The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point, thanks to projects hitting theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen a ton of actors come and go throughout the years, including Dominic Cooper. He debuted as a young Howard Stark in Captain America: The First Avenger, and recently lamented about now knowing how good he had it at Marvel until the phone stopped ringing.

While upcoming Marvel movies will feature a huge cast of characters, Cooper isn't set to reprise his role as Howard Stark in live-action anytime soon. The Preacher actor spoke to CBM about his time in the MCU, offering:

Talk about a pinch me moment. The first Captain America movie was early in the MCU's long life in theaters, released back in 2011. While Cooper was happy to have the gig as Howard Stark, he couldn't have known how much the franchise would become a sensation. But he does seem happy to have those memories, including his time with late Marvel architect Stan Lee.

While Cooper is hoping he gets to play Tony Stark's dad again, he has gotten to reprise that role a number of times. In live-action he played Howard in Agent Carter, and also voiced him in two episodes of What If...?. Still, it's clear he'd like to have more time as his signature Marvel character.

Later in the same interview, he spoke more about wanting to play Howard Stark again, and equated his time in the MCU with his new show The Last Frontier (streaming with an Apple TV+ subscription). In the actor's words:

Of course, longtime Marvel fans know that no one is every truly gone. Cooper getting to voice a few variants of Stark in What If...? proved this. With the multiverse seemingly anything could happen, so we'll have to see if the Mamma Mia! actor gets his wish, and another chance to step into that role in live-action.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 24th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see if Dominic Cooper gets to play Iron Man's father again.

Neil Forsyth’s new miniseries, The Gold, which just became available for those with a Paramount+ subscription, serves as a dramatization of one of the most daring heists in British history: the 1983 Brink’s-Mat robbery. Created by Neil Forsyth, the six-part series (the first two parts are now streaming), focuses on multiple groups of people connected to the incident, both directly and indirectly, to offer an all-encompassing retelling of the story.

Over the course of the series, you’ll meet all kinds of characters played by actors that may or may not be familiar. From established stars to lesser-known actors, here’s The Gold cast and why everyone looks so familiar… 

Hugh Bonneville (Brian Boyce)

First up is Hugh Bonneville, who takes on the role of Brian Boyce, the head detective investigating the Brink’s-Mat robbery and those who’ve profited from the massive heist.

Prior to joining The Gold cast, Bonneville had already established himself as one of the most recognizable and talented British actors in film and TV, thanks to unforgettable roles like Robert Crawley on Downton Abbey (and its film continuations) and Henry Brown in the Paddington movies. Throughout his career, he’s also popped up in Notting Hill, a.k.a., one of the best romantic comedies of all time, The Monuments Men, and even Muppets Most Wanted. 

Charlotte Spencer (Nicki Jennings)

Charlotte Spencer shows up on The Gold as Nicki Jennings, one of the investigators who joins Brian Boyce’s team tasked with bringing down those responsible for the historic robbery.

Perhaps not as recognizable as her co-star just yet, Spencer has been a part of some fairly well-known TV shows throughout her career, including Sanditon, Us, and an episode of Ted Lasso during the show’s sophomore season. Her film credits include films like Misbehaviour, Les Miserables, and the 2021 Amazon original movie, Cinderella. 

Emun Elliott (Tony Brightwell)

Rounding out Brian Boyce’s team is Tony Brightwell, who is played by Emun Elliott on The Gold.

Prior to joining The Gold cast, Elliott worked extensively on the small screen, landing roles on shows like Game of Thrones, Trust Me, and Guilt. He’s also played small parts in popular big-screen productions like Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The King’s Man, and Prometheus. He also popped up in the Old cast with a portrayal of an aged version of Alex Wolff’s Trent Cappa. 

Jack Lowden (Kenneth Noye)

Jack Lowden appears in The Gold cast as Kenneth Noye, a gold dealer who becomes a major figure in the fallout of the heist after the robbers approach him to help sell the stolen goods.

If Lowden looks and sounds familiar, it could be because of his performance as Collins, one of the main pilots featured in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. However, some may recognize the actor from any of his other movies, including Mary Queen of Scots, Fighting with My Family, or Capone. He’s also been on several shows like The Long Song, War & Peace, and the Apple TV+ original series Slow Horses alongside another Nolan collaborator, Gary Oldman. 

Dominic Cooper (Edwyn Cooper)

Dominic Cooper shows up on The Gold as Edwyn Cooper, a lawyer who finds himself wrapped up in the laundering scheme following the big heist.

One of the most recognizable actors in the cast, Cooper has done everything from appear in one of the best Marvel movies with Captain America: The First Avenger to showing off his song-and-dance chops in the Mamma Mia franchise, and has even led shows like Preacher and Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond. Early in his career, Cooper also briefly appeared as a member of the Band of Brothers cast.

Tom Cullen (John Palmer)

Tom Cullen takes on the role of John Palmer, a gold dealer tasked with melting down the stolen goods following the massive heist, an act that puts him in the crosshairs of the authorities.

Prior to joining The Gold cast, Cullen made a name for himself from his appearance in one of the best Black Mirror Episodes (“The Entire History of You”), his portrayal of Anthony Foyle on Downton Abbey, and appearances on shows like Invasion, Genius, and Knightfall.  

Sean Harris (Gordon Parry)

Sean Harris looks almost unrecognizable as Gordon Parry, another criminal who becomes a major player on The Gold.

Fans of the Mission: Impossible movies, especially Rogue Nation and Fallout, will surely recognize Harris from his portrayal of terrorist Solomon Lane. However, that’s not Harris’ only major role, as he’s given commanding performances in everything from The Green Knight to 24 Hour Party People (he played the late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis) and Prometheus to Spencer. 

Adam Nagaitis (Micky McAvoy)

Adam Nagaitis takes on the role of Micky McAvoy, the leader of the gang who pulls off the massive heist in the opening chapter of The Gold.

If you are a fan of movies like The Last Duel and Gunpowder Milkshake, you’ll probably recognize Nagaitis from his portrayal of Adam Louvel and Virgil in the films, respectively. But those who couldn’t get enough of the 2019 HBO limited series Chernobyl will remember Nagaitis from his take on Vasily Ignatenko, one of the ill-fated firemen who suffered a painful death due to radiation exposure after the 1985 nuclear meltdown.

Ellora Torchia (Sienna Rose)

Ellora Torchia pops up on The Gold as Sienna Rose, a business associate of Edwyn Cooper.

Fans of the A24 horror movie Midsommar will certainly recognize Torchia from her portrayal of Connie in Ari Aster’s terrifying 2019 film, but the actress does have a number of other roles to her name. Throughout her career, Torchia has appeared on shows like Dark Money, The Split, and The Nevers. 

Stefanie Martini (Marnie Palmer)

Stefanie Martini shows up on The Gold as John Palmer’s wife, Marnie.

Fans of British drama series like The Last Kingdom and Doctor Thorne will recognize Martini from her work on those shows, while American audiences might remember her from her portrayal of Princess Langwidere on Emerald City. 

Daniel Ings (Archie Osborne)

And then there is Daniel Ings, who takes on the role of Archie Osborne, one of the police officers investigating the Brink’s-Mat robbery.

Ings previously portrayed Commander Mike Parker, Prince Philip’s private secretary and friend during the first two seasons of The Crown. He’s also appeared on shows like Lovesick, Instinct, Sex Education, and Black Mirror. The actor is slated to appear in Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels later in 2023. 

You can see all of these actors, as well as other members of The Gold cast, now that the show is streaming on Paramount+. Don’t forget to check out our 2023 TV schedule for all the latest on other new and returning shows. 

You want to talk about one of my favorite modern musicals? Let’s talk about Mamma Mia!

From the brilliant songs that will surely make your head bop from side to side and get up out of your seat to dance to the fun romance that makes me smile each time, Mamma Mia! is a comfort movie at its finest, and one that I can get behind. But with a movie that’s almost fourteen years old (yes, you read that right, fourteen), one might be wondering where the cast is. 

Besides most of these actors appearing in the sequel, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! in 2018, everyone has been up to so many things, from starring roles in other musicals to major dramas and award-winning portrayals. Here is everything the cast of Mamma Mia! has done since their iconic roles. 

