CAPTAIN AMERICA TO FILM IN ENGLAND

ENGLAND – Budgets concerns is making one of the most iconic superheroes flee the country!
Captain America might be getting an unwanted demotion and will be whisked away from sunny Los Angeles to gloomy England. That’s the recent news out of the Marvel camp as they have said that financial reasons will make them move filming of “Captain America: The First Avenger” to England.
“I actually had location scouts in LA to see what could be done,” Louis D’Esposito said, Marvel Studios co-president. “But it would have required so much visual-effects work and set construction, it didn’t make sense.”
The state of California is already reeling financially and the loss of production business from the film will be another blow to the state and city of Los Angeles. The state may have only itself to blame as it places a heavy tax burden on films. California offers tax credits to smaller films, but “Captain America’s” $140 million budget wouldn’t qualify. London offers tax credits up to 25 percent.
With the current state of the global economy, anyone and everyone is trying to stretch their dollars. Films have a lot of pressure to succeed, especially big budget films. In business, money talks and Marvel’s edition seems to be a wise one. Regardless, fans and critics are not pleased with the move.
The loss of the hero will not only mean the loss of Hundreds of Hollywood jobs, but it will also be the loss of, well, Captain America – a patriotic symbol. Captain America was created a full year before the Pearl Harbor events and early cover art of the hero showed him punching Adolph Hitler as a way of showing America’s support for its European allies.
Perhaps this is Captain America’s way of showing support for Europe again – given the financial crisis gripping the continent. Regardless, it is a huge blow to fans as the red, white and blue superhero is as American as apple pie.
The film will star Chris Evans as Captain America and Hugo Weaving as Red Skull and is slated for a Summer 2011 release.