Neal McDonagh is a bit of an ‘always the bridesmaid’ actor. The super-blond actor has shown up in everything from Star Trek: First Contact and Minority Report to Timeline and Flags Of Our Fathers, as well as loads of TV roles, but he never gets to be the main star. His run of supporting roles is set to continue in Captain America, as Deadline reports he’ll be playing Dum Dum Dugan in Joe Johnston’s comic book film.
If the film sticks at all close to comic books, this will see McDonough as a former circus strongman turned expert marsman, who becomes part of the prototype of Nick Fury’s SHIELD organisation, the First Attack Squad (aka the Howling Commandos), during World War II. In the original comics he fights alongside Fury, but as the films have Nick as a modern day character (and Sam Jackson has already said he won’t be in Captain America), it would suggest Dugan will get a slightly altered role in the new film.
It’ll also be interesting to see whether they go for the full Dum Dum Dugan comic book look, as there he’s a burly mustachioed redhead, known for wearing a bowling hat into battle. It’s not McDonough’s first flirtation with Marvel though, as he’s previously voiced Bruce Banner in an animated Hulk TV and a videogame.
Shooting on Captain America starts next month, with Chris Evan in the lead role, Hugo Weaving as the villainous Red Skull, Hayley Atwell as the Cap’s love interest and Sebastian Stan as his best friend. The film will be in cinemas July, 2011.