Marvel Studios has a director and possibly a pair of writers attached to explore the origins of star-spangled superhero Captain America. Following last week’s recruitment of director Joe Johnston (The Wolfman, Jurassic Park III) comes word from The Hollywood Reporter that Marvel is in negotiations with scribes Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. The duo previously worked on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and the HBO biopic The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.
A wartime comic-book creation of Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, Captain America first appeared in 1941. The character is the product of a super-soldier program that turns scrawny, sickly Steve Rogers into a Nazi-fighting war machine who wields an indestructible shield. Staying true to its comic origins, First Avenger: Captain America will be set during World War II. The character will then be brought into modern times for the upcoming Avengers movie, which Marvel hopes to launch in 2011. The movie is being produced by Marvel’s Kevin Feige, and exec produced by Louis D’Esposito, Stan Lee and Marvel Studios chairman David Maisel.
Two members of the Avengers team, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, have already been introduced on the big screen, and Thor is on the way. Kenneth Branagh is in talks to direct Thor for a 2010 release. Director Jon Favreau and actor Robert Downey Jr. are also re-teaming for two Iron Man sequels.
