Hollywood Dumps ‘America’ From New ‘Captain America’ Film
- Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:06am by
Meredith Jessup
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It turns out that a movie called “Captain America: The First Avenger” wouldn’t go over big in international markets, and thus Paramount Pictures and Marvel Comics have decided to alter the movie’s title to just “The First Avenger” in countries such as Russia, Ukraine and South Korea to try and sell more tickets, the LA Times reports.
Those involved in the decision are being careful to frame the move as a matter of brand management and consumer awareness and not as a decision tilted by cultural or political winds.
In private, Marvel insiders said that early on in the project’s planning there was talk that the title might need to be changed in numerous international markets but that there was a ”pleasant surprise” — the brand recognition of the comic-book superhero was so strong that it overrode those considerations in many places. That was not the case in Russia, South Korea and the Ukraine.
It’s not uncommon for American films to undergo name changes for overseas to suit the international variables in taste, translation and temperament. Still, this particular title tweak might not sit well with those pundits and purists who frowned on comments last year by the film’s director, Joe Johnston, that suggested that Captain America and his alter ego, Steve Rogers, would be more measured in the way they saluted their country.
“He wants to serve his country, but he’s not this sort of jingoistic American flag-waver,” Johnston told Hero Complex. “He’s just a good person. We make a point of that in the script: Don’t change who you are once you go from Steve Rogers to this super-soldier; you have to stay who you are inside, that’s really what’s important more than your strength and everything. It’ll be interesting and fun to put a different spin on the character and one that the fans are really going to appreciate … the idea that this is not about America so much as it is about the spirit of doing the right thing,” the director said.
“It’s an international cast and an international story. It’s about what makes America great and what make the rest of the world great too.”
The story of Captain America revolves around Marvel comic-book hero Steve Rogers, a sickly young man-turned-super soldier by an experimental serum created to bolster American forces during World War II.
“Captain America: The First Avenger” is due in U.S. theaters in July.
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Comments (369)
SND97
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:47amSo they are afraid of offending Russians but not afraid of offending American’s right? uh huh, OK, Guess Green Lantern will get my ticket money
Report Post »FromtheBasement
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 2:44pmI’m not sure you understand, SND97. Maybe you do. I suspect a few others don’t, though. They aren’t changing the name of the character. They aren’t even changing the name of the movie here in America. It’s only being changed in a few countries because they feel it will translate into better ticket sales if they do. Why is an American entertainment company trying to better sell their product in a foreign market a bad thing?
Report Post »The Truth Burns
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 4:40pmFROMTHEBASEMENT,
Report Post »“Why is an American entertainment company trying to better sell their product in a foreign market a bad thing?”
- In doing so they are damaging their product here, where most of the bucks will be made. If you want to piss off your fan base, middle of America, and patriotic Americans by changing the name of the hero overseas, then by all means do so. But I doubt you will come close to making the money Spider-Man or Ironman did by injecting patriotism. If we are so timid to keep the name of the superhero ( which it has been since the 30′s) just because we don‘t want other countries to be offended or can’t relate, then it tarnishes the point of the character and it’s symbolism. So to go back to your original question, is it a bad thing? No. Paramount and Marvel have every right to do so, good luck to them. But the question is, is it the right thing? To them, yes. To a lot of us no. So go ahead and think of the overseas market, but just remember your damaging the domestic market. And we have every right to: boycott, spread by word of mouth not to go, not bring our children, set up boycotts on facebook/twitter/myspace ect… Look how Superman did. I never watched that film after the took out the phrase “truth, justice and the AMERICAN WAY”. And apparently, neither did many other Americans compared to past superhero movies. It was perceived as a bust. It’s like George Clooney as “The American”. LMAO. Please. Who didn’t see that flop coming. And I’ll take the people that put their principals above the all mighty dollar any day of the week. If the filmmakers, paramount, and viacom only knew how much money they are going to lose on this film, their thirst to make money overseas or principals to be PC friendly would go right out the window. We all KNOW that. To bad you disagree. We will see at the box office.
