Joe Johnston to Direct Captain America

Marvel has officially announced that Joe Johnston will direct the upcoming The First Avenger: Captain America. Johnston previously directed Honey I Shrunk the Kids, The Rocketeer, Jumanji, October Sky, Jurassic Park III, and Hidalgo, and also has The Wolf Man coming up in March. Johnston now joins the ranks of Jon Favreau, Louis Leterrier, and Kenneth Branagh as Marvel's dream team of directors set to turn bring the real Marvel universe to life in a series of films that will eventually converge in The Avengers in 2011.

Marvel first met with Johnston two years ago and their meetings have continually led to Captain America. Marvel's Kevin Feige is producing the film, which will be set during World War II, although no writer is attached yet. Marvel claims they are still hearing pitches on story ideas and will hire a screenwriter soon. Feige references other elements of his background to the contrary. "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."

Johnston started his career as an artist at Lucasfilm, having famously provided the final designs for Star Wars characters Yoda and Boba Fett. He won an academy award for his visual effects work on Raiders of the Lost Ark. Supposedly Johnston and George Lucas got close, and Joe was invited to sit in during George’s editing sessions. Later when Joe announced that he would be leaving the company to travel the world with the money he had saved up, Lucas convinced him to attend his alma mater USC film School, and even paid his tuition.

Johnston was a second unit director on *batteries not included, and made his directorial debut with Honey I Shrunk the Kids. In the 1990’s, Johnson directed The Rocketeer, the live action sequences of The Pagemaster, Jumanji, and crescendoed with October Sky. Steven Spielberg handed Johnston the Jurassic Park series with Jurassic Park III. His remake of The Wolf Man for Universal will hit theaters in April 2009. Interestingly, Johnson was also at one point in line to direct Hulk, but for one reason or another decided to drop out.

Looking at Johnston's track record do you feel he is a good choice to direct the Captain America movie?

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