Meryl Streep (Donna Sheridan-Carmichael)

You want to talk about an icon, let’s talk about Donna in Mamma Mia!, played by an icon herself, Meryl Streep. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to her version of the very song, “Mamma Mia." Even so, Meryl Streep, of course, has been up to her knees in amazing movies and shows for years now.

In terms of movies, one of her highlights has been playing the legendary prime minister of England, Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, for which she won an Academy Award. Some of her other major roles that you might have seen her in are Julie & Julia, the musical film, Into the Woods ,the romantic comedy, It’s Complicated, the Netflix original film, The Laundromat, the biographical movie The Post (alongside Tom Hanks), the 2021 Netflix film, Don’t Look Up, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, and many, many more. 

While she focuses a lot of her talent on movies, Meryl Streep also appeared in some major TV shows, her biggest being a part of the Big Little Lies cast during Season 2. Coming up, she'll be appearing in a new TV series called Extrapolations, a new series at Apple TV+.

Amanda Seyfried (Sophie Sheridan)

The daughter of Donna, Sophie was a young woman who just wanted answers about her mother’s past in Mamma Mia!, and who could forget the sweet duet she shared with Donna in “Slipping Through My Fingers” together? Amanda Seyfried portrayed Sophie in the film, and has been quite active in movies. 

Amanda Seyfried did for a time appear in Big Love on HBO, but has mainly kept her talents to movies. Some of the highlights of her career so far include a starring role in Les Miserables, the horror film, Jennifer’s Body, The Art of Racing in the Rain, the Scooby-Doo film, Scoob!, the Netflix original film, Mank, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, and her most recent entry, A Mouthful of Air. 

Soon, she'll be appearing in The Dropout, an upcoming miniseries on Hulu, playing the lead character, Elizabeth Holmes. 

Christine Baranski (Tanya Chesham-Leigh)

Next up, we have Tanya, one of Donna’s former bandmates and a bit of a vixen herself with sass for days in Mamma Mia!, played by the amazing Christine Baranski. This legendary actress has been active in both movies and TV, with some big roles in the latter. 

For movies, Baranski's popped up in films like Into the Woods, A Bad Moms Christmas, Christmas on the Square, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, and more. 

But some of her biggest roles have been in television. While she’s had plenty of guest and recurring roles, one of her biggest parts thus far was portraying Diane Lockhart on The Good Wife, as well as on The Good Fight, for several episodes, and a role that she has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award numerous times. 

Coming up, Baranski has a starring role in The Gilded Age, a new HBO series, as well a role in the movie, Bad Moms' Moms, which was announced in 2019, though no new news has come out since. 

Julie Walters (Rosie Mulligan)

Next up, we have Rosie Mulligan, another one of Donna’s former bandmates who comes to Greece for this destination wedding in Mamma Mia!. Played by Julie Walters, the actress has made her way into the hearts of both movie-goers and TV lovers alike. 

With film, Walters portrayed Molly Weasley in the Harry Potter series for several years, becoming the family’s matriarch and everyone’s favorite mom. Besides that, she’s had roles in several movies like the Paddington series, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, the Pixar film, Brave, Brooklyn, Mary Poppins Returns, The Secret Garden and more. 

In television, she’s appeared in several limited series, including The Jury, The Hollow Crown, Indian Summers, National Treasure and more. She’s also used her lovely voice to narrate several documentaries, like Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest Airport and For the Love of Britain.  

Walters doesn't seem to have anything in the works as of right now, but I'm sure it won't be long until we see her talented acting on the screen once more. 

Pierce Brosnan (Sam Carmichael)

Next up, we have Pierce Brosnan, who played Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia!, one of the three lovely men from Donna’s past. Brosnan has, of course, been up to his knees in work. This is one of the former James Bonds we’re talking about. 

In movies, Brosnan has starred in The Ghost Writer, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lighting Thief, Love Is All You Need, A Long Way Down, The Foreigner, the Amazon original movie, Cinderella, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, and many others. 

Brosnan has also had success in television since his appearance, appearing in the miniseries, Bag of Bones, adapted from the Stephen King book, and The Son.  

Coming up, Brosnan is going to be appearing in a variety of movies, including DC's Black Adam, The Medusa, The Last Rifleman and more. 

Colin Firth (Harry Bright)

Moving on, we have Harry Bright, another love from Donna’s past life, played by the lovely Colin Firth. Firth, like Meryl Streep, has had quite the career after his appearance in Mamma Mia!, mainly in movies. 

Two of his biggest roles thus far in film were portraying King George VI in The King’s Speech, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, as well as a main role in The Kingsman spy series as Harry Hart. 

Other big roles of his in the last fourteen years have included Dorian Gray, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Devil’s Knot, Bridget Jones’s Baby, 1917, Supernova, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, and many more. He did appear in the romantic comedy television short, Red Nose Day Actually on television, but other than that, he has mainly stuck to the big screen.  

Firth is set to appear in a new miniseries, The Staircase, as well as appear in two new movies called Kill the Light and Empire of Light.

Stellan Skarsgard (Bill Anderson)

Next up, we have the final man from Donna’s past life in Mamma Mia!, Bill Anderson, played by Stellan Skarsgard. He has been active in Hollywood for quite some time, and has only continued to prove how much of a powerhouse he is. 

In movies, one of Skarsgard’s biggest roles was being a part of the Thor world for some time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Erik Selvig and appearing in both Thor and Thor: The Dark World, as well as The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Some of his other big roles in movies since his appearance have been Angels & Demons, Frankie and Alice, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Romeo and Juliet, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!,  Disney’s live-action Cinderella, 2021’s epic sci-fi film, Dune, and much more. 

Skarsgard has also had quite the career in television as well, appearing in shows such as Entourage, Quarry, River, and the HBO miniseries, Chernobyl. 

He’s also going to be a part of the upcoming Disney+ series set in the Star Wars universe, Andor. Alongside that, Skarsgard is set to appear in the sequel to Dune, as well a new movie titled What Remains, so you'll surely see him again soon enough. 

Dominic Cooper (Sky Ramand)

Moving on, now we have Dominic Cooper, who played Sky Ramand, the care-free guy that Sophie was in love with and wanted to spend the rest of her life traveling around the world with, even after their wedding was a bust in Mamma Mia!. Dominic Cooper has also had a crazy career, both movies and television. 

Like Skargard, Cooper also went into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the role of young Howard Stark in Captain America: The First Avenger. He would go on to reprise this role in both the short film, Agent Carter and the series it was based on, and voice the role again for What If…?, one of the latest Marvel series on Disney+. 

In terms of other movies, Cooper has popped up in a variety of genres, such as An Education, My Week With Marilyn, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Need for Speed, Warcraft, The Escape, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, and more. 

Cooper, however, has kept a lot of his talent to television as he had a hit AMC show, Preacher, that he starred in for four seasons, acting a priest who gets insane powers and gives him the opportunity to find God. Besides his big role here, he’s also appeared in many other shows like The Grand Tour, Spy City and others. 

The actor is set to star in the series The Dirty Black Bag as Arthur McCoy, as well as pop up in some new movies as well, including The Duchess of Malfi, Peacock, and Nightfall.

Niall Buggy (Father Alex)

While he wasn’t in Mamma Mia! for long, Father Alex was a priest who was literally just there to get someone married and wanted to get the heck out of there as soon as possible, and he was played by Niall Buggy. 

Buggy has appeared in a variety of projects with both movies and TV. In movies, he popped up in Mr. Turner, A Girl from Mogadishu and the TV film As Luck Would Have It. He’s had many appearances in television as well, having guest roles in shows such as Jack Taylor, Will, Cobra and others.  

Buggy doesn't seem like he has anything lined up just yet to work on, but hopefully it won't be long before we see him appear on our TV screens or movie screens again. 

Philip Michael (Pepper)

Last but not least, we have Pepper, the saucy bartender who was heavily hitting on Tanya and the center of the song, “Does Your Mother Know?” in Mamma Mia! Philip Michael portrayed the role, and ever since he’s kept a relatively low profile in Hollywood, appearing in independent films or the occasional guest role in TV shows. 

This includes, but is not limited to, The Londoners, Prank Lab, Major Crimes, Luke Cage, Things Eternal, and others. He’s also had appearances in movies like The Black Hole, Trees of Peace and more. His biggest role was playing Joshua Udenze in Fair City, a long-lasting Irish TV drama. 

