Captain America Gains his Peggy Carter
After being turned down by Emily Blunt and possibly others, Marvel Studios issued a release announcing relatively unknown actress Hayley Atwell has been added to the Captain America cast as Peggy Carter.
Atwell is known to some from her work in A&E’s disappointing remake of The Prisoner, but she has also been seen in The Duchess and Brideshead Revisited.
Peggy Carter was introduced as the Star-Spangled Avenger’s love interest when he debuted in Tales of Suspense #64 (April 1965) and was the original spy known as Agent 13. She was later reported to have suffered dementia and was confined to LarkMoore Clinic. Her niece, Sharon Carter, also dubbed Agent 13, is Cap’s enduring romance partner since Tales of Suspense #75 (March 1966).
Here’s the formal release:
Marvel Studios announced today that Hayley Atwell has been cast to star as Peggy Carter in the studio’s highly anticipated movie CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER opposite Chris Evans. In the early comics, Peggy Carter fell in love with Captain America while they fought together in the war effort. The character will be updated for the feature adaptation. Joe Johnston will direct the film penned by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely.
Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige will produce CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER. Alan Fine, Stan Lee, David Maisel and Louis D’Esposito will executive produce. The film will be released in the US on July 22, 2011 and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER will focus on the early days of the Marvel Universe when Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America.
Atwell will next be seen in PILLARS OF THE EARTH, the 8-part miniseries premiering July 23 on Starz and the TV series THE PRISONER. Her film credits include THE DUCHESS, BRIDESHEAD REVISITED and CASSANDRA’S DREAM.
In addition to CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, Marvel Studios will release a slate of films based on the Marvel characters including the highly anticipated sequel, IRON MAN 2, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow on May 7, 2010, THOR on May 6, 2011, and Marvel Studios’ THE AVENGERS on May 4, 2012.