Amren
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 11:42amYup! Green Lantern, a comic book I was never really a fan of, will get my money. Sad that I can’t support Cap, who I started reading as a young pup.
Report Post »Bad Marvel Comics, bad! Sit! Stay!
Stop being so PC!!!! Bad!
Workforit
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:44amThere it is, the slap in the face. America is now playing 2nd market fiddle to hollywood product…
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:44amI won’t be going either. I’ve started to find the pandering to our youth (Gen X) rather camp, cliched and somewhat repulsive. If the best Hollywood has is “let’s see if we can can get him to show up for his old comic book heroes” for somebody that’s 40, then they have nothing else of value to offer.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:42amThank you for your bows to inferior countries Mr. Obama…the idiots are following your lead!
Too bad we don’t enforce TREASON anymore…
Report Post »streetrodder
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:42amI wonder if the rock band America, if there still around, will change there name when they tour. They can change it to a group with no name.
Report Post »eddvoss
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:39amFrom what I have read from Chris Evans this is much ado about nothing. He will still be the shield slinging Boy Scout. The business idea to change the name of the movie doesn’t change the name of the character. The film might be “The First Avenger” but the hero will still be CAPTAIN AMERICA. Who was always my favorite Super hero.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:37amBoycott, boycott, boycott – and spread the word! It’s all about the money and not the honor and integrity. So what if it won’t sell in those countries, let them do without.
Report Post »jackkemo
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:35amThere went your profits dumb-a$$es!!! You can keep your stupid film , I’ll keep my Captain AMERICA!!
Report Post »DonaldH
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:34amAnd the “global community”– aka New World Order– moves a bit closer in erasing any all that was once the sole of America and Americans… Remind me again,,, who were those Roman dudes?
Report Post »Malcom0983
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:33am“…a matter of brand management and consumer awareness and not as a decision tilted by cultural or political winds.”
Report Post »Captain America has been around for a good while. This isn’t the launch of a new character or something. I’m pretty sure consumers are aware by now.
If you want to see this movie, download it.
In Russia his name is Crimson Comrade and his uniform has a hammer and sickle instead of a star. In the middle east he is known as Mohammad Hamas and his uniform is green, black and white with cross scimitars instead of the star. In China he is Honorable Tyrant and his uniform is red.
eflow504
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:33amguess what movie i will not be going see? hmmm
Report Post »Oh, God!
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:06amBut will you go see Transformers 3 that comes out in July also?
Report Post »Amren
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 11:26amI was SO looking forward to this movie! I can handle a bad script, bad directing, and bad casting, but “It’ll be interesting and fun to put a different spin on the character and one that the fans are really going to appreciate … the idea that this is not about America so much as it is about the spirit of doing the right thing,” the director said.”
Report Post »The “director” thinks the fans are really going to appreciate this????? What freaking world is this idiot from? I will NOT see this film. I also probably won’t see the “Avengers” when it comes out either.
Hey, Joe Johnson!! Seriously. I hope this movies TANKS and takes your career with it. Traitor.
tweigel
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:31amMaybe the Hollywood crowd is thinking about moving to South Korea, Russia or the Ukraine. California is broke, time to move on and share their wisdom somewhere else.
Report Post »DonaldH
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:37amROFLMAO…. Maybe the Hollywood Crowd can be our top,top secret weapon in the global economic wars… Where ever they sat up shot the economy is soon to fail,,,,
Report Post »Voice-O-Reason
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:30amWhat are they going to do, change his uniform too?
Report Post »demsaredumb
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:29amNot going
Report Post »streetrodder
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:29amDump Hollywood.
Report Post »Working Poor
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:16amI did this a very long time ago. I won’t spend my money for their idea of “entertainment”.