But it seems Michael has a lot of work coming up, including a miniseries titled Southbank, and a couple of movies titled Pride of the Fist and Ulysses Coyote, so hopefully we’ll get to see more of him soon. 

I think we need another Mamma Mia! movie, but only that happens, I can at least rewatch this films and feel happy all over again. Great, now that song is stuck in my head.  

Disneyland is one of the most iconic places in the world. It introduced the concept of the theme park to most people and is still one of the most popular vacation destinations that exists. And now, the happiest place on Earth is going to get its own movie, and that means that somebody, specifically somebody who isn’t Tom Hanks, will be cast to play Walt Disney.

The new movie has been set for Disney+ and will be directed by David Gordon Green. To clarify, this isn't simply a movie about the creation of Disneyland itself, but the story of Walt and Roy Disney, the brothers who started the Disney Bros. Studio, which eventually became The Walt Disney Company. 

Walt Disney was most memorably played on screen previously by Tom Hanks in the 2013 movie Saving Mr. Banks. However, it’s been nearly a decade since that movie came out, and the events that led to the opening of Disneyland took place a decade prior to the making of Mary Poppins. Hanks is really too old for the role, and so we need somebody else to step in. Here are some ideas. 

Edward Norton

Edward Norton is currently 52 years old, which makes him right about the same age that Walt Disney was in the years immediately preceding the opening of Disneyland. He probably looked more like Walt Disney when he was younger, but he still has a similar general look. Playing Walt Disney would certainly be a different sort of role than the darker characters Norton frequently plays, but Walt wasn’t entirely without those moments. Norton could probably bring something powerful to the performance as long as Disney was willing to let Walt be portrayed that way. 

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling is just about to turn 41 years old, which puts him a bit younger than Walt Disney would have been during the prime years that Disneyland was being conceived and designed. But the movie in question doesn’t even have a script yet, so we’re still a few years away from going in front of cameras. As such, depending on just how early in the process of Disneyland's creation this movie wants to start, the age may be much closer to accurate by the time it's actually being filmed. Ryan Gosling is a known fan of Disneyland, so you know he’d give this one his all.

David Thewlis

If we’re going for an actor who can just look like Walt Disney without having to work too hard, then we have to consider somebody like David Thewlis. Thewlis is the oldest person on this list, and slightly older than Walt Disney during the key period, but he could easily be made to look like Walt. He’s a remarkable actor who could be the "larger than life" Walt Disney that we often think about. The rest can be dealt with in makeup.

Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell can play just about any role, so why couldn’t he be Walt Disney? Like Edward Norton, Rockwell plays a lot of darker characters, but Walt Disney wasn’t really the Uncle Walt that he portrayed on television. A more “no nonsense” version of Walt, which is more accurate to who he really was, at least some of the time, wouldn’t be out of place here. That's not to say it will happen, as this movie is being made by Disney after all, so there might be an effort to focus on Disney's softer side.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt still looks even younger than his 40 years of age would indicate, but that’s something that has certainly served him well throughout his career. While Walt Disney was in his late 40s and early 50s during the run up to Disneyland, the park’s existence at all shows that the man was still quite young at heart, and Gordon-Levitt could really bring that out. They’ll probably need the makeup department so he doesn’t look too young through the whole thing, but there’s nothing wrong with that.

Dominic Cooper

Howard Stark was basically the Walt Disney of the MCU. That’s my argument and I’m sticking to it. So perhaps the man who played the young Howard Stark in Marvel’s movies could also play Walt Disney. All Dominic Cooper would need to do is turn the volume down, but not off, on the attitude, and I think you have it. 

Matthew Macfadyen

In Succession, Matthew Macfayden plays a terrible person, just like everybody else on that show. But when speaking in interviews, the actor comes across much more down to Earth and relatable than many of the characters he plays. Being able to be somebody larger than life, while also just being a normal man who happened to have remarkable dreams, is the essence of Walt Disney. Also, the true story of Disneyland isn’t without its own business world intrigue, so Macfayden's had experience there. 

Colin Hanks

Ok, so we’ll cheat a bit here. Tom Hanks truly was great as Walt, and while it was ultimately the performance that made the screen version of Walt so great, it wasn’t hard to transform Tom Hanks into Walt Disney physically. Colin Hanks certainly looks a lot like his dad, so that physical transformation should be nearly as easy. There is also something somewhat fitting about seeing son follow father into such an iconic role.

Walt Disney was a remarkable man. He wasn’t perfect, but he certainly was impressive. Disneyland is quite possibly his crowning achievement, since his dream of Epcot never happened. It is, without question, a topic worthy of its own movie. But playing Walt Disney himself will be a tall order for whoever takes on the role.

Walt won’t be the only tough role, as we know that Walt’s brother and business partner Roy will also be key to the story, but Roy will likely be easier to cast simply because most people don’t know him. Roy largely stayed out of the spotlight. Hopefully, by the end of this new movie, the general public will learn just how important he was too. 

David Gordon Green has said there’s not even a script yet for this movie, so we’re certainly a couple of years away, at the least, from this film going before cameras. In that time it’s possible, even likely, that other strong candidates to play Walt could emerge.  But until then, we could do worse than the men listed here.

Out of all the new TV shows coming soon to Disney+, the one that I think I am most looking forward to is What If…?, inspired by the comic book of the same name. It is described as a 10-episode animated anthology series that reimagines key events canon to the Marvel Cinematic Universe had things gone a little different. If that is not enough to surprise you, outside of first time Marvel actor Jeffrey Wright hosting the show Rod Serling-style as The Watcher, all of the MCU characters said to appear will be played by their original actors. I am certain that sparks a great deal of questions in your mind and I will be sure provide all the answers that I can in the following breakdown of every actor confirmed to lend their voice to the highly anticipated series, starting with the man who brought most of these characters together.

Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury)

It would be wrong to not include Samuel L. Jackson on a trippy, Marvel-inspired anthology as the voice of Nick Fury, although how the former S.H.I.E.L.D. director (also leading his own upcoming live action Disney+ series, Secret Invasion) will be depicted on What If…? has yet to be revealed.

Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter)

We might be able to infer from the first trailer for What If…? that Nick Fury will discover a frozen Peggy Carter (played once again by Hayley Atwell), who will be reimagined on the series as the Army’s choice for the Super Soldier Program instead of Steve Rogers, which, I suppose, would make her Captain Britain.

Dominic Cooper (Howard Stark)

Real-life Brit Dominic Cooper returns to play Iron Man’s father and S.H.I.E.L.D. co-founder Howard Stark (circa 1942) for the first time since the short-lived Agent Carter series, but to see Hayley Atwell’s character become a Super Soldier on What If…? this time.

Stanley Tucci (Dr. Abraham Erskine)

I wonder if the developer of the original Super Soldier Serum, German-born ally to the U.S. Army Dr. Abraham Erskine (voiced by Oscar-nominee Stanley Tucci), will suffer the same tragic fate on What If…? as he did in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger.

Toby Jones (Arnim Zola)

That being said, I am also curious if British Golden Globe-nominee Toby Jones’ reprisal of Arnim Zola, a Swiss HYDRA scientist and right hand man of Hugo Weaving’s Red Skull, will appear in his 1940s era human form, as a computer in the present day, or something completely different on What If…?

Neal McDonough (Dum Dum Dugan)

I mean, for all we know, Arrowverse star Neal McDonough’s return to the role of Sergeant Timothy Alloysius Cadwaller "Dum Dum" Dugan (the subsequent leader of the Howling Commandos after Steve Rogers’ supposed demise) on What If…? could see him become the Winter Soldier instead of Bucky Barnes.

Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier)

However, Bucky Barnes will appear as The Winter Soldier (voiced by Sebastian Stan, of course) on What If…?, and, based on the trailer, he seems to have taken on the role of a savior of the apocalypse against the long-awaited appearance of Marvel Zombies.

Frank Grillo (Crossbones)

Speaking of Marvel Zombies, I think there are few MCU characters better equipped (literally) to take on an army of the undead than Frank Grillo’s corrupt former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Brock Rumlow, whose brief reign as the armored terrorist Crossbones in Captain America: Civil War will, supposedly, be given an extension in some capacity on What If…?

