Chris Evans is Captain America

The rumor mill has finally stopped. After much deliberation over a pretty definitive shortlist, Marvel has chosen, well, The Human Torch. Chris Evans will star as the leader of the Avengers, Steve Rogers aka Captain America in Captain America: The First Avenger.

The decision was supposed to be made by March 1. Since then, Marvel mulled over everyone from John Krasinski of “The Office” fame to Channing Tatum to Chase Crawford (“Gossip Girl”) and other minor television and other prettyboys such as Scott Porter (“Friday Night Lights”), Mike Vogel (Cloverfield), Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) and Michael Cassidy (“Smallville”). Now The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision blog reports the deal with Evans is being finalized. Finally, I can blog truth and not rumor about the biggest casting move since … who cares, this is Captain America we’re talking about.

In general, I’m not a fan of cross-over casting. When Halle Berry went from Storm of the X-Men to starring in the horrendous Catwoman, it was upsetting. When Ryan Reynolds, who played Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine was cast to star in the now-filming Green Lantern, I wasn’t thrilled either. At least those actors crossed over from DC to Marvel or vice-versa. Evans was Johnny Storm, one of the Marvel Universe’s Fantastic Four. All I’m saying is I prefer more inspired casting.

All that said, the only actual concern I have is over Evans as a mature leader figure. Obviously, Marvel wanted to cast a younger Steve Rogers for their origin story. They wanted a relative unknown. Evans is recognizable, but not by name, so that counts. Anyway, as a potential leader of the Avengers, I’m not sure if the guy who has usually been the cocky douche in the action movies he’s played in is the right fit. I’d love to see Evans pull it off and I think his performance in Danny Boyle’s Sunshine might be more indicative of this capability, but Evans would not have been my “dream CA” so to speak. I don’t have a dream CA, just to assure you. I barely know the character, to be honest, I just have pre-conceptions of what is great casting.

Presumably, Evans is signed up to star in this film and quite likely the 2012 Avengers movie. “Captain America” takes place during WWII and has not been changed to be modern day, which is a move I really like, but uh … how exactly does he team up with Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and whoever else in the present day? That’ll be interesting.

I will say this. The man has ideal facial structure. Not messing with you hear. Just look at that photo again. Perfect jaw shape and forehead size … he’ll look pretty darn good under the hood/mask. Just sayin …

Nevertheless, Evans as the Cap’n certainly doesn’t lessen my interest around this film, set to start shooting pretty soon and hit theaters in July 2011.