Report Post »Galt wanna be
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:29amNot one ticket, rental, or even have it in my TV when its an older move. Might as well put him in a head wrap too so we can please movie goers in the middle east. Anyone have an address or phone number for the bastards who took America out of Captian America?
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:26amThis really shows how STUPID liberals and progressives are. Grow a spine , will ya!!
Report Post »newrepublic7
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:26amHating America is full-time job. Even our president joins in.
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:55pmI can’t imagine what’s happened in South Korea, as a young Soldier stationed over their older Koreans who remembered the War had the utmost respect for us. I hate to put it this way but at times I felt like I was famous with all thanks and handshakes I’d receive, but that was 27yrs ago.
Much has been corrupted.
Report Post »Whostolemypig
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:25amThe story of Captain Obama revolves around comic-book hero Barray Soetoro, a sickly young man-turned-super presdient by an experimental social engineering project by George Soros.
Report Post »bread and circuses
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:33amLol
Report Post »MOLLYPITCHER
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:53amGood one!!! This is terrible. I love comic book movies, because they are so far out of the realm of normalcy that it pulls us out of our world for just a few hours and puts us in one where the good guys win . . . but this is truly pathetic! I will not be going and am ashamed that Hollywood has become SO PC that it just cannot give us the real Captain America!!! What else can we expect from the land of the commies!
Report Post »jbl8199
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:29amLol, I was thinking the same thing.
Report Post »Amren
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 11:20amOMG!!!! That was good!!!
Report Post »ocelot113
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:24amWas going. Now, not going. There is no support for political correctness in the comic book industry. Great going guys you just cost yourself a couple mill.
Report Post »newrepublic7
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:23amIf you hate America and you work at Marvel, create another superhero, but don’t crap on Captain America. Don’t Crap on America is my motto
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 12:47pmYou know, the actual Marvel team has made Captain America a “hero” who loathes the Tea Party movement, don’t you? I don’t follow comics, I’m a grown man, but I did read of them doing this in a news story.
Report Post »MJustice
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 2:58pmOh, good lord….why am I not surprised?
Report Post »anOpinion
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:20amI won’t be going either, I find it sickening when Americans can’t take pride, and show their pride, in this great country.
V-Forge
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:15amSTAN!!! oh jeez man.. tell me you at least fought for the name. I am very disappointed. next comic con i go to i’ll be protesting you. Good god man, do you realize how much you sold out? this must not stand. i will not be watching this damn movie or any of the other now. i will be burning my copy of iron man 1 and 2 along with all my spider man dvd’s. Talk about not keeping the faith. This is a real betrayal to everything that capt. AMERICA ever stood for. Sorry folks. now they have come for our heroes. I’m just livid over this.
Report Post »1911a1
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:24amRight On , !!!! this is *like a lot of stuff* we Americans can do without , stop supporting those who would see us be ruined so they and others can be entertained and reap wealth !
Report Post »Bill Bittner
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 2:00pmStan has nothing to do with the movie. And he hasn’t been a part of Marvel since the 80s. And he didn’t create Captain America. Joe Simon and Jack Kirby did.
Report Post »Grasshopper42
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:14am“The idea that this is not about America” – there you go . . .
Report Post »V-Forge
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:17amSo it looks like captian PC will be fighting those swastika waving tea party types. This is the line too far.
Report Post »VRW Conspirator
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:40amis Cap even set during WWII?
Report Post »is he fighting the Nazi’s…err…i mean National Socialist Party misunderstood people trying to just help Germany back to its financial feet by nationalizing all the banks, auto plants, and manufacturing…wait…was that 1930′s Germany or Obama…i forget
NE Cowboy
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:56pmI will do EVERYTHING in my power to let everyone I know about this, and they can spread the world also. If everyone else does the same, the SOCIALISTS in Hollywood will close shop as we’ve all had enough of there shi*!!!!
Report Post »scout n ambush
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:40pmDon’t forget Superman is going to join the muslim super heroes in the new muslim based cartoon coming out on Hub .