Michael Douglas (Dr. Hank Pym/Ant-Man)

Seeing 76-year-old Oscar-winner Michael Douglas credited as the voice of both Hank Pym and Ant-Man has me curious if we are destined to see more of the brilliant scientist in his crimefighting days on the series and, considering much of the original Ultron’s creator’s arc in the MCU has already been a big What If…? story in itself.

Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man)

Of course, Paul Rudd is coming back to voice the MCU’s present-day Ant-Man, Scott Lang, as well, but besides also being credited as the incredibly shrinking Avenger in the cast list, I cannot find any preceding issues of the What If…? comic to give me any insight as to where his story on the series may lead him.

David Dastmalchian (Kurt)

There may, however, be a clue to Scott Lang’s role on What If…? is the inclusion of serial comic book adaptation star David Dastmalchian (The Dark Knight, The Flash, Gotham, the upcoming The Suicide Squad) returning as fellow reformed criminal Kurt from the Ant-Man movies, but there is not much else to infer from that.

Michael B. Jordan (Erik Killmonger)

Furthermore, I have no idea where to even begin when considering the possibilities of how What If…? will reexamine the already complex origins of Erik Killmonger when Michael B. Jordan returns to voice the Black Panther villain.

Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye)

Clint Barton’s frequent, but subtle, reminiscing with Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow in the Avengers movies has always made me curious to see him in his pre-Hawkeye days as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and there is a chance that Jeremy Renner’s vocal reprisal on What If…? could touch upon that.

Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk)

With how often we can easily assume Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) has imagined what his life would be if had he never become the Hulk, it is not too far-fetched to infer that What If…? may take advantage of that opportunity, considering Avengers: Endgame already lived out the “Professor Hulk” scenario.

Chris Hemsworth (Thor)

On the other hand, there is much that could be expanded on with Hulk’s time on Sakaar before Chris Hemsworth showed up in Thor: Ragnarok, which could be a major source of inspiration for either he or Bruce Banner’s story reinventions on What If…? considering the inclusion of the next couple of characters.

Jeff Goldblum (The Grandmaster)

Anyone who has ached to see more from Jeff Goldblum’s dazzling performance in Thor: Ragnarok is in luck as The Grandmaster does have a role in What If…?

Taika Waititi (Korg)

Another scene-stealer from Thor: Ragnarok (and Avengers: Endgame, too) whom we can be thankful to know is in What If…? is Korg, once again voiced by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi, who will also be directing and starring in the upcoming fourth installment, Thor: Love and Thunder.

Tom Hiddleston (Loki)

I do have another theory, however, that Thor may not even be the star of his What If…? episode and instead instead take the backseat in a story that sees Loki (voiced by Tom Hiddleston) claiming Mjolnir first, which would take inspiration from a real issue of the original comic book series from 1984.

Natalie Portman (Jane Foster)

If that turns out to be case, maybe What If…? will see leading astrophysicist Jane Foster fall in love with Loki instead of Thor, considering we already know that Natalie Portman will be making a live action return to the role in Thor: Love and Thunder as Chris Hemsworth’s successor to the “mighty” God of Thunder title.

Josh Brolin (Thanos)

It was “inevitable” that this series would have a place for Josh Brolin to come back as Thanos, who actually joined the Avengers in a 2015 issue of What If…?, although I would be interested to see an episode imagining the post-Decimation world had it not been reversed in Avengers: Endgame.

Karen Gillan (Nebula)

There is plenty to be inspired by in Thanos’ rocky relationship with his daughter, Nebula, for her story on What If…?, such as imagining Karen Gillan’s partially robotic warrior as the purple Titan’s favorite child over Gamora instead.

Djimon Hounsou (Korath)

After witnessing two awfully different portrayals of Korath the Pursuer as a merciless henchman to Ronan the Accuser in Guardians of the Galaxy and a more soft-spoken Starforce operative in Captain Marvel, I am very intrigued to see what Djimon Hounsou will bring the role on What If…?

Michael Rooker (Yondu Udonta)

Based on his brief appearance in the What If…? trailer, former Walking Dead star Michael Rooker does not seem to be changing much about his country-fried depiction of Ravager leader Yondu Udonta from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies on the series, which is just what I was hoping for.

Sean Gunn (Kraglin)

Other than starring alongside Michael Rooker in his brother’s new take on The Suicide Squad, 2021 will see Sean Gunn lending his voice to What If…? as his second most famous MCU character (after performing the motion capture for Rocket Raccoon), Kraglin.

Chris Sullivan (Taserface)

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Kraglin would come to regret allowing Yondu’s Ravager faction to be usurped by Taserface, the hilariously nicknamed scene-stealer whom Emmy-nominated This Is Us star Chris Sullivan will reprise on What If…?

Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa)

Before his devastating death in 2020, Chadwick Boseman was able to portray his Black Panther character one last time for one of the most fascinating concepts to be seen in What If…?: T’Challa as Star-Lord.

What do you think? Has it been your dream for Black Panther to become a Guardian of the Galaxy for a while now, or that does barely scratch the surface of what you want to see on this highly imaginative upcoming series? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on What If…?, as well as even more inside looks at what to expect from your favorite upcoming comic book movies and TV shows, here on CinemaBlend.

Anyone who thought Preacher would get less violent as the show heads into its Season 2 premiere tomorrow thought wrong. Dominic Cooper shares some details with fans on how deaths in the show will go down in the quote below:

Dominic Cooper adds to TV Guide that he had to learn a lot more choreography for fight scenes compared to Season 1, so Season 2 should really be action packed as Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy go on a road trip to find God. The gore will make its return in full force as Cooper teases "lots of intestines," will be seen in the upcoming season. Season 1 had quite a few stomach-churning moments in terms of violence, so if Season 2 somehow manages to top that, it will be impressive.

For those that may not remember the bar set by Season 1, the violence was truly something to behold. Arms were snapped, throats slit, heads were shot, people exploded, limbs were chainsawed, and blood was EVERYWHERE. Some of Preacher's least gory kills, at times, rival some of The Walking Dead's worst, and that's saying something. Hopefully, any fans with weak stomachs will be able to muster through the mayhem for what should be a great continuation to one of last year's top shows.

Let's also hope none of that carnage reaches actress Julie Ann Emery, who joins Season 2 of Preacher as Featherstone. Emery already gave Better Call Saul fans a scare when Kim Wexler ran off the road into a large rock after falling asleep at the wheel, so hopefully that moment was the worst fans will see a character of her's encounter this year. Given that everyone seems to take their lumps in this show sooner or later, that doesn't seem too likely.

Fans of Preacher are in for a treat as the premiere of Season 2 is a two-night event beginning on Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on AMC. The second episode will air earlier the next day with the action kicking off at 9 p.m. ET again on AMC. Preacher isn't the only show on television making its debut as this summer is packed with new and returning shows that fans should be watching if they aren't already. Those wishing to get in the loop can visit our summer premiere guide to find times for these shows and where they can find them. Those looking to just get excited for Preacher need to watch that amazing Season 2 trailer again right here.

When the recent deluge of network TV cancellations was finished, ABC’s Agent Carter had washed away with the rest, leaving in its wake a population of disappointed and angered fans clamoring for its return. No other outlets have come forth with a plan to make Season 3 happen, but the show’s stars are definitely down for more Marvel-scented intrigue in the future. Dominic Cooper in particular is all but guaranteeing that Howard Stark, along with Peggy Carter, will be back for more adventures leading up to the formation of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Now, we know that Dominic Cooper isn’t as powerful as Howard Stark and might not have the same kind of connections that the Stark family amassed over the decades, but Cooper probably knows someone with an ear against a wall to a room where conversations are happening. I know Agent Carter’s ratings weren’t spectacular or anything, but considering we’re living in an era of entertainment where people are insatiably hungry for comic-related properties, it seems like some network (or Netflix) exec out there would have a foolproof plan in mind on how to spin this crafty and cunning spy drama into can’t-miss viewing and not just a midseason replacement.

