Many were surprised to hear that Anthony and Joe Russo (Community) were confirmed to direct the sequel for Captain America. So far the only development we’ve heard since Captain America: The Winter Soldier was announced at Comic-Con earlier this month was that Anthony Mackie was joining the cast as The Falcon. But now Anthony Russo is coming out to give a few details about the sequel and what we might see and not see in it.
During the Television Critics Association press conference yesterday, the Huffington Post, along with a slew of other members of the press, asked questions to Russo, who was there to promote Animal Practice.
When asked how they got the job of directing Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Russo said the following:
We were comic book geeks from a young age and big fantasy geeks. We got to talk to them in detail about that history. They knew that we understood the brand really well and the characters really well. It was a long process, actually, of talking to them over and over again, through a series of meetings over a long period of time. And I think they just — we were really passionate about the movie, incredibly passionate about the movie. They felt that, and they felt like it was the right match.
When asked if they were going to see some comedy, Russo responded with:
I mean, we’re trying to grow him as a character, and certainly he’s come a long way, from where he started in pre-World War 2 to where he is in modern-day America. So the character has room for growth because of that huge journey that he’s been on, Number 1. Number 2, part of the appeal of these movies is the ensemble. Captain America isn’t the only character in the film, there are other characters that are perhaps lighter in nature.
So who are these supposed lighter characters? Well Russo says that Bucky Barnes is one of them.
Russo also confirmed that there will be flashback to World War II, citing that they were making the movie for first-time viewers, so they need to convey “complicated history — he was this skinny guy who became a super-soldier, he was born back then and he’s living [now] — in the storytelling.”
Russo was mum on if we will see S.H.I.E.L.D. or Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) in the film, but did say that “there’s sort of a darker, edgier sensibility at work there that we found appealing, and that is going find its way into Captain [America] in the modern day.”
But when asked about what part they would like to replicate from The Avengers and bring to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Russo said:
For me, what I loved about the movie, which is what many if not most people loved about the movie, were the character interactions, those great character moments. You have people rubbing up against each other in a way that’s exciting and combustible. While all the special effects and the adventure, the thrill and the danger [are] fun, it was those character-to-character interactions are the heart of the film. So that’s what [we'll hope to have].
So as much as the press tried to get something real meaty by spinning their questions, Russo would not take the bait. But I still can’t wait to see what they bring to the table. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is scheduled for release on April 4, 2014.
Do they *really* need to convey Captain America’s “complicated history” in the storytelling of the immediate sequel for “first-time viewers”? The previous movie contained more than enough about Captain America’s origin! If someone doesn’t know the history by now…didn’t watch Captain America, didn’t care to learn about him after Avengers, never read the comics…then too bad.
Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press
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