Marvel Signs Joe Johnston to Direct Captain America

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on November 10, 2008

Captain America

Marvel Studios has rounded out their directorial team for their next three movies this evening, signing Joe Johnston to direct the ‘period piece‘ known as The First Avenger: Captain America. And while no writers have been signed as of yet, the report from the trades says that Marvel Studios chief and producer Kevin Feige is currently hearing pitches and is close to hiring a team of scribes. As for Johnston, Feige appears to be excited with his work on various high profile projects of the past:

“This is a guy who designed the vehicles for Star Wars, who storyboarded the convoy action sequence for Raiders of the Lost Ark,” Feige said. “From Rocketeer to October Sky to The Wolfman, you can look at pieces of his movies and see how they lead to this one.”

What Feige fails to mention is that Johnston’s directorial career has had its ups and downs. While he has shown his good side with films such as Rocketeer and October Sky, he is also the guy who brought us Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Jurassic Park III and Hidalgo. I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad thing, I just think its worth mentioning. To his credit, Johnston is a long-time disciple of Steven Spielberg, a guy whose record speaks for itself.

In my mind, Johnston is in the same league as someone like Roland Emmerich — a few good ones, a few bad ones, used to a bigger budget and for the most part, financially successful. That last part is what really matters, especially for the fledgling Marvel Studios. And while some fans might think, ‘What? The guy who directed Jurassic Park III?’ and get upset, might I remind you that this is no more ridiculous than taking the guy who directed Elf to direct Iron Man or the guy who directed Unleashed to direct The Incredible Hulk.

What do you think of Joe Johnston signing on to direct Captain America?

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JMoney

His good ones include Rocketeer? I'd rather watch Honey I Shrunk the Kids than the frickin Rocketeer.

As with most of these director annoucnements i will take a wait and see approach, i'll watch the movie and if it sucks I'll blame the director

Aleric

I have to disagree, even to this day I like the Rocketeer, and Hidalgo was also a good movie.

In my opinion Johnson needs to stay as far away from Speilberg as possible if he wants to be taken seriously as a director. You can even tell where he tried to be like Speilberg, Honey I shrunk the Kids and Jurassic Park III were him channeling the king of toy marketing.

David G

Hey, i liked Unleashed. But Cap's story is pretty simple. Im just hoping they pick the right guy to play him. Cap is emitional and torn between himself and his duty. Rocketeer...sucked bizzalls. And thats from seeing it as a kid.

Senseless Babble

I've liked more of Johnstons stuff then I've disliked. However, so far I have liked his stuff, not loved anything. Hopefully that will change with this film, which I hold very high hopes for. Anyway, if Johnston is going to be Spielberg-ian with this film, I'm okay with that. In my mind I hope for a gritty World War II tale, in the vein of Saving Private Ryan. There are many stories from that era which had Cap leading and fighting along with regular G.I.'s. I hope to see some of that. - - On a side note, in WWII, Cap fought along side the Sub-Mariner, the original Human Torch, and a variety of other golden age Timely heroes. I wonder if any of this will be mentioned in the film.

Stuart

There already has been a halfway passable Captain America film. Infact the Ang Lee Hulk has a scene where Banners dad beefs up the rat with gamma radiation. This is straight out of Captain America and represents in that film a rat prototype for the Red Skull.

Gavgoyle

I am not going to get my hopes to high on this... I agree, Senseless, a number of likes, no loves. I pray they just treat him with the respect he deserves. I hope for the Red Skull, and I would love to see Arnim Zola... I mean a Nazi with his head in his chest? C'mon, instant classic!!!

Nate Robbins

I would love to see John Cena play Cap in this movie....I know he could do it!!!

Marvel Signs Joe Johnston to Direct Captain America

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