Marvel Denies the Shield to Will Smith - Captain America Rumor Debunked

Yesterday, a fairly obvious rumor was started that Will Smith had been tapped to star as our favorite star-spangled superhero. Now that rumor has been debunked by Marvel itself.

By ComicBookMovie - Sep 09, 2008 12:09 AM EST

Filed Under: Captain America: The First Avenger

Here is what the original MTV article said...

When Marvel announced that “Captain America” was making its way to the big-screen, fans everywhere began speculating who would be donning the famous red-white-and-blue tights. Nothing has been heard since, but during an MTV News interview regarding his role in “Miracle at St. Anna,” actor Derek Luke let slip that a very prominent - and surprising - face could be the star of Marvel Studios’ next blockbuster film.

“I heard they offered Will Smith ‘Captain America,’” said Luke, adding that the intriguing casting rumor “just shows you how times have changed.”

Harry Knowles of AICN was the first to contact Marvel directly to get their straight talk...

Multiple sources from MARVEL have confirmed that Derek Luke, of Spike Lee's MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA, doesn't know what he's talking about when it comes to Will Smith and CAPTAIN AMERICA. Marvel never offered the part, nor did they approach or entertain a conversation about Will Smith for CAPTAIN AMERICA. That said - I'm sure they have a few parts that they'd like him for, just not Captain America. So there ya go. They haven't gone insane and we don't need to be confused, angry and scared about it anymore.

I'm sure Harry isn't trying to be racist by inferring his distaste for Will in the role of Steve. Pretty much EVERYONE likes Will Smith. But while more "minor" characters can withstand a race or even a sex/gender makeover (I'm thinking Nick Fury, BSG's Starbuck, even GAY Colossus) there are others that fans won't tolerate. Even Will Smith himself is quoted as saying that he'd turned down the role of Superman because he didn't think a black man of steel would fly. A race-revamp in such iconic characters like Supes and Captain America would cause a bit of geek consternation--to put it lightly. If you don't believe it, just imagine the backlash if Marvel decided to do a Black Panther movie with some really white guy in the starring role. It is much safer, and easily acceptable to simply create an all-new character in the same vein--such as the African-American Green Lantern John Stewart, who was created as a politically correct "token" character until his character was made to shine in the animated Justice League cartoon.

What are YOUR thoughts? Would Will Smith have made a decent Captain America? Or, would that color change be just a little too much for the character to remain the same in your mind. Let us know your thoughts by voting.

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Marvel Denies the Shield to Will Smith - Captain America Rumor Debunked

Yesterday, a fairly obvious rumor was started that Will Smith had been tapped to star as our favorite star-spangled superhero. Now that rumor has been debunked by Marvel itself.

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