In a recent interview with Marvel Studios chairman David Maisel, it was revealed that Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express, Observe and Report) would be playing the role of Steve Rogers, the Army reject who is turned into the "Star-Spangled Avenger" through the ingestion of a "Super Soldier Serum," in the upcoming live-action First Avenger: Captain America film.
This is not the first time that Rogen's name has popped up in association with a superhero genre film. His name has been attached to the live-action Green Hornet project for years now, with production set to begin in June of this year.
Said Maisel:
Seth Rogen is today's 'everyman,' someone that we can all relate to. He has a strength of character only hinted at in his previous roles.
Maisel explained that Rogen had been chosen to play the character of Steve Rogers before he becomes Captain America and that it had not yet been decided whether an altogether different actor would be playing the post-powered Steve Rogers or whether CGI techniques, such as those used on Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, would be used to "beef up" the portly actor.
Sony and Marvel Studios are coming on strong in 2011, with three superhero genre films slated for release. Last month, it was announced that Spider-Man 4 would be released on May 6th, with Thor following shortly thereafter on June 17th, and First Avenger: Captain America debuting July 22nd. These release dates resulted in the pushing back of The Avengers July 15, 2011, opening to May 4, 2012.
Happy April Fool's Day!
Posted 04.01.09 by BrentJS 
There are "independent" films -- those produced by the Weinsteins of the world and packed with A-list actors working for scale. Then there are independent films -- those financed with maxed-out credit cards and completed by sheer force of will.
Jody Hill's comedy gem The Foot Fist Way belongs decidedly in the latter category, and while the film didn't necessarily shatter any box office records in its brief theatrical release, it did manage to net for its Concord, North Carolina-bred writer/director an array of prominent Hollywood admirers, chief among them the Talladega Nights and Step Brothers superduo of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay.
For his first studio release, Observe and Report, Hill managed to nab none other than emerging comedy heavyweight Seth Rogen, star of Knocked Up, Superbad and the upcoming Pineapple Express, to play the lead as a delusional, overzealous mall cop on the trail of an elusive streaker.
With visions of a potential McKay/Ferrell-esque partnership dancing in my head, I traveled to Observe and Report's Albuquerque, New Mexico set on an oppressively hot Tuesday a few weeks ago to get a glimpse of the comedy gold that a collaboration between Rogen and Hill might yield. And I got that -- but I got more. A lot more.
Come back soon for a comprehensive writeup of my Observe and Report set visit, featuring in-depth interviews with Rogen, Hill, producer Donald De Line (who happens to be developing a little flick called Green Lantern), and co-stars Ray Liotta and Michael Pena.
More importantly, I'll furnish a detailed recap of my very own acting debut in the film -- in a short yet memorable cameo as an alternative-lifestyled mall patron shopping for fashionable storage containers with my disheveled life partner.
I'm pretty sure that's how Olivier got started.
Posted 06.30.08 by reelz