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:13amOk, that’s fine. This movie will flop when that news gets out.
Report Post »V-Forge
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:21amRally people. Rally. I plan to protest in times square when this is released. Liberals are so sick that they would even rob us of our imaginary heroes. This must end.
Report Post »TERMLIMITSNOW
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:35amno it won’t, the dorks that like comic book movies will still go, they’re clueless
Report Post »ChristianLayman
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:32amI’m not going to see this travesty that Hollywood calls entertainment.
Report Post »MJustice
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 12:46pmNo, I still think it will flop. I know this group is by far more Pro-American than perhaps any other site out there, but just look at the responses. My God!….it is insane what Hollowood is doing. The nicest thing I could hope for is that they are just spineless or retarded. I’d call for treason, but we have the Prince of Treason sitting in the oval office at the moment, so why bother. These arshlochs are just another drop in the septic tank. For the most part, comic book nuts are rather picky about keeping true to the original comic, but since most of the other comic to movies out there strayed, they have become a bit more forgiving, but even they have their limits. I think this just might be too much for most of them to stomach. I suggest that we make sure that everyone we know…especially the comic book nuts…. are aware of what a betrayal this is. Perhaps those of us who frequent the comic forums…to which I know you are out there reading this…..make some posts there as well. We need to bring America back into the hearts of it’s people. We need to make sure they know that it is a good thing to be proud of our country instead of being ashamed like the liberals desperately want us to be. This is the greatest country that has ever existed….bar none! If they feel different…..It is still a free country….for the moment….Which means they still have the freedom to GET THE HE(LL) OUT!!!
Report Post »GRuss
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:44pmThis is not the 1st negative.. I Already had planned to pass on this movie. I am tired of Hollywood putting down America and Americans..
Report Post »superbyelich
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 10:38amThis movie will do just as well as every other raped and pillaged movie out there from our childhoods. Just look at the trash that is the Transformers movies… Terrible storyline, adult humor everywhere… and Michael Bay said “do it for the kids!” This is typical Hollywood… and they are all about promoting a global society where the U.S. isn’t relative. The G.I. Joe movie was another example… they were international heroes, not American heroes…
Report Post »honorpatriots
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 11:26amI was looking forward to this movie, but will boy-cott it with my family and friends..I plan on putting this on fb. get the word out
Report Post »UrsaMajor
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 11:33pmSorry to burst your bubbles my fellow conservatives…. but, Captain America has had his name changed for foreign markets every since he re-debuted in 1964. Despite the excuses the Libs come up with for not including the words “Captain America” in the movie, the only reason is to sell more tickets overseas. Just like Marvel has been doing for nearly 50 years to sell more comics overseas. Marvel is just using this lame excuse to keep their CAPTALISM hidden from the rest of the Hollywood elitists.
You guys are over-reacting like a bunch of Progressive whiners!
Report Post »UrsaMajor
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 11:37pm“The G.I. Joe movie was another example… they were international heroes, not American heroes…”
Just like the toys, comics and cartoons in the 1980′s.
To sell more toys, comics and cartoons in foreign markets.
Seriously, you people are starting to sound like a right-wing version of Ed Shultz and Keith Olbermann: all emotion and zero fact.
I’m beginning to wonder if some of you posting negatively about this are really Huffington or Daily Kos plants pretending to be conseratives.
Report Post »UrsaMajor
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 11:48pmWhat you folks are failing to see is that it doesn’t MATTER that Captain America and G.I. Joe have had their names changed for foreign markets decade after decade after decade after decade. Those kids in Africa with their “Captain Avenger” comics KNOW that they are reading Captain AMERICA. Those kids in Europe with their “Action Force” toys KNOW they are playing with G.I. Joe, a real AMERICAN hero.
And everyone overseas who goes to see “The First Avenger” will KNOW they are watching Captain AMERICA on the screen.
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