It’s been almost two months since Hugo Weaving was announced as the top contender to play villain Johann Schmidt – better known as the Red Skull - in Captain Americ****a, but Marvel has now officially announced that he’s joining the cast.
Schmidt in the comics had varying backgrounds, but in The First Avenger, he’ll be a Nazi officer personally groomed by Hitler himself for terror and intimidation. After wreaking havoc through Europe, he’s eventually matched up against Steve Rogers.
Weaving is the latest addition to a cast that includes Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell and Sebastian Stan. Joe Johnston will start shooting next month here in the UK for a July 2011 release date.
We’re assuming the contract negotiations took a while, including agreeing to give Weaving the freedom to kick in the goolies anyone he spots doing an Agent Smith impersonation within earshot.