviegoers burned by a bad Cap movie featuring a lightweight actor with ripped abs will not buy said pretty-boy as a leader of a super group. Oh well. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out. Certainly they couldn't do worse than rubber-eared Matt Salinger getting his ass kicked on his first mission, and then he wanders the highways of Canada like a homeless person for a quarter of the fucking movie.
So now you're reporting a rumor that even you don't believe to be true? Awesome job!
Thanks, Dev… I thought this was a strange rumor. To postpone a summer tentpole flick and fire a director (and thus put the entire Marvel Movie schedule in jeopardy as a result) because his latest movie wasn't a smash at the box office seems strange. If that were the case, "Zathura" and "Frankenstein's" lack of success at the box office should have eliminated Favreau and Branagh from consideration for "Iron Man" and "Thor", respectively. This rumor also makes me think that the recent "wish list" of actors story may be bullshit as well.
Mike, youre a fucking simpleton. He's posting about a rumour that's making the rounds and giving his opinion that the rumour is bullshit. I know, I know – failing English in high school has set you back a few years but you'll get there, tiger.
So everything is on track. Who the hell is their pick for the lead role? That's the only question at this point. People said maybe Ackles. What about the guy who plays his brother Padalecki? He's in his mid to late 20s, he doesn't look like a kid, he's got blonde hair and he's like 6 foot 4 or 6 foot 5.
Thank god someone woke up at Marvel and realized Joe Johnston is a horrible fit for cap, especially with his emphasis on the whole USO angle that would make Cap out to be a bitch.
New director should be…Pierre Morel or David Fincher. Yes.
Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but has it ever occurred to you that perhaps the fine folks at Marvel were LYING TO YOU? Dev, love ya buddy, we see eye-to-eye on many, many things but you are not an executive producer for the film. They have no obligation to tell you the truth. I'm not saying a rumor from some low level guy (who, for some reason, often know more than the CEOs) isn't complete horseshit. However, this story manages to globe-trot the web and create buzz, even gets you to write an article, and the first thing you do is try to discredit him as a picture taker. Since when does the person who (supposedly) speaks for us toothless peasants in the film industry, tries so hard to discredit the very people he represents? Especially when many of the rumors you support come from likewise sources. What if his information is valid? Whats the harm in giving him the benefit of the doubt? Or at least contacting him and getting some sort of interview allowing him to explain his side of the story instead of calling some pencil pushing, cock sucking bureaucrat who gets paid the same no matter what he tells you. Hell I'm barking at the moon, you're lucky to find one in fifty people who even care about a Captain America movie.
Just cast jensen already,it's starting to bore me a little now i just want to know.
"I just heard back from some folks at Marvel.."
aka "I read on another website"
There's reportedly a sixth season of Supernatural. It just was picked up. I guess the CW begged them to stay another season because the original line was there were only supposed to be five seasons. I guess it's doing well for the CW. Hell, it's the only show I watch and never miss on that channel. It's got good stories and good actors. But because there's a sixth season I would guess no Jensen Ackles or Jared Padalecki for Capt. America due to lack of time.
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