No, seriously.
The cast list for Captain America: Civil War is insane.
I mean, at this point Marvel probably should have just called this movie The Avengers 2.5: Civil War because that is certainly how the movie is going to feel. Nearly everyone from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be returning for the film that began principle photography today in Atlanta under the direction of Anthony and Joe Russo.
Here’s who we know will be returning:
- Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America)
- Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man)
- Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow)
- Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier)
- Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Falcon)
- Paul Bettany (Vision)
- Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye)
- Don Cheadle (James Rhodes/War Machine)
- Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch)
- Emily VanCamp (Sharon Carter/Agent 13)
- Frank Grillo (Brock Rumlow/Crossbones)
Paul Rudd will also be joining the cast as Ant-Man, though whether he will be already integrated into the new Avengers team or just a super-powered individual with his privacy at stake in the upcoming film remains to be seen. Newcomers to the MCU will include Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, Daniel Brühl as Baron Zemo, William Hurt as General Ross, and Martin Freeman. Martin Freeman’s role is still unannounced, though there has been a lot of speculation.
Keep in mind that we’ve also been told we’ll get our first look at the new Spider-Man in this film, meaning the cast list isn’t even complete.
It’s worth noting that despite the lengthy cast list, Gwyneth Paltrow remains absent yet again as Pepper Potts after another noticeable absence in Age of Ultron. Samuel L. Jackson and Clark Gregg are also not listed which brings into question the future of SHIELD in the MCU films. (Charlie Cox is also absent but I don’t think anyone was expecting a Netflix crossover into the films – at least not this early.)
Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo won’t be returning to reprise their roles as Thor and Bruce Banner/Hulk. The end of Age of Ultron sets both of their characters out on their own individual journeys, and it’s unlikely either would be in a position to come back into the fold so soon.
Considering the plot of Civil War, it makes sense that a lot of characters will be coming into play. In the comics, Civil War was a huge event with repercussions that lasted for years. It remains to be seen is how much screen time each character will get with such a large ensemble cast, the largest yet for a movie within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is, after all, supposed to be a Captain America film. He’ll presumably take the forefront.
Unfortunately, Age of Ultron struggled to give everyone in it’s massive cast their due. And in a film featuring so many superheroes with their own massive storylines, we’ll just have to hope that they strike a better balance this time around.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m super excited about this one. Any characters you’re sad won’t be returning? Any you hope might still be announced? (I, for one, hope that the adorable SHIELD agent who wouldn’t follow Rumlow’s orders in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, who returned for a cameo in Age of Ultron, gets another cameo in Civil War!)
English