So yeah, ABC may be done with Agent Carter and its characters, but the actors who portrayed them have invested too much of their personal attention to just let them go like that, especially knowing that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is fond of keeping its miles-long list of characters handy in case there’s a way to fit one or some into the many projects consistently in development. (If you watched Captain America: Civil War, then you know how they worked Peggy Carter into that story.) Here’s a bit more hardcore optimism Cooper shared with EveningStandard.

So maybe we won’t get Agent Carter Season 3, but something else entirely. That doesn’t have to be the worst thing in the world. What if we get a spinoff series (or miniseries or whatever works) that really digs into the formation of S.H.I.E.L.D., with Howard and Peggy playing either central roles or recurring roles? Obviously, the more involved they are, the better, but if certain lines have to be drawn because of Cooper’s work on AMC’s Preacher or Hayley Atwell’s time on her new ABC drama Conviction, and that’s the only way to make any of it work, I’ll take it. And yeah, if it has to happen in a movie and not a TV show, I guess I can allow that as well.

Only time will tell if Howard Stark and Peggy Carter will one day grace our small screens. But in the meantime, check out our summer TV schedule to see everything that’s definitely coming to TV in the next few months.

When Peggy Carter heads to Los Angeles next year during Agent Carter Season 2, she'll find herself among without familiar faces. It was announced last week that James D’Arcy and Enver Gjokaj will reprise their roles as Edwin Jarvis and Daniel Sousa, respectively. Now it’s all but official that Peggy will also be reunited with one of her allies from the World War II days and the man responsible for drawing her into Season 1’s events: Howard Stark.

During an interview with Den of Geek, Agent Carter lead actress Hayley Atwell mentioned that Dominic Cooper will return to play Howard Stark in Season 2, which she says will take place in 1947, a year after the events in Season 1. Said Atwell:

Atwell didn’t mention whether Cooper would be part of the main cast or will be a recurring player, although given that he is playing Jesse Custer on AMC’s Preacher, the latter is more likely. In addition to ABC's drama, Cooper previously played Stark in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger and the One-Shot short film Agent Carter. He shares the role with Mad Men alum John Slattery, who played the older Howard in Iron Man 2 and this month’s Ant-Man.

At the beginning of Agent Carter Season 1, several of Howard’s inventions were stolen, and he was subsequently framed to make it look like he willingly gave these dangerous devices to America’s enemies. Knowing he couldn’t track down the people responsible alone without being caught, he recruited Peggy to follow-up on leads in the US while he went overseas to investigate on his own. He dropped in periodically to give Peggy new leads and inventions, as well answer for his secrets, namely keeping a vial of Captain America’s blood.

In the Season 1 finale, Howard was kidnapped by Johann Fenhoff and brainwashed into flying a plane to detonate Midnight Oil--a chemical weapon that filled anyone who inhaled it with violent rage--over Times Square. Fortunately, Peggy was able to break through Fenhoff’s hypnotism and stop Howard from dropping the weapon. Howard rewarded Peggy for her help by giving her and her friend Angie Martinelli one of his mansions, while he attempted to get Congress to give him back his weapons.

Considering that Edwin Jarvis is being brought back, it makes sense that Howard is as well, given that Edwin is the billionaire playboy’s trusty butler. How Howard will fit into Season 2 remains to be seen, though as one of the nation’s leading industrialists, he no doubt still has a long list of enemies, which could include the villains who will be antagonizing our titular protagonist.

Agent Carter Season 2 will premiere next year during Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s midseason hiatus on ABC.

The live-action adaptation of the 1990s Vertigo comic book Preacher has had a troubled path to creation. After failing to get made as a movie in the past, there were several attempts to get it made as a TV series. It was only last December that a pilot was finally ordered by cable network AMC, and since then it has been making slow progress. Now, the project may have finally found its lead role in Dracula Untold actor Dominic Cooper.

Cooper is evidently the frontrunner to star in the pilot as protagonist Jesse Custer, according to The Tracking Board. However, no official offer has been extended Cooper’s way yet, so this isn’t a done deal. If the actor accepts the role, he will be the first to join the pilot, which is expected to film this summer.

Preacher will follow Jesse, a preacher in the Texas town Annville who has lost his faith. After learning God has left Heaven, he decides to travel across the United States to find the Creator and demand answers for His dereliction of duty. Other important characters include Jesse’s love interest Tulip O’Hare (who will be African-American in the pilot) and the alcoholic, but “friendly, vampire Cassidy. Pursuing this group is the Saint of Killers, a “Western lone gunman archetype” whose sole purpose is to kill Jesse. The 75-issue comic book series also had Jesse being possessed by Genesis, a spawn of an angel and demon coupling, but it hasn’t been stated whether that will be adapted for the project.

Cooper is certainly no stranger to comic book roles. He has appeared as Howard Stark, Iron Man’s father, in Captain America: The First Avenger, the Marvel One-Shot Agent Carter and the ABC limited series Agent Carter. What taking the Preacher role would mean for future appearances in the MCU is a mystery, although unless Agent Carter is renewed for another season, there won’t be too many opportunities left for Cooper to appear as Howard, since Mad Men actor John Slattery plays the older version of the character. It will certainly be a major shift for the actor going from brilliant weapons designer to a preacher in search of God…literally.

Preacher is being developed by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Breaking Bad’s Sam Catlin. Comic series creators Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon will also serve as co-executive producers. Rogen and Goldberg will direct the pilot, while Catlin will serve as showrunner.

Hollywood has a huge year coming in 2016, with titles like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Captain America: Civil War, a new Star Wars movie, and much more hitting theaters – but before all those big blockbusters hit, we will have Duncan Jones’ Warcraft. After years of development, the epic video game adaptation has been scheduled for release on March 11, 2016 – which surely has gamers around the world glowing with glee. And while there’s still a great deal of time to wait before the film hits theaters, this weekend we learned a ton of new details about the movie that should get fans very excited.

The annual Blizzcon was held down in Anaheim, California these past few days, and during a presentation about the upcoming Warcraft movie (via SlashFilm), it was revealed who the fantastic actors in the movie’s cast will be playing. We’ve broken it all down for you below, so read on!

Dominic Cooper is King Llane Wrynn

Dominic Cooper is a pretty classy, awesome dude playing the young Howard Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Warcraft will be bumping him up to royalty. Playing the leader of the city of Stormwind, Cooper will be playing the brave King Llane Wrynn – who also wears some pretty kick ass armor and carries a big sword.

Travis Fimmel as Anduin Lothar

As one of the stars of Vikings, Travis Fimmel is definitely no stranger to wielding huge weapons and getting muddy and bloody on a battlefield – which should allow him to fit into Warcraft quite easily. As Anduin Lothar, he is the central protagonist on the Alliance side and a brave warrior who has made incredible sacrifices for the good of the people of Azeroth.

Ben Foster is Medivh "The Guardian"

While Ben Foster is best known for his independent and character work, he does have a history of blockbuster roles – the most notable being X-Men: The Last Stand - and he will be returning to that world in Duncan Jones’ Warcraft. As Medivh, a.k.a. The Last Guardian, he is a part of an ancient line that has long been fighting off the forces of the Burning Legion, and possesses great power as a wizard/sorcerer.

Robert Kazinsky is Orgrim

To introduce us to the Orc side of things we have Robert Kazinsky as Orgrim, a warrior who is destined to wield a great weapon known as the Doomhammer, Kazinsky is perhaps best known for his TV work, last year starring in a handful of episodes of True Blood, but those of you who are fans of Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim will remember him as Chuck Hansen, one of the two Australian Jaeger pilots.

Toby Kebbell is Durotan

Toby Kebbell displayed incredible skill working with performance capture this past summer playing the villainous Koba in Matt Reeves’ Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and he is once again wearing grey pajamas and ping pong balls in Duncan Jones’ Warcraft. But he’s not just playing any old Orc in the movie – he’s playing Durotan, the Chieftain and leader of the Frostwolf Clan. Orgrim serves by his side as his right-hand man.

Paula Patton is Garona

The beautiful Paula Patton will also be going the performance-capture route in Warcraft playing Garona, a half Orc warrior who is emotionally pulled between two different opposing sides, and must determine where her loyalties lie. The actress has her fair share of ass kicking experience having starred alongside Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol - and one can imagine those skills came in rather useful for this new film.

