First Photo of Red Skull from Captain America: The First Avenger
Posted 03.04.11 by Ryan
The recently released Super Bowl trailer for Marvel Studios' Captain America: The First Avenger gave a split-second first look at Hugo Weaving as Cap's greatest nemesis, Johann Schmidt, aka the Red Skull. To make up for the blink-and-miss moment, Marvel sent Entertainment Weekly a photo of Weaving in full Red Skull regalia, complete with a HYDRA insignia on his belt.
EW also spoke to director Joe Johnston, who explained what the motivation was for Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) to become Captain America and fight the Red Skull and the Nazis.
Yeah, for Steve Rogers it’s a very personal thing. At one point he says, "I don't like bullies, I don't care where they're from." He makes a complete physical transformation to a perfect human specimen. But inside he doesn't change at all. It must be tempting to go back and say "I'm going to get that guy who beat me up in high school." He does get revenge in the film, but on the Nazis — not on people who maybe picked on him. Before he gets the injection, the doctor tells him: "Whatever happens, stay who you are."
Johnston says that what he likes best about the character of Captain America is that "he's not a superhero in the true sense of the word," in that he can't fly, pick up trains, or shoot beams of light from his eyes.
Movies like that are a lot harder to do, because how you make someone like that vulnerable? Someone like Superman. I don't know if that's the best example, but it's certainly the one that comes to mind. How do you make a guy who is invincible seem real? Kryptonite, that is his one weakness, but I don't know. It's much easier with a guy like Steve Rogers who has all kinds of built in weaknesses, because of who he was and how he grew up.
I've had other offers for movies like this and usually turned them down. To me there's something less interesting about a guy who can fly, and throw tanks around, and stuff like that. The reason I wanted to do this one is he is so relatable. I can relate to him. Maybe it's every kid's dream to go into a pod and come out looking like Captain America. [Laughs] And you don't even have to exercise or lift weights! It's great!
Johnston also didn't have any pressure to help set up the upcoming superhero team-up movie The Avengers, since Captain America takes place during World War II.
Because this was a period film, because this was the origin story, I didn't have to worry about the Avengers which was a present day story. We have present-day bookends and bring Cap back at the end and then I basically hand him off. And The Avengers is its own thing.
Captain America: The First Avenger was written by Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus. Sebastian Stan, Toby Jones, Hayley Atwell, Dominic Cooper, Stanley Tucci, and Neal McDonough also star.
Next Showing: Captain America: The First Avenger opens July 22