Even though the role of protagonist Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America is still up in the air, serial villain Hugo Weaving is now set to play the film’s lead antagonist, Red Skull, according to Heat Vision.
Weaving recently had a role in Joe Johnston’s “The Wolf Man” and now looks set to reunite with the helmer for Marvel’s upcoming tentpole “The First Avenger: Captain America.” A deal is currently being negotiated and should play out “in the next day or so” — in other words, Marvel are trying to low-ball Weaving and everyone else they’re jumping into bed with, but are probably trying to work out a back-end deal that will act as incentive.
Red Skull has been Captain America’s archenemy since 1941, when he worked as Hitler’s right-hand man. THR also reports that, in the comic, Skull and Captain America were buried under the rubble of a bombed building in their final battle. Both fell into a state of suspended animation, but were later revived in modern times. Perhaps this is how “Captain America” will end, tying into him being found in the snow by the Incredible Hulk decades later (as was hinted at in Louis Leterrier’s film very, briefly in deleted scenes).
“The First Avenger: Captain America” should settle on its leading man any day now and is due to start shooting this June.