Clancy Brown is Blackhand "The Destroyer "

A character nicknamed The Destroyer is going to need to look and sound like he has zero issue ever ripping his opponents apart, and Duncan Jones has made a great choice bringing Clancy Brown into the fold. Blackhand is one of the greatest warriors on the orc side, and we can probably expect that he will be one of the most intimidating characters in Warcraft. Brown not only brings a good deal of height to the part – standing a few inches over six feet – but also a booming, deep voice that should make both enemies and movie-goers pee themselves a little.

Ruth Negga is Lady Taria

Like Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga is another actor making their way from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the world of Warcraft - but while Howard Stark and Raina from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have never been on screen together, the two stars will be married in the new movie. In Duncan Jones’ blockbuster, Negga will be playing Lady Taria, the Queen of Stormwind and King Llane Wrynn’s most trusted ally.

Daniel Wu is Gul’dan

Characters like Durotan and Ogrim certainly sit in positions of power within orc society, but none are above Gul’dan, the supreme leader of the orcs. He was the first orcish warlock, and has become consumed with a dark magic that even he cannot fully control. Bringing the character to life will be Daniel Wu, whose recent credits include the sci-fi indie Europa Report and RZA’s The Man with the Iron Fists.

Ben Schnetzer is Khadgar

Of the Warcraft cast members mentioned here, Ben Schnetzer has perhaps the shortest resume – but he is coming off of a performance in the critically-beloved historical drama Pride. In Duncan Jones’ movie, he will play the young Khadgar, a magic-wielding mage who has been described as being on a "daring quest for truth.

ABC’s Agent Carter has been adding to its cast with swiftness over the last several weeks. On Tuesday, Marvel revealed that a Captain America: The First Avenger actor will be back to reprise his role in Agent Carter. According to the massive studio, Dominic Cooper will be taking time out of his busy schedule to pop up in Agent Carter.

In a press release this morning, Marvel notes that Cooper will return to play Howard Stark. As fans already know, Howard is Tony Stark’s father, a smooth individual and inventor who often works on government projects. So far, we don’t know whether the role reprisal will be a guest stint or a recurring gig. The actor is a busy guy, with movie projects Warcraft and Miss You Already coming up. Thus, fans should be happy to have him in whatever capacity the show manages to sign him on for.

Locking down Cooper is a welcome addition, but not a surprising one. Agent Carter will be set in 1946, and will follow Hayley Atwell’s titular character as she adjusts to life in postwar America. She’s feeling underused and without purpose while doing administrative work for the SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve). On the side, Howard Stark will be sending her on secret missions. Stark’s name has been a part of the plot summary since ABC picked up the series, but we weren’t sure if the character would be a part of the new drama, at all. Then, a couple of weeks ago, Agent Carter signed on James D'Arcy to play Edwin Jarvis, Stark’s butler. At that point, it seemed much more likely that we would get a Howard Stark appearance.

Cooper, Atwell and D’Arcy won’t be the only big names on Agent Carter. One Tree Hill’s Chad Michael Murray and Extant’s Enver Gjokaj will play SSR Agent Jack Thompson and Agent Daniel Sousa, respectively. A little over a week ago, Marvel Studios also announced that Boardwalk Empire actor Shea Whigham has also joined the cast. He will play Peggy’s SSR boss, Chief Roger Dooley, a “tough but fair-minded” gent. Perhaps most interestingly, Captain America franchise directors Luis D’Esposito, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo and Joe Johnston are all set to direct a first season episode of Agent Carter. Marvel is certainly throwing a ton of star power behind Agent Carter in order to give it as many tools as possible to succeed.

Case in point: Last week’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. premiere also featured a short appearance from Atwell’s Peggy Carter, in a plotline connecting the S.H.I.E.L.D. world with the Agent Carter world. After the pilot premiere, S.H.I.E.L.D’s ratings have not been quite so fantastic, and ABC and Marvel are likely looking for ways to make sure Agent Carter has a totally different trajectory.

Agent Carter is set to air on ABC at midseason. The main cast is starting to seem solidified at this point, but we will keep you posted as the network and studio adds new names.

Duncan Jones' Warcraft may be delayed to 2016 thanks to J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: Episode VII taking over the December 2015 spotlight, but that doesn't mean that the movie is doing anything to slow down pre-production. Over the last few months we've heard a few actor names swirling around the video game adaptation and today, according to The Hollywood Reporter, a few more have signed on. The trade's sources tell them that Ben Foster, Toby Kebbell and Robert Kazinsky have all penned deals to star in Warcraft while Dominic Cooper is currently in final stages of negotiations.

The group of actors join a cast that already includes Paula Patton, who got some action cred starring in Brad Bird's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, and Travis Fimmel, who has become a rising star in Hollywood thanks to his role on series Vikings. Colin Farrell has also been in talks to possibly star in the movie, but the trade curiously doesn't mention his name.

The film was announced back at San Diego Comic-Con this past summer and was introduced with a "tonal trailer" that gave audiences the sense of what the film will be like (you can read more about it HERE). Jones, who scripted both of his previous films - Moon and Source Code - is co-writing the movie with Charles Leavitt, whose previous credits include Blood Diamond, K-PAX, as well as the upcoming Jeff Bridges fantasy Seventh Son.

Most of the actors in the movie doesn't have any video game adaptation experience, but that soon won't be the case for Cooper. Early the next year the star will be featured as the main villain opposite Aaron Paul in Scott Waugh's Need For Speed. You can catch him in the trailer for the movie that launched last month.

The rest of the cast has hardly been taking it easy lately and will have to carve out time in their schedules for Warcraft. Foster, who will soon be seen in Peter Berg's dramatic war film Lone Survivor, is currently hard at work filming Stephen Frear's untitled Lance Armstrong biopic; Kebbell, who was most recently in The Counselor, has Dawn of the Planet of the Apes coming out next year; and Kazinsky currently plays a recurring role on HBO's True Blood.

Jones is an excellent filmmaker who has been talking a big game when it comes to Warcraft, but one has to wonder if the film will actually be able to succeed with the video game adaptation stigma. The director has certainly started assembling a cast that could help him reach that goal.

In Iron Man 3, as what seemed like a direct jab at the scenes in Iron Man 2 in which Tony Stark obsesses over his relationship with his father, Tony tells the Tenneesse kid played by Ty Simpkins to get over his issues with his own father: "Dads leave. No need to be a pussy about it." Howard Stark's looming shadow over Iron Man 2 was far from the worst thing about it, but t was nice to see Tony willing to move on-- especially since we'd since seen Dominic Cooper play the young Howard Stark in Captain America: The First Avenger as a guy so charming we couldn't stand to resent him.

Even though Cap has now made his way into the present day, and the upcoming Captain America: The Winter Soldier will take place long after World War II, there's still time for one more dashing Howard Stark appearance. Talking to Total Film (via Comic Book Movie), Cooper revealed that he has stepped back into Howard Stark's shoes once more-- though even he's not sure how much of the movie will wind up including him:

Given that Howard Stark is no longer around at the time of The Avengers, we can safely assume Cooper is stepping in to play him as part of the flashback sequence that we hear will also bring back Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter. Though Winter Soldier has been in production for a while now, revealing a few set photos and confirming Scarlett Johansson's expanded role, we still don't know a ton about where it will take the story. We've been told it's a political thriller, and that the title hints toward the return of Cap's former sidekick Bucky Barnes (Sesastian Stan), now a villain. If Cap gets nostalgic about his days in the war with Bucky, it's not hard to imagine a flashback sequence popping up to accompany it.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier, directed by Community veterans Joe and Anthony Russo, comes to theaters April 4 next year. You can click here for everything else we know about it.

BBC America is preparing to bring the story of the man behind 007 to the small screen. Fleming will tell the story of Ian Fleming, the man who brought James Bond to life and whose own life seems to have much of the martini-sipping, skirt-chasing charm he infused into the suave spy of his imagination.

Film actor Dominic Cooper, whose roles have been as varied as Captain America: The First Avenger and My Week With Marilyn, is set to play the role of Fleming for the four-part miniseries. The story will focus on his life of wealth and leisure, his failed attempt at a career as a stockbroker, how WWII changed his world, and the creation of the unforgettable James Bond. Fleming is described as a “maverick”, and man whose life involved plenty of time in the beds of random women as champagne and martinis fueled his nights.

