CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER London Press Conference – 20th March, 2014

It really is true.  Superheroes, even in real life, have a certain aura about them.  Take for instance when Captain America, alias Chris Evans, and the Black Widow herself Scarlett Johansson, came head to head in the ballroom of the Dorchester Hotel on London’s Park Lane to promote Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), the new film from Marvel Entertainment and Sony Pictures and released in the UK by Walt Disney Pictures.  Together with the directors, Anthony and Joe Russo, and co-stars Samuel L Jackson, Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie, Evans and Johansson provided enough high voltage presence to impress even the most jaded entertainment hacks present.

First off the brothers Russo defined their vision for the new instalment of the Captain America franchise.  “This story is part of a giant mosaic”, said Joe.  “There’s an interconnectedness with the other films in the Marvel universe, though each film is also an individual organic process”.  “We like to make the best films we can”, Anthony agreed.  “It’s then up to other forces to decide what happens next”.

Next up Evans explained how he saw the character of Steve Rogers and his alter ego Captain America.  “Captain America is ultimately a good man.  No matter which era of time of environment he finds himself in, his qualities shine through”.  Qualities which Anthony recognised as well.  “Chris puts the emphasis on his character’s human side.  This guy is isolated as all his friends are dead and he often feels alone”.

On the subject of their characters how did Johansson, Samuel L Jackson (who plays the enigmatic Nick Fury) and Sebastian Stan (the film’s villain Bucky Barnes / The Winter Soldier) see theirs?  “Natasha Romanoff (the Black Widow) has a rich and dark past”, explained Johansson.  “She has had to desensitise herself to an extent to deal with the situations she has found herself in.  We may find more of her backstory in Avengers II (2015), but here it’s just hitting her that she’s something of a ‘gun for hire’ “.  “There’s more drama this time and I found it fun to get deeper into my character”, said Jackson.  “He is always trying to stay ahead, but realises this time that he’s being used”.  Of those present Stan appeared to be the one most in awe of the situation he’s currently finding himself in.  “I’m just trying to realise that I’m sitting here with these guys.  Most of the time it’s up to the directors as to where my character goes”.

Ultimately though these films are supposed to be fun.  Did the cast and crew enjoy the process of making this epic, high octane, big screen adventure?  “I approach all the films I’m in in the same way”, said Jackson.  “I take them seriously, but have fun as well”.  With Evans, Johansson and Stan it was the stunt work, and pain, which impinged most vividly on their memories.  “It’s physical”, admitted Evans, “there are always going to be injuries”.  Johansson agreed.  “Injuries are part of the process but I always like to do as many of my own stunts as possible rather than giving them to the stunt person”.  “Everything was done so quickly that I didn’t have time to feel the pain – until afterwards”, laughed Stan.

In closing it seemed only right to ask the team who their own personal heroes were.  Both Evans and Anthony Mackie, who plays Sam Wilson / The Falcon, without hesitation praised their parents and brothers respectively, whilst Jackson respected “the young people who put their lives on the line everyday to give us the freedom to do what we do”.  It was Joe Russo however who brought it back to the essence of the superhero culture by citing Superman and Batman (though oddly not the ‘all American’ hero himself, Captain America) as his champions.

Then, as quickly as they’d come, the group of celluloid heroes who had been with us for the past half hour had disappeared – until the next time they’re called upon to save America – and the rest of the world.

Cleaver Patterson