This week's news is ending up with a definite Marvel tilt. But hot on the heels of the concept art for both Thor and Captain America, comes the announcement from Deadline that Neal McDonough is in talks to play bowler-hatted, moustachioed tough guy Dum Dum Dugan.
Interesting this, because Timothy Aloysius Cadwallader "Dum Dum" Dugan is generally more connected with Nick Fury than Cap (although there's historically been plenty of crossover), suggesting that he's being set up to continue through to the SHIELD movie that Sam Jackson says is happening post-**Avengers.
Dugan is a Stan Lee / Jack Kirby creation from the 60s, first appearing in the comic Sgt Fury and His Howling Commandos. He's a circus strongman turned expert marksman, who first works with Fury on a mission during WWII. He later becomes Chief of Security on the SHIELD helicarrier base.
McDonough previously featured in Minority Report and Star Trek: First Contact, and played villain duties opposite The Rock in Walking Tall. He also voiced Bruce Banner in the 90s Incredible Hulk cartoon, so has Marvel previous. They look after their own.
The UK shoot starts next month, with a July 2011 release date already set. Chris Evans is Captain America, Hugo Weaving is his arch nemesis The Red Skull, and Sebastian Stan and Hayley Atwell are also on hand, with Joe Johnston (The Wolfman) behind the camera.
PS. We already reported on Jeremy Renner's possible Avengers casting as super-archer Hawkeye, but several sites this morning suggest that an official announcement may be getting closer...