Who Will be the Next Captain American Idol?

Marvel Studios is getting ready to move on their Captain America movie, but first they need to figure out who'll play Steve Rogers, the 98-pound weakling who gets injected with a super-soldier serum that turns him into an American hero during World War II. A list of young American actors who will be screen-tested for the role has been leaked, and it's an interesting mix of square-jawed heartthrobs, teen-playing pretty-boys and Jim Halpert. Two other actors, Jensen Ackles (Supernatural) and Garret Hedlund (Friday Night Lights film), have been removed from consideration due to scheduling conflicts, but these remaining seven all have the potential to be punching Nazis by fall. Or do they? We broke down the pros and cons of having each of them play the First Avenger.

John Krasinski
Where You Know Him From: He plays Jim Halpert, office wisecracker and Michael's former co-manager on The Office.
Pro-America: At 6-foot 3, Krasinski is heroically tall, and while his lanky Jim is the epitome of the 98-pound-weakling archetype, he also played a believable pro football player in Leatherheads. Plus, as that movie showed, he can pull off a polite, "aw, shucks" persona that rings true with the old-fashioned Cap.
Anti-America: While classically handsome, he's certainly not the blonde, blue-eyed, square-jawed Cap that generations of fans have come to love. And his famously snarky attitude on The Office doesn't jive with the most optimistic and idealistic Avenger.

Chace Crawford
Where You Know Him From: As Nate Archibald, Crawford rules the Upper East Side of Manhattan with the rest of the cast of Gossip Girl.
Pro-America: His piercing blue eyes will make the mostly masked character come to life, as well as lining up the ladies around the block.
Anti-America: Since he's best known for playing a privileged high school student, we haven't really seen him in action, save for that time he had psychic powers in The Covenant. And it might be hard to buy such a pretty boy as the ultimate Super Soldier.

Scott Porter
Where You Know Him From: Formerly known as Jason Street on Friday Night Lights, Porter recently popped up on Caprica as a member of a polygamous marriage.
Pro-America: Everyone already knows him as a football player from America's heartland, and now he's dipping his toe into the sci-fi world, making him a viable contender. Plus, his statuesque features just scream "Steve Rogers" when he's got his hair cut properly.
Anti-America: Polygamous marriages? Danger, Will Robinson!

Michael Cassidy
Where You Know Him From: He had a run as Zach Stevens on The O.C., then one as Daily Planet editor Grant Gabriel on Smallville and most recently played Charlie Hogan on Privileged.
Pro-America: He has a clean-cut, all-American look about him, plus his relatively low-profile roles spare him a lot of the preconceived notions Krasinski and Crawford carry with them.
Anti-America: Outside of CW viewers, does anybody know who this guy is? The director has said he wants an unknown, but Cassidy's mediocre acting skills and unremarkable features don't exactly have us dying to see him as an action hero.

Patrick Flueger
Where You Know Him From: Flueger played Shawn Farrell on The 4400, and recently appeared in the drama Brothers.
Pro-America: The dude played a soldier in a highly regarded movie and wielded super powers on The 4400 -- Cap doesn't have any powers, of course, but that's got to count for something. Plus, cheekbones!
Anti-America: Although he's grown up a lot since The 4400, he still comes off looking a little boyish, even with a week's worth of stubble.

Wilson Bethel
Where You Know Him From: While he's famous for playing Cpl. Evan "Q-Tip" Stafford on Generation Kill, he's done six times as many episodes of The Young and the Restless playing Ryder Callahan, who actually sounds like a comic book character.
Pro-America: He's blond, he's already played a soldier and he has a chin you could cut glass with.
Anti-America: The guy's skinny enough to play a pre-serum Steve Rogers, but he'd have to bulk up something fierce to play Cap.

Mike Vogel
Where You Know Him From: In addition to past roles in the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Cloverfield and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Vogel will also star as Dr. Chris DeLeo on the CBS drama Miami Medical when it premieres in April.
Pro-America: This proven film actor is blonde, blue-eyed and lantern-jawed. He might have this one in the bag.
Anti-America: "Vogel"... Is that a German name?

Which of these fellas do you think should be the next Captain America? And who should play Bucky? Sound off below

9 Comments

February 26, 2010 3:18 PM
Matt T
Reply

The best rumor I heard was Ryan McPartlin, aka Captain Awesome, as Captain America. He could definitely do the blond, all-American hero type...he's already Awesome!

February 26, 2010 3:45 PM
Brixtonville
Reply

Jason Street seems pretty perfect for the role.

February 26, 2010 4:08 PM
Jon Abrams
Reply

My vote would have been Jon Hamm. Barring that, I'm with you bud. Here's my take on it: http://mapcidy.com/captain-america

February 26, 2010 4:21 PM
The Mad Maple
Reply

I was actually gonna pitch John Cena in the role (especially post-serum; the 98-pound-weakling scenes could easily be tweaked with CGI), but Matt T and Jon Abrams make pretty good points. Either Jon Hamm ord Captain Awesome would be perfect for the part!

February 26, 2010 5:04 PM
katie71483
Reply

If Jensen Ackles is out b/c of scheduling conflicts, than I vote Captain Awesome! I'm not sure how he would do the 98lb weakling part, but he could sure do Cap justice.

Scott Porter would be a good choice, too. Lord knows, that boy can act.

February 26, 2010 5:40 PM
Ruth
Reply

Captain Awesome would be...wait for it...awesome. But my brain might explode from an awesome overload.

February 26, 2010 5:47 PM
Anonymous
Reply

Where's Marc Blucas on that list? He was born to play Capt. America.

February 26, 2010 6:09 PM
Alex
Reply

Since I've seen him, I thought Trevor Donovan from the new 90210 could be Cap. Blond, blue-eyed, and the right physique (maybe a little extra bulk-muscle would be needed).

Plus Cap has to be a charismatic leader, seeming like a father-figure (due to chronological age) while looking younger. Donovan turned a pretty-boy playboy character into a likeable feature of the show.

March 4, 2010 6:20 PM
Marcus
Reply

Awesome would be the best Cap America.

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