Additionally, Fleming’s entrance into Naval Intelligence via his family’s connections during the war uncovered in him a gift for brilliant, dangerous, and “outrageous counter-intelligence missions against the Nazis.” This experience wound up being the basis for the character of James Bond, who first appeared in Fleming’s 1953 debut Casino Royale.

Fleming will begin shooting early this year in England and Budapest, and is expected to give us a story much like a Bond film, although I suspect there will be a little less shooting involved. Having never given much thought to the man who created Bond, it should be interesting to learn the background of a character who has become a pop culture icon.

Just a few moments ago President Barack Obama was reelected for a second term as the President of the United States of America, and to celebrate we have news regarding the upcoming Need for Speed movie. Those two pieces of news exist on the same level, right?

Variety has news that Captain America: The First Avenger actor Dominic Cooper is now in talks for a main role in the movie, but they also add the film's first plot details. According to the trade the movie will be about "an underground racecar driver who owns a garage that modifies expensive cars to make them faster for racing. Framed and sent to prison when his best friend is murdered during a race, he seeks revenge upon his release." Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul will be playing the racecar driver while Cooper will play an ex-NASCAR driver named Dino who helps create business connections between the wealthy and places that rebuild and modify "supercars." It was reported earlier this week that Imogen Poots is also in talks for the movie, playing the female lead who works as an exotic car dealer.

Based on the well known video game series, the film is being directed by Scott Waugh, who co-directed Act of Valor earlier this year, based on a script by George Gatins and a story by John Gatins (Flight, Real Steel). The project is set up over at DreamWorks and is currently scheduled to be released on February 7, 2014. The trade doesn't mention when production is aiming to start.

Peter Howitt, the director of films such as Antitrust, Sliding Doors and Johnny English, has found his two leads for his next film. Samuel L. Jackson and Dominic Cooper have both signed on the dotted line to star in the legal thriller Reasonable Doubt, originally known as The Good Samaritan.

Based on a script written by Peter Dowling (Flightplan) the movie follows an up-and-coming assistant D.A. who is working to convict in a hit and run case and then “struggling to hunt the man he got acquitted.” Variety, which first reported the casting, doesn’t say what role either actor will be playing. They are planning to start production on the movie before the end of the year, heading up to Canada on November 19th.

Funny that two people from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Howard Stark and Nick Fury) who never met each other should end up in the same film again, huh? As for what each actor has coming up next, Jackson will be seen later this year in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, lent his voice to the DreamWorks Animation film Turbo, and is currently in production on RoboCop. Cooper, who turned a lot of heads starring in the indie drama/thriller The Devil’s Double, has Christopher Menaul’s Summer in February going through post-production, and Niels Arden Oplev’s Dead Man Down coming to theaters in March of next year. He will also soon be playing Sacha Gervasi in the biopic My Dinner With Herve, which will also star Games of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage.

When it was reported last night that Jake Gyllenhaal was in talks to replace Dominic Cooper in Albert Hughes' Motor City, I noted that the actor has been a bit off the radar as of late. While he has David Ayer's End of Watch coming out later this year, he doesn't have any other in-development credits and we haven't seen him since Source Code was released early last year. Those facts only make this new development all the stranger.

Deadline says that Gyllenhaal has ended negotiations to star in Motor City, and while that may not seem weird by itself, the reason that the site is hearing has to deal with scheduling issues. The film, which is already set to star Gary Oldman as the villain and Amber Heard as the female lead, is about an ex-con who is released from prison and immediately goes on a mission of revenge looking for the person that set him up. The script was written by newcomer Chad St. John and will be Hughes's first film since 2010's The Book of Eli (he was developing a live-action Akira remake for a while but plans fell apart and he moved to this revenge tale). Apparently Gyllenhaal wanted to shift production dates back, however, Dark Castle, the production company owned by producer Joel Silver, wouldn't budge. The studio is now putting together a new short list of actors that could take Gyllenhaal's position and replace Cooper.

Is Gyllenhaal just trying to give himself some space from the business? Does he have other projects lined up that we don't know about? It's hard to say at this point, but we'll be sure to keep an eye on the situation.

It's a real shame, but Dominic Cooper is almost assuredly going to be robbed of an Oscar nomination for his dual performance in The Devil's Double. Between the movie being released in August and only making a little over $1 million at the domestic box office, the Academy will probably look over it in favor or more populist or Oscar-bait-y fare. Fortunately that doesn't mean Cooper will be overlooked by Hollywood as a whole and is close to landing a new part that proves that.

According to Variety, Dominic Cooper is now in talks to star in Motor City, the new film from director Albert Hughes and producer Joel Silver. The movie is about a man who is released after spending time in prison and goes on a mission of revenge, hunting down the people that framed him for a crime he didn't commit. The trade's sources say that it was Cooper's turn in The Devil's Double that led to Silver offering the actor the part.

In addition to the Lee Tamahori film, the young British star played Howard Stark in Captain America: The First Avenger and will appear later this year in Simon Curtis' My Week With Marilyn as Milton Greene. Cooper has also completed filming on Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the Timur Bekmambetov film adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith's novel, which is set to be released next summer.

At only 33 years old, Cooper has a bright future in front of him. He may not carry home a gold statue next February, but someone will always notice a phenomenal performance.

A few weeks back it was reported that basically every young, white male actor in Hollywood with a recognizable name was being considered for the lead in The Bourne Legacy, Tony Gilroy's continuation of the franchise after the departure of Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass. All in all, a total of 15 names were shortlisted for the lead, which would be a Bourne like character living in the same universe as Bourne, that will make it possible for Damon to return somewhere down the line. Now it sounds as though that huge group is being whittled down as the first group of actors has started to screentest for the part.

Deadline reports that Joel Edgerton, Dominic Cooper (who actually wasn't one of the original 15), Garrett Hedlund and Luke Evans are now all scheduled to officially audition for the role of the character I like to call "Bourne Substitute." According to the site, the list isn't definitive - Logan Marshall-Green might also be a name in contention - but the above four will go out for the roles starting on the first week of April. The story also says that Shia LaBeouf is still in the mix, though may not be testing, and Taylor Kitsch has already met with Gilroy about the part.

There is some suggestion in Deadline's story that the studio isn't putting a lot of emphasis on the star, believing that the brand and Gilroy's writing will be enough to get people interested, but I have to disagree. Yes, the trilogy wouldn't exist without Gilroy's input, but Matt Damon is the face of this franchise. No matter how much they stress that this is a movie about a different character, people are still going to think that they re-cast and are going to reject it - that is, unless they find the right star.

UPDATE: Variety is reporting that Dominic Cooper has also joined the cast of the film and will be playing Henry Sturges, a vampire who assists Lincoln in hunting down bloodsuckers.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter already stands to be a pretty great movie. Based on the book by Seth Grahame-Smith (who also wrote Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), the project has a pretty cool director in Timur Bekmambetov and a solid up-coming star in Ben Walker, who already earned rave reviews while playing a former president on Broadway in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Now the film has added yet another great piece to the puzzle. Deadline reports that Anthony Mackie, best known for his role in The Hurt Locker, has been added to the cast of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. In the film, Mackie will play Will, Honest Abe's best friend and fellow vampire hunter.

With all of the to-do that was made over Jeremy Renner's performance in The Hurt Locker - which was outstanding, don't get me wrong - I've always felt that Anthony Mackie didn't get enough credit. The guy has some serious chops, and while this film may not be the best way to show them off, it may at least get his some deserved attention.

Tamara Drewe is a film directed by Stephen Frears, the acclaimed filmmaker behind The Queen and High Fidelity, and it stars British up-and-comers Gemma Arterton and Dominic Cooper. But don't be fooled; Tamara Drewe is a very silly, very fun comedy, a loose adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Far From The Madding Crowd (and based on Posy Simmonds' graphic novel) in which many people fall in and out love, scheme against each other and spread rumors in the idyllic British countryside. Arterton stars as the titular character, a star newspaper columnist who moves out to her old home in the country and stirs up every man in the village with her new hot body and surgically tweaked nose. Among her suitors is rock star Ben (Cooper), who moves with her initially to the old farmhouse but doesn't exactly take well to rural life.

