Joe Johnston on casting Chris Evans as Captain America

When Marvel first started their search for Captain America Chris Evans wasn’t among those actors originally considered. It was only in the 3rd or 4th week of screen testing that Evans was brought in, and according to a recent interview with director Joe Johnston the actor didn’t even need to audition. He landed the role based on his past work and because of “his wonderful enthusiasm”.

From Earth’s Mightiest Fansites:

Chris didn’t audition at all. I was already familiar with everything he’d done and was championing his cause, not that I had a fight from the Marvel team. They were fans of his as well. He came in to the art department to say hi, saw all the jaw-dropping art and designs on the wall and reacted the way I’d hoped he would. It was really his wonderful enthusiasm for everything he saw that cinched the deal. We have some of the best designers and illustrators in the industry working for us and the art is just incredible to wander through. He will bring the perfect balance of dramatic performance and physicality to the role.

Johnston also spoke about the character of Steve Rogers, and mentions that Evans will be playing both the weakling and the guy who’s strength, endurance, agility, speed, reflexes, durability and healing are at the highest limits of natural human potential.

Casting Captain America is really casting two roles…Steve Rogers before and after the transformation from 98 pound weakling to perfect physical specimen. I can’t divulge how we’re going to do it, but the performance will be Chris Evans from beginning to end. An actor playing Captain America has to embody that backstory and let it inform his understanding of his new self. One of the interesting aspects of the character is the effect that kind of total transformation would have on the his psyche. It gives the character more dimension and the actor playing him a wider range of interesting choices.

Maybe they could do what James Cameron did with Jake Sully’s legs in Avatar, but for Evans’ whole body. I suppose they could do it the old fashion way and put Evans on an extreme diet, but it wouldn’t be wise to put the actor’s heath at risk, especially as Marvel have signed him up for The Avengers and more Captain America movies in the future. Not everyone can do a Christian Bale.