Interesting, we were just asking yesterday — when “Gossip Girl” actor Sebastian Stan was cast as the sidekick Bucky in “The First Avenger: Captain America” — what had happened to the women reported to have been circling the female lead role in the Marvel film.
Keira Knightley, Emily Blunt and Alice Eve (“She’s Out of My League”) were all said to be auditioning/testing out for the role of Peggy Carter, Captain America’s wartime love interest, but there hadn’t been any news or movement in several weeks.
We also said we thought the role was beneath actresses like Blunt and Knightley (maybe not so much Eve, who is pretty damn fresh-faced and new), and it seems at least one of the actresses concurs. The LATimes says that Emily Blunt has been offered the role, but will be likely turning it down. According to their sources, “Blunt is close to signing on to other projects and will turn down Marvel’s offer.”
That’s too bad for Marvel. Blunt was almost cast as the Black Widow in “Iron Man 2” — and she actually wanted the role — but had to unfortunately bow out because of her obligations to “Gulliver’s Travels” with Jason Segel and Jack Black.
That obviously leaves Knightley and Eve, but we’d be rather surprised if the “Atonement” star takes the role. We could be wrong, Knightley has taken some bad work in the past (“Domino,” “King Arthur”), but we’re hoping she passes. We also can’t imagine it’s a very dimensionalized role either, but again, that’s just our hunch.
Marvel announced today that Chris Evans was “officially” cast as Captain America, but uhh, yeah. We all knew that, thanks and no we’re not going to write a story about that. So what role is Blunt taking instead? The LATimes doesn’t say. Either way, we’re honestly a bit relieved. Update: Yup, it happened, Blunt passed on the role.