Tamara Drewe debuted to mixed reviews at Cannes in May and swung through the Toronto International Film Festival last month before its release this weekend. That's where I caught up with Cooper, and asked him about the oddball responses the film has been getting, with the assumption that some people just weren't expecting such a light comedy from a director like Frears. We also talked about working with the teenage actresses who idolize his rock star character-- including shooting a very silly fantasy romance sequences-- the movie's commentary on paparazzi and obsessions with fame, and what it's like to take your shirt off for the sake of camp. You can read some of Cooper's thoughts on playing Howard Stark in First Avenger: Captain America here, and check out the rest of our conversation below.

It seems like people weren't quite expecting this movie to be as silly as it is. Did you expect it when you filmed it?

No, I didn't at all. I didn't know what to make of it. And I found it completely peculiar that [Stephen Frears] was making it. And that's what I quite liked about it. I knew that he had a much higher intellect, he knows his stuff, knows his filmmaking. He was so assured about what it was and what kind of piece it was.. There was nothing else too complicated about that.

When you get the script and you don't have him there to explain it, how do you understand what this is all going for?

I couldn't. I couldn't work out what it was. I tried to gauge the humor of it, and tried to understand where it sat in terms of how specific and serious it was being about these people. They're very specific in that it's a middle-class England that rarely gets portrayed. Fundamentally it's rotted from within, but from the outside looks so idyllic and perfect. And I love that about it. I kind of liked how awful all the characters were. None of them are likable, really.

Your character obviously starts off as the guy you want to hate, but after a while you realize that even Tamara isn't the heroine.

Yes, and I like how unexpected that is. They're terrible to one another, and they're all deceiving one another, and they all lie to one another. But then you take a glimpse at the real world, and that's what most people do anyway in some form or another.

The movie's commentary on celebrity is really interesting, especially with you and Gemma in the lead roles, having been through this wringer with the paparazzi in the last few years being in bigger and bigger movies. Is that something you related to?

It's a ridiculous world, and I don't think we're too affected by it, which is good. I've seen people that have been affected by it and it's madness and chaos, but it comes with the territory. You can't not expect that. You just have to adapt and change the way you live your life. It's so ludicrous. We feed it continually with these magazines and these empty, pointless articles about their mundane life.

How did you build the rapport with the 15-year-old girls in the movie, who you had a lot of screentime with?

It was lovely working with them, and they're extremely talented, but they have not done a great deal of work. It's never about teaching or guiding. You want to make sure they feel as comfortable as they possibly can to make sure they do the work you know they're able to do. Certainly with material like this, where you're putting yourself on the line in terms of stumbling and falling and making yourself look like an idiot. You have to be prepared to take the risk. But if you've got someone like Stephen who's that talented and fills you with that much confidence.

Was it uncomfortable filming something like that fantasy sequence [in which one of the teen girls imagines a romantic encounter with Cooper's characters]? You must have had to work harder to establish that comfort level.

I don't know. The scene was what it was. There was no problem there. It was a fantasy, nothing really sexual going on whatsoever. It was funny. Again, everything was always light, and done humorously. She was so brilliant at going into that kind of fantastical world in her head. You kind of immediately knew what it was, and I knew what I needed to be.

In that scene and also in Mamma Mia!, you're in this unusual position of being a sex object as a male actor. It happens to women all the time, but it's rare for a male actor. Do you enjoy subverting that?

I've never though about that, but I guess it is, isn't it? I'm constantly having my top taken off. I can understand why it becomes-- I've never really thought about it actually.

And you kind of embrace it?

Certainly for this is was a fantasy, and obvious in what it was trying to achieve through celebrity and through this girl's ideas. And kind of the same for Mamma Mia in a way, it's dancing and very camp and on a beach, dancing to ABBA. It's ludicrous, and it needs that. I've never used it where it's just, be there, be appealing. But I imagine that's real disheartening.

When I interviewed Dominic Cooper back in September, he had flown to Toronto for a quick break from the First Avenger: Captain America shoot, which he joked would be going on "for another 80 years." The star of Mamma Mia! and the forthcoming Tamara Drewe is no stranger to large blockbusters, but when I brought up the question of the superhero film at the end of our interview, he seemed a little surprised at how many questions he's fielded about his role in the film. He's been cast as Howard Stark, father to Iron Man Tony Stark, and since Captain America is set in the 40s Cooper will be playing the character as a young man, years before we meet the man we saw in Iron Man 2, played by Mad Men's John Slattery.

I asked Cooper about Slattery's take on the character and how he planned to echo it, especially since the two actors don't look all that much alike. :

I also asked him about the notoriously massive contracts Marvel has its actors sign, such as the nine-picture deal that Samuel L. Jackson agreed to before playing Nick Fury. Cooper seemed a little relieved that his commitment was less extreme:

So yeah, there's not much he had to tell me that we didn't already know, but it was at least interesting to sit down with Cooper, who in Toronto seemed a million miles away from all the Marvel madness but very aware that the scrutiny of comic book geeks will be like nothing he's ever experienced. Check back later for the ret of my interview with Cooper, in which we talk about Tamara Drewe, its messages about celebrity and what it's like to be one of the few male actors regularly treated as a sex symbol in films. Yes, seriously.

Back in May, while promoting his film Tamara Drewe at the Cannes Film Festival, Dominic Cooper let the news slip that he would be playing the young Howard Stark in Captain America: The First Avenger. But just like the Tommy Lee Jones story from yesterday, it's nice to have a confirmation, and now we have it: Cooper is officially the young John Slattery.

Marvel has issued a press release confirming that the role of Stark officially belongs to Cooper. While the announcement doesn't include any information about how he will be involved in the plot of the film, Stark is best known as the father of Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man) and the founder of Stark Industries, but, covertly, was also one of the founding members of S.H.I.E.L.D., the secret government organization that oversees all superhero activity in America.

You can read the entire release below. Congratulations Mr. Cooper. Hopefully you'll be a bit more involved than Gerard Sanders.

A couple weeks ago, while doing promotion for Iron Man 2, Jon Favreau told Marvel fans that the great Howard Stark, father to Tony, would likely be making an appearance in next year's The First Avenger: Captain America. Played by Mad Men's John Slattery in the new film, Favs also said that the role would likely be recast, as the incarnation would be at least 30 years younger than the man we saw in the tapes from the 1974 Stark Expo. Now, it appears, that role has be cast.

Speaking with Salon, English actor Dominic Cooper has revealed that he will be playing a young Howard Stark in the upcoming Joe Johnston film. While the quote is unavailable in the video interview that was posted, the introduction states that "he's also slated to play Howard Stark (aka, Iron Man's father) in the upcoming "Captain America," likely a quote that came off-camera. Cooper is currently promoting Stephen Frearss Tamara Drewe at the Cannes Film Festival.

If he can put on a convincing American accent this doesn't sound like too bad a choice. While saying that he looks like a young John Slattery is preposterous, it wouldn't be too hard to believe that he's a relative of Robert Downey Jr. Considering it was revealed in Iron Man 2 that Howard Stark was a founding member of S.H.I.E.L.D, it's more than likely that his character will play an important, albeit limited, role in next summer's film. Obviously the young version of the character won't get much play in the overarching Marvel film universe, but even for a minor role they could have done worse.

Casting for Kenneth Branagh’s Thor continues and guess who’s next in line for an audition? Dominic Cooper. While at an interview with Movieline, the interviewer, Kyle Buchanan, caught a glimpse of some script sides Cooper had on him. After chatting about An Education, Thor came into question.

When asked if he’s up for a role in the film, Cooper replied, “Ummm … yeah. Kind of.” Cooper even questioned him on what role Buchanan thought would suit him best. Buchanan mentioned Fandral, a member of the Warriors Three, a group who fought alongside Thor. If Fandral is indeed part of the storyline that means Marvel is looking for Volstagg and Hogun as well. In light of yesterday’s Thor news, I can see Robert DeNiro as Hogun, but certainly not Jude Law as Volstagg the Enormous.

I’m still wary of DeNiro and Law’s casting, but the fact that Cooper and Law are good pals hints at some justification. Of course, the opportunity to work with a buddy could be attained by chance, but maybe there’s friendly networking going on behind closed doors.