Derek Luke Is Gabe Jones In "Captain America"

In this Internet day and age, it's hard to imagine a spoiler or plot detail staying secret for too long, especially when it comes to some of the more high-profile films set to be released in the near future, including this summer's "The First Avenger: Captain America."

That film had quite a few secrets leak out over the past few months, but one thing that stayed quiet was who actor Derek Luke would play in the film. That is until now. Although the role was cast months ago, it's only now finally been revealed whom Luke will play in Marvel's upcoming superhero film.

According to Blackfilm, its been confirmed that Luke will play Gabe Jones, an original member of the elite Howling Commandos combat squad of World War II in "The First Avenger: Captain America."

In the original comics, Jones was the first African-American to serve in an integrated unit and a close confidante to Sergeant Nick Fury, who is played in the films by Samuel L. Jackson. Jones would later join Fury as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Luke is part of a studded cast that includes Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, Sebastian Stan, Toby Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Dominic Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci, and Neal McDonough.

Luke has been a powerful actor throughout his career and he definitely will bring some intensity and quality acting skills to his part. It really seems that Joe Johnston's film is going to pay a lot of homage to the original comics, which is always a plus for fan boys out there. The footage from the film really looks great so far and it has the feel of an "Indiana Jones" film with superhero elements mixed in, which is not a bad thing at all.

The film is scheduled to open July 22nd 2011.

New Captain America Photos and Plot Details!

The first batch of official photos from Marvel's "Captain America" have appeared in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly. Sweeeeeeeeet.

As well as the new EW cover which was revealed earlier today we now have a look at the photos from inside the issue as well. The first official look of Evans in full Cap gear looks a lot more promising then the stunt pictures which recently surfaced from the set. Clearly he's been working out.
We also got our first look at the back of Stanley Tucci's head inside a 1940's era science lab, Hugo Weaving as the Nazi villain Johann Schmidt prior to becoming the disfigured Red Skull, and an alternate and equally bad ass shield.

The official synopsis is as follows:

The year is 1942, and Steve Rogers is a scrawny lad who desperately wants to fight Nazis for his country but can’t because he’s been deemed physically unfit. His fate — and his physique — is radically transformed when he signs up for Project: Rebirth, a secret military operation that turns wimps into studs using drugs and assorted sci-fi hoo-ha. There’s a love interest (Major Peggy Carter, played Haley Atwell), there’s a sidekick (Bucky Barnes, played by Sebastian Stans), and there’s the Red Skull ( Hitler’s treacherous head of advanced weaponry, whose own plan for world domination involves a magical object known as The Tesseract.

Captain America: The First Avenger opens in 3D on July 22, 2011

Sebastian Stan Still In "Captain America"

Though he missed out on playing the titular hero, hunky actor Sebastian Stan (TV's "Kings," "Gossip Girl") will still be involved with Marvel Studios' "The First Avenger: Captain America" film.

According to EW.com: Several sources report that Stan has signed a multi-picture deal to play Bucky Barnes, a sidekick from the early days of the comic who became the Soviet assassin Winter Soldier, and later briefly the Captain himself after the death of Steve Rogers.

Initially, Barnes was an orphan who discovered Captain America's true identity and partners up with him to fight the Nazis during World War II. He was seemingly killed in the same plane explosion that hurled Rogers into the North Atlantic sea where his body was frozen and then revived decades later.

In 2005, Barnes returned--the character having been rescued from the sea by the Soviets. Struck with amnesia and now sporting a bionic arm to replace the one lost in the explosion, he becomes a ruthless assassin for them.

Stan's deal is expected to include not just the "Captain America" film but "The Avengers" and other Marvel titles.

The news came just as Marvel Studios issued a press release officially confirming Chris Evans will star as Steve Rogers/Captain America.

I don’t know much about Stan, but I’m glad that casting for this film is shaping up. I really think what Marvel has done the past few years with “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk” and their upcoming slate of films is truly brilliant. The actual Marvel comic books and characters have always shared the same ‘world,’ so why not their movie characters too?

If “Captain America” and “Thor” are successful, “The Avengers” may end up being one of the highest grossing films ever.

Filming on “The First Avenger: Captain America” kicks off this summer in Europe.

Joe Johnston Says that "Captain America" is in Prep

"The Wolfman" director Joe Johnston has begun press rounds for that movie, and of course everyone's asking about his next film--Marvel Studios' "Captain America." Johnston tells Film Journal some details about the film, including how it will look and what time period it will take place.

According to Film Journal: With "The First Avenger: Captain America" rumored to begin filming later this year, further details about the story have begun to emerge. "Captain America" director Joe Johnston has recently revealed that the film will begin in the 1940s and ignore the influence of the '60s and '70s "Captain America" comics.

Said Johnston: “Presently, the plan is to begin the film's action in 1942 & 1943 during the Second World War then forward to what they're doing with Captain America now... The stuff in the ’60s and ’70s [comic books] we're sort of avoiding."

Johnston also elaborated on the current status of the film's production.

Said Johnston: "We're in prep. We have Rick Heinrichs, who is production-designing, and we're set up down in Manhattan Beach [California]. It's the part of the process that I love the most. We have eight or 10 really talented artists, and we all just sit around all day and draw pictures... It's that phase of the production where money doesn't matter."

Johnston has some experience directing the WWII era from “The Rocketeer,” but he will need more than that if “Captain America” will be a success. “The Wolfman” has had a troubled production history, and if it bombs, there will be questions about Johnston and his ability to deliver a winner for Marvel.

Although I think one shouldn't judge the quality of Johnston's “Captain America” based on the strength of “The Wolfman,” it will be hard to ignore if it is critically panned or doesn’t make a boatload of money.

The film will go into production later this year for a July 22, 2011 release.